Others use maximum salary to sign, but these four teams are cheap to get bargains! A list of the 5 most profitable signings in the offseason

On July 22, Paul officially joined the Los Angeles Clippers with a one-year contract of $3.6 million. The American media gave A high scores on the signing, and it is obvious that they are very acknowledging the Clippers' operation this time. It is worth mentioning that Paul still earned a high salary of tens of millions of dollars when playing for the Spurs and also secured the starting position of the team. But this time he joined the Clippers, he not only cut his salary significantly, but also voluntarily gave up his starting status. This signing undoubtedly made the Clippers profitable, but in terms of the most cost-effective signing, Paul may not even be able to squeeze in the top five. Let’s take a look at the most profitable signing contracts of this season.

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Recently, the Trail Blazers successfully renewed their former league top point guard Lillard and signed a three-year contract worth $42 million. As a point guard in the top five levels of the league, Lillard only asked for a contract with an average annual average of $14 million. Last season, he still maintained a stable performance of 24.9 points, 7.1 assists and 4.7 rebounds per game. In fact, in addition to the Trail Blazers, powerful families like the Celtics and the Lakers have also pursued him. Why did Lillard finally choose to return to the Trail Blazers?

This is mainly due to emotional factors. Lillard's heart never left the city. Although he failed to play for a long time in "one person, one city", being able to end his career here and fulfill his dream of retirement is what he most longs for. Although the injury of the ruptured Achilles tendon may limit his chances of returning to the top, the Trail Blazers signed him more to value his role as leader in the locker room and his role in driving young players. In addition, Lillard's return will undoubtedly increase the team's box office and ratings, which will be of great benefit to the overall atmosphere of the team.

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Van Jordan originally had a team's player option contract worth more than $40 million, but the Rockets made it clear that it would not implement it. Despite this, considering his outstanding performance in the playoffs, many people originally expected him to get a contract with an average annual average of about $33 million, such as the total price of about $100 million in three years, which is reasonable. After all, he averaged 18.7 points, 4.1 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1 steal in the playoffs, with a three-point shooting percentage of up to 43.5%. Not only did he have excellent passes, but his defense was also strong. Such a veteran of the All-Star level, a contract worth over $30 million is not uncommon.

But Van Jordan finally accepted only a two-year contract of $50 million, with an average annual salary of only $25 million, which made the Rockets club make a fortune. He is very suitable for the Rockets' system and has become a key figure in the shaping of the team's culture. The fighting spirit of the Rockets young players is largely due to his role model power. Currently, Van Jordan is training with Shin Kyung in Türkiye. Obviously, he still hopes to perform better in the Rockets and sacrifices his salary to achieve his goals.

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Smart's previous annual salary in his contract exceeded US$20 million, and everyone knows his strength. He can switch to No. 1 to No. 4, and even a small center forward. Defensive passion is the key spark that stimulates teammates' desire to defend. Logically speaking, he should have received an annual salary of $21.58 million, but in order to join the Lakers, he voluntarily gave up about $7 million and finally joined with a two-year contract of $11 million. Don't forget, Smart is the best defensive player of 2022.

He is only 31 years old now, but many fans are still worried about his health. According to reporter Stein, Smart pays special attention to weight loss during the offseason, changing his body shape, hoping to return to the arena with a lighter state. Obviously he was eager to prove himself again. The Grizzlies' injuries limited his opportunities and brought doubts. Joining a large-market team like the Lakers will give him more exposure and development opportunities.

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There are four players on the list who bought out and joined. It is precisely because the former team has borne a high salary burden for them that the team that has signed them now is considered a "battery". For example, Lillard is the Bucks who reached a transfer through installment buyout, while Ayton was bought out by the Trail Blazers and signed by the Lakers for $16 million in two years, far lower than his $30 million contract in the new season. This is definitely a great deal for the Lakers.

Although Ayton has not reached the top star level yet, he is an excellent blue-collar insider with excellent physical talent. His physical test data and body shape are very close to legendary player General Robinson. If he can be more resilient, he has the potential to become the top inside player in the league. He is still an uncarved piece of jade, hoping to prove his value again in the Lakers. It is worth noting that he may also become the team's "dressing room bomb" to influence the coaching team with a unique personality and attitude.

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The most cost-effective signing this summer, the Clippers signed Bill for $11 million in two years. If Bill remains in the Suns, his annual salary in the new season will exceed $50 million, ranking among the top 15 in the league. If the Suns had not chosen to buy out in installments, the Clippers would never have obtained him easily. Last season, Bill averaged 17 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Although his performance was not luxurious, he signed him with $11 million, which was absolutely worth it.