By: Jason Fleming Last Updated: 12/4/09 12:26 PM ET | 447 times read

Adjust font size:The other day we strolled through our salary database here at HOOPSWORLD and put together some lists about the highest paid players in the NBA this season. This time we are taking a look at the teams. In the following lists we'll take a look at future salary commitments, options, expiring deals, and various other aspects of team salaries.

(All numbers in millions, rounded to the nearest $100,000.)

2009-10 Season

Most Active Rookie Scale Contracts
1 – Oklahoma City– 7
2 – Sacramento, Memphis – 6

Players who had rookie scale contracts declined – like Milwaukee's Joe Alexander – are not considered "active." Players whose contracts have already been extended – like Portland's Brandon Roy – were also excluded.

Most Rookies, Any Salary
1 – Detroit, Houston, Memphis, New York, Oklahoma City, Portland, Sacramento – 3

Notice the number of teams there that have playoff aspirations. Portland and Houston definitely, and then Detroit, OKC, and maybe even Sacramento – multiples rookies is usually not an indicator of a playoff team.

Most Minimum Salary Deals
1 – New Orleans - 5
2 – Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Portland, San Antonio – 4

Conversely, playoff teams do have a tendency to have minimum contracts because they sign veterans to fill specific roles on their roster. Notice Portland and Detroit are on both lists – minimum salary rookies.

Looking Towards the Summer of 2010

Highest Payroll 2009-10
1 – L.A. Lakers - $91.4
2 - Dallas - $88.6
3 - Boston - $84.5
4 – New York - $84.0
5 - Cleveland - $82.5

Outside of New York these are all good teams. Coincidence? Not at all.

Lowest Payroll 2009-10
1 – Oklahoma City - $48.7
2 – Sacramento – $54.6
3 – Memphis - $55.3
4 – New Jersey - $56.6
5 – Portland - $56.8

Are there playoff teams on this list? Portland likely is, but anyone else? Sacramento and OKC are both playing well.

Largest $ Amount of Expiring Deals – 2010
1 – New York - $59.2
2 – Miami – $46.9
3 - Cleveland - $34.1

If you want to cut payroll and get in the game for free agency 2010, these are the teams you should talk to. Not that they will necessarily talk back…

Most 2010-11 Team Options
1 – Dallas – 2 ($13.7)
2 – Houston – 2 ($5.3)
3 – Cleveland – 1 ($0.9)
4 – Miami – 1 ($0.9)

Most 2010-11 Player Options
1 – L.A. Lakers – 2 ($26.9)
2 – Miami – 2 ($18.0)
3 – Phoenix – 2 ($5.3)
4 – Dallas – 2 ($4.3)

Most 2010-11 Early Termination Options
1 – Charlotte – 2 ($20.0)
2 – New Orleans – 2 ($19.1)

Depending on how these options play our will determine more amounts of cap space available for the 2010 frenzy.

The Future

Highest Payroll 2010-11
1 – Dallas - $85.1
2 – L.A. Lakers - $83.9
3 – Orlando - $78.0

Lowest Payroll 2010-11
1 – New Jersey - $25.7
2 - New York - $27.3
3 – Miami - $30.7

Largest $ Amount of Expiring Deals – 2011
1 – Dallas - $52.4
2 – L.A. Lakers - $47.4
3 - Indiana - $42.7

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View Jason Fleming Archive Sure, we could go beyond 2011, but is it really helpful at the moment considering how many contracts end in the next two years?

2011-12 Commitments

Highest Payroll 2011-12
1 – Orlando - $84.0
2 – Denver - $51.9
3 - Portland - $48.1

Lowest Payroll 2011-12
1 – New York - $8.2
2 - Miami - $11.3
3 - Houston – $12.2

2012-13 Commitments

Highest Payroll 2012-13
1 – Orlando - $60.1
2 – Philadelphia - $42.2
3 – Sacramento - $41.4

Lowest Payroll 2012-13
1 - San Antonio - $1.1
2 – Phoenix - $3.0
3 - Miami - $5.4

Orlando fans, hopefully you really like your team and they prove to be championship quality for the foreseeable future, because the Magic are likely over the salary cap three years out. So far, so good.

2013-14 Commitments

Highest Payroll 2013-14
1 – Portland - $31.9
2 – Toronto - $22.8
3 – Washington - $22.3

Lowest Payroll 2013-14
1 -Charlotte, L.A. Clippers, Memphis, Miami, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Phoenix, San Antonio, Utah - $0

2014-15 Commitments

Highest Payroll 2014-15
1 – Portland - $34.5
2 – Washington - $22.3
3 – Toronto - $11.5
4 - Cleveland - $9.7

Lowest Payroll 2014-15
Everyone Else

Portland has committed that money to two players: Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. That's likely over half of the salary cap five years into the future, so they better hope it was the right call.