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NBA: The Biggest Winners And Losers Of Free Agency Day 1

By Gerald Bourguet

Dec 20, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) is guarded by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 20, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Portland Trail Blazers forward LaMarcus Aldridge (12) is guarded by New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) during the first half of a game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 28, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Thaddeus Young (30) shoots the ball over Dallas Mavericks forward Al-Farouq Aminu (7) in the third quarter at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Winner: Role Players

Take a quick look around the league and you’ll see that the NBA has basically become Scrooge McDuck’s palace. And it’s not just the superstars who are cashing in, it’s the role players and backups that are raking in the dough as well.

We already covered how Carroll will be earning $15 million per year, but a quick look around the league will show how many supporting cast members will be paid like the Brad Pitts of the NBA: Alexis Ajinca agreed to four years and $20 million; Tyson Chandler to four years and $52 million; Amir Johnson to two years and $12 million; Kyle Singler to five years and $25 million; Thaddeus Young to four years and $50 million…you get the idea.

To further put it in perspective, free agency really started early Wednesday morning with Al-Farouq Aminu agreeing to a four-year, $30 million extension with the Portland Trail Blazers, a deal that seemed inflated to everyone at the time. By the end of the day, Danny Green accepting a four-year, $45 million deal from the Spurs was widely seen as a major discount. With the NBA salary cap going up the way that it is, everyone is getting a bigger share of the pot.

Next: Loser: The General Public