Every NBA team's best and worst contracts: From bargain to nightmare

Southwest Division

San Antonio Spurs

Bargain Contract: Victor Wembanyama

San Antonio Spurs rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama is the obvious choice for a bargain contract since he is already a top-30 player in the NBA but is set to only make around $40 million over his first four seasons in the league. Wembanyama could conceivably be a top-10 player in the NBA in another season but he will still be making the equivalent to the mid-level exception.

Nightmare Contract: Zach Collins

On the other end, Wembanyama's backup, Zach Collins, clearly has the worst contract on the team after signing a two-year, $35 million contract extension in the preseason. At the time, it seemed like a good deal with Collins being a starting-caliber center but an ugly start forced him to the bench and he's not looked particularly good there. San Antonio would probably love to offload him in the offseason and roll with Charles Bassey or a vet minimum replacement.

Houston Rockets

Bargain contract: Alperin Sengun

Rockets center Alperin Sengun has been compared to 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic in terms of play style but he has become a great player in his own right. In his third season, he is averaging better than 21 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists while still on his rookie contract, making him wildly underpaid.

Nightmare contract: Dillon Brooks

The Rockets don't have many long-term contacts but if forced to pick one, it would have to be Dillon Brooks. No one doubts Brooks as a defender who can also get hot on offense on occasion but he seemed to have a limited market last summer when Houston backed up the Brinks truck and offered $80 million. Paying $20 million per season for a starter is fine but they seemed to be bidding against themselves to offer him that much.

Dallas Mavericks

Bargain contract: Dereck Lively II

Few expected rookie Dereck Lively to start for the Mavs, but he is, and he's done well as a big man who can roll to the rim and finish, rebound, and block shots. Better still, he is barely 20 years old and will make only $17.5 million over the next three seasons.

Nightmare contract: Maxi Kleber

Long-time Maverick Maxi Kleber hasn't played particularly well this season, averaging 4.7 points on poor shooting but is owed an unsightly $11 million this season and $11 million in each of the next two seasons.