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The Best Bargain Contract On All 30 NBA Teams

By Gerald Bourguet

January 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7, right) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hornets 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
January 4, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7, right) dribbles the basketball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30, left) during the third quarter at Oracle Arena. The Warriors defeated the Hornets 111-101. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 21, 2015; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Markieff Morris (11) sits the bench in the final second of their 110-89 loss to the Utah Jazz at vivint.SmartHome Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

Phoenix Suns: Markieff Morris

2015-16 Salary: $8 million
2016-17 Salary: $7.4 million
2017-18 Salary: $8 million
2018-19 Salary: $8.6 million

Honorable Mention: P.J. Tucker

Phoenix Suns fans are going to hate this selection, but it’s true: Markieff Morris is still the most valuable contract on the roster. Strictly from an asset standpoint, his four-year, $32 million contract is one of the best in the league — especially if you happen to believe Keef is better than the numbers he’s posted in Phoenix this year.

On the season, Morris’ numbers have plummeted to 10.5 points and 4.7 rebounds per game on 38.1 percent shooting. He’s missed 13 games since the start of December — one game for his knee, one for illness, two games due to suspension after the towel-throwing incident and nine DNP-CDs — and it feels like it’s only a matter of time before he’s traded away.

It may seem contradictory to call an embattled and unhappy player at the end of the bench a “bargain” player, but it remains to be seen what the Suns can acquire for Morris. He’s also a far better player than he’s been this season, and without him playing at his best, the Suns have clearly struggled. With Eric Bledsoe injured and the team’s most promising players on rookie-scale or one-year deals, Morris’ value as a trade chip should not be overlooked.

Next: Phoenix Suns