Bernucca: Will Work For Food: The NBA’s All-Six-Figure Teams

ALL-SIX-FIGURE FIRST TEAM

Patrick Beverley, G, Houston ($788,872): The Lakers drafted him in 2009, the Heat had him in training camp in 2010 and the Bulls were targeting him last summer. He also spent four years in Europe before being signed by the Rockets in January and averaging 5.6 points and 2.9 assists in 41 games. In the postseason, he averaged 11.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists filling in for an injured Jeremy Lin, sparking Houston to two wins and making a serious enemy in Oklahoma City.

Jeffery Taylor, F, Charlotte ($788,872): As a rookie, he was an early season surprise as he helped spark the Bobcats to a 7-5 start before reality set in. Taylor struggled to score as the season progressed and finished at 6.1 points in 19.6 minutes. The 6-7 wing has spent the offseason working in the post and shooting of the dribble in order to enhance his offense, which the Bobcats certainly need. With Ben Gordon in the last year of his dead-money contract, this season could be his chance.

Lance Stephenson, G, Indiana ($981,349): He wouldn’t be on this list in he had stayed through his sophomore season at Cincinnati, which would have pushed him into the first round. But after riding the bench through his first two seasons – partially due to immaturity – he blossomed last season and was one of the league’s mst improved players, averaging 8.8 points and 3.9 rebounds as he picked up some of the slack for the injured Danny Granger. Then he turned it up a notch in the postseason, where he had six double-digit rebound games (as many as Chris Bosh) and a 25-point eruption in the conference semifinals clincher vs. his hometown Knicks. However, Granger’s return will bump him back to the bench and could mitigate his value in a contract year.

Isaiah Thomas, G, Sacramento ($884,293): When you consider that he was the last pick of the 2011 draft, stuck behind lottery picks such as Tyreke Evans and Jimmer Fredette and limited by a 5-9 frame, his ascendance to starting point guard is remarkable. Just six players from that draft have averaged double figures in their first two seasons, and Thomas is one of them. Apparently, his 13.9 points and 4.0 assists in 27 minutes last season wasn’t good enough for the Kings, who acquired Greivis Vasquez this summer. But that may be a good thing for Thomas, whose long-term future in this league is as a change-of-pace backup.

Chandler Parsons, F, Houston ($926,500): Undoubtedly the most grossly underpaid player in the NBA. Parsons’ salary ranks 11th on the Rockets, who probably would have missed the playoffs without him last season. He had a solid rookie season, then improved every facet of his offensive game as a sophomore. In his first postseason, he took his game to another level, averaging 18.2 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.7 assists. But his greatest value to the Rockets came this summer, when he unleashed a varied social media campaign on Dwight Howard until the big guy relented and signed with Houston. Both Howard and Parsons share agent Dan Fegan, who certainly will remind Daryl Morey of this when Parsons is a free agent in 2015.

Chris Bernucca is the deputy editor of SheridanHoops.com. His columns appear Monday during the season. You can follow him on Twitter.