These three high-paid stars in the NBA are standing by the cliff of buying out

When the Trail Blazers made up their minds to buy out No. 1 center Ayton, who had an annual salary of $35.55 million, the NBA's "sky-high contract" myth was shattered again. Under the double shackles of salary cap and luxury tax, even the maximum-paid stars no longer have the "Gold Medal for Impatience".

Ayton's experience is just the tip of the iceberg. There are already three high-paying players in the league. Because of the difference between the team's strategic adjustment and its own performance, they have become the next strong candidate for "abandoned son at a high price".

Bill: The unsolvable knot of the Suns' salary dilemma

Against the backdrop of Durant staying behind the Suns, the team's back line has a hidden crisis. Bradley Bill, who holds a 2-year contract of 118 million and has the right to veto the transaction, has never met expectations after joining the Suns. Booker, Jaylen Green and Bill, the three of them have over 100 million yuan in salary.

Bill's attendance rate dropped sharply due to frequent injuries, and his offensive efficiency was not as good as his peak period. If the Sun chooses to rebuild, although Bill can release $20-30 million in installments, he will face the salary burden in the next few years. This difficult problem tests the wisdom of the Sun management.

George: The hidden dangers behind the 76ers' bet

In the summer of 2024, the 76ers signed a four-year, 212 million contract with Paul George, hoping that he can form a championship lineup with Embiid and Maxi. However, George's hidden dangers and ups and downs in his injury have made this investment full of uncertainty. Last season, George averaged 21.3 points per game, with his three-point shooting percentage falling below 35%, and he failed to bear the banner of offense in key games.

As Embiid and Maxi continue to increase their salary in the future, the salary space of 76ers will be locked. Once the chemistry in the new season is poor, the management may be forced to "cut off the arm" and bear the pain of dealing with this huge contract.

LaVin: The high-paying burden on the King's road to reconstruction, Zach LaVin signed a five-year, 215 million contract with the Bulls has now become his "sweet burden". After being traded to the Kings, Raven averaged 23.8 points per game, but his shortcomings on the defensive end and unstable output made him incompatible with the team's tactical system.

The Kings entered the reconstruction period after trading core players. Laven's remaining 3 years of 138 million not only hindered the team's signings, but also greatly reduced the value of the transaction. If the team's record in the new season is still sluggish, buying out may be one of the few choices for the Kings.

Ayton's case sounded a wake-up call to the league: At a time when the NBA's business interests are closely linked to competitive performance, no matter how high the contract amount is, it cannot conceal the fact that performance has declined. The three stars Bill, George and LaVine are standing at the intersection of their careers. Can they break the doubts with their performance, or become the next "sky-high abandoned son" to be bought out? The NBA arena in the new season is destined to be full of suspense.