Grading the NBA's 4 Supermax Contracts

The supermax contract, which allows a team to offer a star player who has met a specific list of criteria up to $70 million more than any other team in free agency, was created in order to incentivize stars in small markets to stay with their team. With the latest buzz saying that Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard is likely to sign a supermax somewhere in the $191 million range, let's take a look at the other four deals of the same nature and how they've panned out so far.

4. John Wall, Washington Wizards: D-

Washington Wizards v Atlanta Hawks / Kevin C. Cox

Disaster doesn't even begin to describe this. Wall only played in 32 games this year, overseeing one of the biggest disappointments in the league this year in Washington. What's worse, an Achilles injury has put his 2019-20 season in doubt and has raised questions over if he can be the player he was pre-injury ever agin. The only thing that saves this from being an F is Wall's 20.7 points/8.7 assists per game stat line.

3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder: B

Portland Trail Blazers v Oklahoma City Thunder - Game Three / Cooper Neill

Since signing a $205 million dollar deal after his MVP campaign, Westbrook has brought Oklahoma City two straight seasons of averaging a triple double and helped them land Paul George. However, he is always burnt out once the playoffs come around, leading to two straight seasons of first round exits. He's producing, but he needs to start winning more.

2. James Harden, Houston Rockets: A-

Golden State Warriors v Houston Rockets - Game Three / Tim Warner

At the nucleus of Mike D'Antoni's video game offense, Harden is putting up numbers that rival the best scorers in NBA history. While he is a finalist for the MVP award, perhaps the best scorer in the league, and led the team to the Conference Finals in 2017-18, Harden gets an A- for his failure to get over the Golden State hump.

1. Steph Curry, Golden State Warriors: A+

Golden State Warriors v Portland Trail Blazers - Game Four / Steve Dykes

Is there a grade higher than A+? If so, Steph deserves it. Kevin Durant might be the best individual player on the team, but Curry is the straw that stirs the Warriors' drink. Since he signed his $201 million deal, he's led the Warriors to a third championship in four years and has them on the precipice of another. Worth every penny, and then some.