1-0 in the finals, how strong is the Pacers’ salary structure? 4 core prices, 2 superstars have a maximum salary

The Pacers are the super dark horses of the NBA this year. No one expected that such a team without any superstars would eventually break through the East and enter the finals, and are currently leading 1-0 in the finals. As a small football market, the Pacers never make a bad move, and their lineup is also average. The advantage is that the salary structure is very reasonable. Currently, the team has four major core members who hold cabbage contracts, and the two superstars have the maximum salary. In the next few years, the Pacers will be the league powerhouse.

First, let’s take a look at the lineup of this Pacers, they are a complete "civilian team". In the regular season, only Siakam was selected into the All-Star substitute with his gorgeous data of averaging 20 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. After the season, Halliburton was selected for the third team of the NBA's All-Squad, while Siakam missed the All-Squad. So this is a team with only 1 All-Star and 1 Three-Star player. Compared with other powerful men, there is no superstar on paper lineup, so it is reasonable to say that a civilian team is.

Secondly, let’s look at the performance of the role players. Although the Pacers do not have big-name players, under the construction of Carlisle, they have become a team that is full of soldiers. Halliburton averaged 18.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 9.2 assists per game, and performed first-class in the organization. Matherin averaged 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game, and is the main scorer. Center Turner averages 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2 blocks per game, Nesmith averages 12 points per game, while Toping and Nembhard averages more than 10 points per game.

So the Pacers have a total of 7 players scoring in double digits, which is also the first offensive team in the league in the past two years. After reaching the finals, many fans joked that this is a team that is all three leaders. Although there are no big-name players, they can play. In addition, McConnell, who averages 9.1 points per game on the bench, is the team's core 8-man team.

What's even more crazy is that the Pacers' salary structure is the last in the league in salary rankings. Without paying luxury tax, they entered the finals stage, and their players basically have long appointments. The two core members are Siakam and Halliburton, and their annual salary is US$42.17 million. Among them, Siaka's contract has 3 years and Halliburton's contract has 4 years, so the dual-core will be in the team in the next few years.

Nestmith is a top 3D forward. His contract is a 3-year, $33 million bargain price, and the contract has just come into effect this year. McConnell just renewed his contract with the team last year, with a contract value of $45 million in four years. Nembhard also renewed his contract with the team last year. The contract value is US$59 million for three years and this year, and he is still in his rookie period, so his contract has 4 years left and his average salary is only more than 10 million. Let’s look at Topin again. Last year, the team renewed his contract with a four-year, $60 million contract, which just took effect this year. And Matherin is only a third-year student and has a 2-year rookie contract.

In other words, in the team's core 8-man group, Halliburton and Siakam are both maximum-paid players. But Nesmith, McConnell, Nembhard and Toppin have all renewed their contracts in advance, and they are all bargaining for annual salary of tens of millions. Matherin is still in the rookie period, and the only one whose contract expires is center Turner. It is easy to operate whether it renews or trades. Therefore, not only is the Pacers expected to win the championship this year, but the team's core will be very cheap in the next 4-5 years and will be a favorite to win the championship every year.