![Aaron Gordon re-signed with the Magic for four years. - [Keith Allison / Flickr]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/7/2/660x290/b_502x220x82/aaron-gordon-re-signed-with-the-magic-for-four-years-image-source-flickr-keith-allison_2046955.jpg "Aaron Gordon re-signed with the Magic for four years. - [Keith Allison / Flickr]")
With NBA free agency just kicking off on July 1, a number of big contracts have been handed out. There may still be more to come. According to CBS Sports, the best free agents still available include Clint Capela, Zach LaVine, Jabari Parker, and Brook Lopez. Below are the ten free agents who have agreed to deals with the highest average annual salaries thus far. Reports by CBS and ESPN were used in the construction of this article.
1. Chris Paul - Houston Rockets
- Contract. four years, $159,730,592
- Average per year: $39,932,648
At 33 years old, it will be interesting to see how well Paul ages into this deal.
He is scheduled to make an absurd amount of money in the last two years with the Rockets: $41,358,814 in 2020-21 and $44,211.146 in 2021-22.
2. LeBron James - Los Angeles Lakers
- Contract: four years, $153,312,846
- Average per year: $38,328,212
While James continues to show no signs of slowing down, he will turn 34 on December 30. He moves on to Los Angeles after playing the last four seasons with the Cavaliers. He played in all 82 games for the first time in his career in 2017-18. James has agreed to a four-year contract.
3. Paul George - Oklahoma City Thunder
- Contract: four years, $136,911,936
- Average per year: $34,227,984
A large portion of fans thought George would be leaving for the Lakers, but instead, he re-upped with the Thunder.
The 28-year-old has a player option for $37,895,268 in the last year of the deal.
4. Kevin Durant - Golden State Warriors
- Contract: two years, $61,500,000
- Average per year: $30,750,000
The two-time reigning finals MVP will play for $30 million next season and have a player option for $31.5 million in 2019-20. Durant turns 30 on September 29.
5. Nikola Jokic - Denver Nuggets
- Contract: five years, $147,710,050
- Average per year: $29,542,010
The Nuggets had an extremely cheap team option of $1,600,520 for 2018-19 for Jokic, but he would become an unrestricted free agent after the year if they picked it up. Denver couldn’t risk upsetting their 23-year-old center by picking him up for little money so instead, they re-signed him to a large deal.
6. DeAndre Jordan - Dallas Mavericks
- Contract: one-year, $24,100,000
- Average per year: $24,100,000
Three years after he spurned the Mavericks after he verbally agreed to join them, all is forgiven, as Dallas will bring Jordan in on a one-year deal. Turning 30 on July 21, he joins his second team after ten seasons with the Clippers.
7. Aaron Gordon - Orlando Magic
- Contract: four years, $84,000,000
- Average per year/$21,000,000
A restricted free agent, the Magic gave Gordon an excellent offer early in free agency, where he didn’t have to negotiate with other teams. He turns just 23 on September 16.
8. Derrick Favors - Utah Jazz
- Contract: two years, $36,000,000
- Average per year: $18,000,000
Favors, who turns 27 on July 15, posted a career-high of a 56.3 field goal percentage last season.
He is expected to make exactly $18 million in both years of the deal with the Jazz.
9. Trevor Ariza - Phoenix Suns
- Contract: one-year, $15,000,000
- Average per year: $15,000,000
The Suns added veteran leadership to a team filled with youth by bringing in the 14-year veteran Ariza in on a one-year deal. The 33-year-old started all 310 of his appearances with the Rockets over the last four seasons.
10. Will Barton - Denver Nuggets
- Contract: four years, $54,000,000
- Average per year: $13,500,000
Barton re-signed with the Nuggets on a four-year deal that is fully guaranteed with no options. The 27-year-old is expected to be the team’s starting small forward according to ESPN after previously being mostly utilized off the bench by Denver.
