Salary efficiency in the 2014 NBA Playoffs

[PDXFonz]

I had this random thought when thinking about salary and minutes played during the playoffs. I looked at the Blazer bench and saw a similarity in our players outside of the playoff rotation. That similarity is that most of these players are either on their rookie contracts, or veteran contracts.

I began thinking about Houstons rotation, and started to think that the Blazers are not leaving much cap space sitting on the bench during these playoffs.

Many speculate that a contract is worth how well the player performs. I argue further that a contract is worth how much of an opportunity that player is given to perform. I decided to look at how each team was using their cap space in the post season. A statistic which I feel should impact the rating of each teams front office.

Lets look at each players salary per minute in the regular season, and then compare that to their salary only counting playoff minutes. I have not factored in regular season, or playoff performance when evaluating each players salary. Obviously players earn their salary in both the regular season, and the playoffs. The adjusted total is a number that factors in the discrepancy between minutes played during the regular and the post season.

In order to show my method for calculating the valuation of each player, I'll start by showing the starting 5.

Blazers Starters(Through first four playoff games):

Lamarcus Aldridge: 13-14 salary: $14,878,000; $5956 per minute(regular season); $88,560 per minute(playoffs); $5,960 per minute(adjusted total).

Damian Lillard: 13-14 salary: $3,202,920; $1091 per minute(regular season); $17,598 per minute(playoffs); $1,092 per minute(adjusted total)

Welsey Matthews: 13-14 salary: $6,875,480; $2473 per minute(regular season); $42,652 per minute(playoffs); $2,474 per minute(adjusted total)

Robin Lopez: 13-14 salary: $5,904,261; $2264 per minute(regular season); $48,715 per minute(playoffs); $2,265 per minute(adjusted total)

Nicolas Batum: 13-14 salary: $11,295,250; $3826 per minute(regular season); $63,032 per minute(playoffs); $3,827 per minute(adjusted total)

A quick comparison:
LeBron James: 13-14 salary: $19,067,500; $6,568 per minute(regular season); $121,295 per minute(playoffs); $6,571 per minute(adjusted)


We see that in terms of season salary, the Blazers pay their starting unit a combined total of $260,557 per minute(playoffs) or $15,618 per minute(adjusted) compared to $15,610 per minute(regular season).

Blazers Bench(Through first four playoff games):

Barton: 13-14 salary: $788,872 ; $2,047 per minute(regular season); $788,872 per minute(playoffs); $788,872 per minute(adjusted total).

Claver: 13-14 salary: $1,330,000; $7,197 per minute(regular season); $1,330,000 per minute(playoffs); $1,330,000 per minute(adjusted total).

Crabbe: 13-14 salary: $825,000; $8,209 per minute(regular season); $825,000 per minute(playoffs); $825,000 per minute(adjusted total).

Freeland: 13-14 salary: $2,897,976; $3,981 per minute(regular season); $206,998 per minute(playoffs); $3,981 per minute(adjusted total).

Leonard: 13-14 salary: $2,222,160; $6,242 per minute(regular season); $2,222,160 per minute(playoffs); $2,222,160 per minute(adjusted total).

McCollum: 13-14 salary: $2,316,720; $4,877 per minute(regular season); $2,316,720 per minute(playoffs); $2,316,720 per minute(adjusted total).

Robinson: 13-14 salary: $3,526,440; $4,030 per minute(regular season); $106,218 per minute(playoffs); $4,031 per minute(adjusted total).

Watson: 13-14 salary: $884,293; $5,499 per minute(regular season); $884,293 per minute(playoffs); $884,293 per minute(adjusted total).

Williams: 13-14 salary: $2,652,000; $1,445 per minute(regular season); $24,109 per minute(playoffs); $1,445 per minute(adjusted total).

Wright: 13-14 salary: $3,000,000; $3,041 per minute(regular season); $44,643 per minute(playoffs); $3,043 per minute(adjusted total).


In terms of salary the Blazers pay their bench a combined total of $8,749,013 per minute (playoffs) or $8,379,545 per minute(adjusted) compared to $46,568 per minute(regular season)



I'm going to reiterate that I believe this should be a massive contributing factor when determining the quality of a teams management! With executive of the year being announced soon, I feel this is something that is often overlooked. And if my assumptions are correct, this is something that would strongly support Olshey for executive of the year!

 

[PDXFonz]

I'll compare other teams starting with the rockets here.

 

[Eastoff]

Let me know if you want me to continue and delve deeper, further breaking down playoff salary usage. I personally find it intriguing, but won't necessarily continue pursuing the information if you guys aren't interested.

I think it's interesting. You should also include how much the team is paying players who do not see minutes.

 

[maxiep]

Good stuff. Continue. It's a nice metric to calculate GM worth.

Also, can you multiply salary per minute by WS? That may also be an interesting figure.

 

[Boob-No-More]

I think it's interesting. You should also include how much the team is paying players who do not see minutes.

Well, then we'd have to include Brandon Roy at $17,779,458, but that's not Olshey's fault. That contract goes back four GMs ago to Kevin Pritchard.

BNM

 

[Prue]

I like it, I'd even go so far as a breakdown per game of what the overall "Cost to Win/Loss" was for each team. Not that in the playoff's anyone is going to care if it was a million dollar win vs a half-million dollar loss but its interesting nonetheless

 

[illmatic99]

Hah! I had put together a few graphs of team based salary efficiency. I'll throw them on here as an addendum to your work when I get home. From what I remember, HOU and POR were at the top for $/win

 

[maxiep]

Hah! I had put together a few graphs of team based salary efficiency. I'll throw them on here as an addendum to your work when I get home. From what I remember, HOU and POR were at the top for $/win

I don't think that's by accident. I think guys like Morey, Presti and Olshey are at the forefront of NBA analytics.

 

[Further]

Very interesting, but i think it the number needs to be adjusted somehow for rookie scale contracts. That's a matter of sucking till you have picks, and then those players performing. But the players off of the original contract should better demonstrate which teams competently sign quality performers.

 

[Eastoff]

Very interesting, but i think it the number needs to be adjusted somehow for rookie scale contracts. That's a matter of sucking till you have picks, and then those players performing. But the players off of the original contract should better demonstrate which teams competently sign quality performers.

Not all picks are homeruns though. Right Cleveland? Sometimes they waste millions on Anthony Bennett.

 

[illmatic99]

I don't think that's by accident. I think guys like Morey, Presti and Olshey are at the forefront of NBA analytics.

There's that, plus you have guys like Dame/Rolo and Parsons/Beverley who are getting paid peanuts for their production/impact

 

[Mote]

Well, then we'd have to include Brandon Roy at $17,779,458, but that's not Olshey's fault. That contract goes back four GMs ago to Kevin Pritchard.

BNM

Nope. Under contract players who are currently on the roster only.

 

[Further]

Not all picks are homeruns though. Right Cleveland? Sometimes they waste millions on Anthony Bennett.

Yes, but they should be analyzed apart from non-picks. Both are very important, but this stat will be more relevant comparing apples to apples.

 

[Boob-No-More]

Nope. Under contract players who are currently on the roster only.

OK, not sure why you'd exclude amnestied players. The title of the thread is Salary efficiency in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Paying someone $17 million to NOT play for you seems like a pretty inefficient use of that $17 million. But, that money doesn't count against the cap. So, I can see leaving it off.

What about injured players who are under contract, but not on the post season roster (i.e. Derrick Rose)? He's not playing and contributing to the team's success, but he's still on the team's 15 man roster (taking up a roster spot) and his salary counts against the cap.

BNM

 

[Prue]

Yeah i wouldn't make exclusions to the data, the overall value and their worth would be noted in the analysis of said data. We then can argue about how a $XXX win/loss really wont be the same come next year because of contract increases etc.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

I would leave someone like Rose on and someone like Roy off.

 

[Eastoff]

OK, not sure why you'd exclude amnestied players. The title of the thread is Salary efficiency in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Paying someone $17 million to NOT play for you seems like a pretty inefficient use of that $17 million. But, that money doesn't count against the cap. So, I can see leaving it off.

What about injured players who are under contract, but not on the post season roster (i.e. Derrick Rose)? He's not playing and contributing to the team's success, but he's still on the team's 15 man roster (taking up a roster spot) and his salary counts against the cap.

BNM

i think roster only.

 

[illmatic99]

Light red is POR, dark red is HOU. Lines represent median wins (44), and salary (~$68 mil)

Labels were massive, so I didn't include them on the plot. Lemme know if you want the identity of a particular point.

 

[Eastoff]

Labels were massive, so I didn't include them on the plot. Lemme know if you want the identity of a particular point.

What's the black line at about 48 wins? Are we the cheapest team to make the playoffs in the west?

 

[illmatic99]

What's the black line at about 48 wins? Are we the cheapest team to make the playoffs in the west?

It's supposed to be at 44. Damn formatting to pic moved it. Median wins.

We're the cheapest team in the league (and obviously west as well) per win.

8 of top 9 teams in terms of efficiency are in the west. Indiana is the only east team. Table on top is sorted by $/win

 

[Mote]

I see what you are getting at. My take is for decisions by current GM's in their roster assembly. Injuries should be taken out of the equation for being a wild card of chance/misfortune.

OK, not sure why you'd exclude amnestied players. The title of the thread is Salary efficiency in the 2014 NBA Playoffs. Paying someone $17 million to NOT play for you seems like a pretty inefficient use of that $17 million. But, that money doesn't count against the cap. So, I can see leaving it off.

What about injured players who are under contract, but not on the post season roster (i.e. Derrick Rose)? He's not playing and contributing to the team's success, but he's still on the team's 15 man roster (taking up a roster spot) and his salary counts against the cap.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

i think roster only.

Post season roster, or 15-man roster? Derrick Rose is on the Bulls 15-man roster, but not on their post season roster (inactive list). I personally think Rose's salary should be included in this calculation. He's being paid and he counts against the cap. Injuries are unfortunate, but they are part of the game. It's also considered due diligence to check medical records, perform a physical, etc. when drafting a player to avoid someone with chronic injury problems (Greg Oden, Sam Bowie, etc.). That's part of the GM's job. Some injuries are just random bad luck, other's are part of a pattern. In any case, I think anyone who is on the team's roster, getting paid and counting against the cap, should count.

BNM

 

[PDXFonz]

Updated with the Blazers bench

Really puts into perspective damian and his usage compared to contract. This team will need to be a lot different when he is out of his rookie contract. Mo's contract is definitely favorable, and Leonard, Claver seem like probable trade assets in terms of salary.