Overpaid, underpaid: 10 good NBA players on bad contracts
By Amaar Burton
10. Otto Porter Jr.
On the surface, Chicago Bulls forward Otto Porter Jr. has everything you’d expect from a young NBA standout on the verge of stardom.
The 26-year-old Georgetown product was the No. 3 pick in the 2013 NBA Draft. He got some playoff experience in his time with the Washington Wizards.
He’s now one of the top scorers on a team in a major media market and he’s going to be paid $27.2 million this season, with a player option for $28.4 million the following season. (Spoiler: Porter is going to take that money.)
But there just seems to be something missing with Porter. He’s good, but he comes across as more of a quality role player than a future star.
I know giving 100M to a dude who dribbles with his fists balled up sounds crazy but 4yr/100M for Draymond in 2019 NBA money is a steal. Otto Porter is out here on a 4yr/107M deal.
— 🦦✨America Is Musty✨🦦 (@DragonflyJonez) August 3, 2019
After the Bulls traded for him in February, Porter averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 15 appearances for the lottery-bound club. Solid, but leaves you wanting more.
Considering that he will be Chicago’s highest-paid player this season — and making more money than legit superstars like Anthony Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge and Giannis Antetokounmpo, among others — the time is now for Porter to show if he’s really worth the investment.