LockerRoomDaily

Not every NBA contract is a disaster. For every overpaid vet dragging down a cap sheet, there’s a front office somewhere quietly winning the offseason with value deals.

In a league obsessed with max contracts and superteams, these five players are delivering serious bang for the buck in 2025 — and they might just swing a playoff series or two.

1. Gary Trent Jr. — Bucks ($3.8M AAV)

• 2024-25 Stats: 11.1 PTS (43/42/85), 2.3 REB, 1.2 AST
• Contract: 2 yrs, $7.6M

Trent made $18.6M just two seasons ago. Now? He’s playing next to Giannis for barely a vet’s exception and hitting a career-best 42% from three. The Bucks landed one of the best value shooters in the league — again.

He lit up the Pacers for two 30-point games in the playoffs, and Milwaukee re-upped him at just 2.39% of the cap. In today’s CBA crunch, that’s robbery. He’s the definition of a modern bargain: spacing, effort, and playoff shot-making — all without breaking the bank.

Why #1:

• Elite 3PT shooting (42%) in high-leverage playoff games.
• Former $18M/year player now signed for $3.8M AAV.
• Outperformed the contract in both regular season and postseason.
• Most underpaid volume scorer in the NBA right now.

2. Deandre Ayton — Lakers ($8.1M AAV)

• 2024-25 Stats: 14.4 PTS (57/19/67), 10.2 REB
• Contract: 2 yrs, $16.2M (PO in ’26-27)

The Lakers were almost left center-less. Then they landed Ayton for pennies on the dollar after a Portland buyout. He’s only 26, still puts up double-doubles, and brings size the Lakers desperately needed.

Read More: 5 Worst NBA Contracts in 2025

Yes, he’s been frustrating. Yes, Portland paid him not to play. But if he locks back into the rim-running, screen-setting, Finals-ready big we saw in Phoenix? This deal will look like a masterstroke.

Why #2:

• Shot 50/38/73 and can switch on defense.
• Still just 29 and plays with confidence after Olympics boost.
• $1.44M per win is incredibly efficient.
• Fills a real need on a conference finalist.

3. Guerschon Yabusele — Knicks ($5.6M AAV)

• 2024-25 Stats: 11.0 PTS (50/38/73), 5.6 REB, 2.1 AST
• Contract: 2 yrs, $11.3M

From overseas to overlooked to overdelivering – Yabusele finally made good on his 2016 first-round promise. After shining in Philly during a lost season and showing out in the Olympics, he landed with a contender.

New York was thin behind McBride and Robinson. Yabusele’s switchable defense and 38% from deep bring a badly needed frontcourt spark. For a team chasing another ECF run, this was a quietly huge signing.

Why #3:

• Legit double-double guy, still just 26.
• $8.1M AAV for a former No. 1 pick in his prime? That’s wild.
• High upside swing – if engaged, it’s a steal.
• Dropped because of buyout baggage and past inconsistency.

4. Bruce Brown Jr. — Nuggets ($3.1M AAV)

• 2024-25 Stats: 8.3 PTS (42/33/82), 4.0 REB, 2.0 AST
• Contract: 1 yr, $3.1M

Back in Denver, and back where he belongs.

Brown was a perfect Jokic-sidekick during the 2023 title run, and the Nuggets just got him back on a minimum deal. Injuries and trades derailed him in Indiana and Toronto, but this is a classic “get-right” scenario.

If he regains even 75% of his form from that championship season, Denver’s bench gets a serious two-way jolt – for under 2% of the cap.

Why #4:

• Back with the team where he fits best.
• $3.1M for a proven playoff performer is value, even if the efficiency dipped.
• Short-term deal keeps it low risk.
• Slight downgrade due to decline in recent play.

5. Dorian Finney-Smith — Rockets ($13.2M AAV)

• 2024-25 Stats: 8.7 PTS (45/41/67), 3.9 REB
• Contract: 4 yrs, $52.7M (Only $26M guaranteed)

Houston went all in on Kevin Durant and needed a reliable 3-and-D wing to patch the hole left by Dillon Brooks. Enter DFS — a guy who shot 41% from deep and brings playoff-tested defense.

Here’s the kicker: only two years are guaranteed. For a wing rotation with Amen Thompson and Tari Eason, Finney-Smith is the veteran glue guy who doesn’t need the ball to make an impact. Just ask the Lakers — they wanted him back and got outbid.

Why #5:

• Solid 3-and-D wing who fits a contender’s roster.
• Contract isn’t fully guaranteed, which makes it team-friendly.
• But at $13.2M AAV and over 8% of the cap, it’s not quite as “underrated” as the others – more “fair” than “steal.”