Big salaries aren’t winning the NBA playoffs

The Magic are alive with a payroll lower than most tanking teams

BY HENRY ABBOTT

Now that the 76ers and Bucks have been eliminated, the ten teams alive in the NBA playoffs have middling NBA payrolls. Three of the five highest-paying teams are home already. The Thunder won the regular season in the West with the league’s 19th biggest payroll. The 24th-in-salary Pacers just beat the injured-but-still-fifth Bucks. The Magic are alive with almost the lowest payroll in the NBA. (There are tanking teams paying their players more.)

Having tons of money to spend doesn’t help you win much in this year’s playoffs.

NBA teams, ranked by payroll

1. Golden State Warriors 

2. Los Angeles Clippers

3. Phoenix Suns 

4. Boston Celtics 

5. Milwaukee Bucks

6. Denver Nuggets

7. Miami Heat

8. Los Angeles Lakers 

9. Chicago Bulls

10. New York Knicks

11. Portland Trail Blazers

12. Minnesota Timberwolves 

13. Dallas Mavericks 

14. New Orleans Pelicans 

15. Cleveland Cavaliers 

16. Toronto Raptors 

17. Memphis Grizzlies 

18. Phi…