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So far this week we've looked at how the New Orleans Pelicans expenditures compare to the league in the backcourt. Moving to the Pelicans strongest single position, power forward, we cannot find a Pel on the list. Do not get used to this situation; next season Anthony Davis goes from a rookie scale bargain to a more appropriate Rose Rule extension. In fact, Davis could be the highest paid power forward in the NBA next year.
Ryan Anderson barely misses inclusion on this list, I only included players making $9 million or more on my chart. Anderson, like Tyreke Evans and Jrue Holiday, ranks higher according to SI.com than his salary. Anderson's salary places him outside the top 80 while Sports Illustrated ranked the Flamethrower 72nd.
| Position | 2015-2016 | |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Bosh | PF | $22,192,730 |
| Kevin Love | PF | $19,689,000 |
| LaMarcus Aldridge | PF | $19,689,000 |
| Blake Griffin | PF | $18,907,725 |
| Paul Millsap | PF | $18,671,659 |
| Tristan Thompson | PF | ??? |
| David Lee | PF | $15,493,680 |
| Draymond Green | PF | $14,260,870 |
| Nene | PF | $13,000,000 |
| Serge Ibaka | PF | $12,250,000 |
| Derrick Favors | PF | $12,000,000 |
| Amir Johnson | PF | $12,000,000 |
| Derrick Favors | PF | $12,000,000 |
| Kenneth Faried | PF | $11,235,955 |
| Thaddeus Young | PF | $11,235,955 |
| Zach Randolph | PF | $9,638,555 |
All from Basketball Insiders. Note that ESPN's salaries list has a number of omissions.
Tristan Thompson remains a free agent and could sign for as much as $16.4 million this season. Negotiations between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Thompson's agent Rich Paul (also agent for Pelicans restricted free agent Norris Cole) could drag on to the beginning of training camp. Every dollar the Cavs give Thompson will cost triple (or more?) in luxury tax payments.
For one more season the Pelicans will enjoy a massive advantage as AD's production vastly outweighs his cost. Next season his salary will be much closer to his talents and the Pelicans must find other areas to gain surplus value.