NBA 2018/19: The best 3 contracts on the OKC Thunder roster

Many NBA analysts expected the Oklahoma City Thunder to fall out of contention after the team lost All-Star Kevin Durant back in 2016. The franchise was losing one of the best players in the league, and their other star player (Russell Westbrook) was also set to become a free agent just 12 months later.

Despite this, Westbrook committed his remaining peak years to the franchise that drafted him in 2008, and the Thunder have since added a second All-Star in Paul George. Despite being located in one of the least desirable markets in the NBA, Sam Presti and the Thunder have managed to stay relevant, and after making an impressive start to the 18/19 season, the team now believe that they have a shot at defeating the Golden State Warriors.

While the Thunder roster has its fair share of bad contracts, the franchise has also acquired some talented players that are signed to great deals. So here are the best three contracts currently on the OKC roster.

#3 Narlens Noel

During a breathless 2018 offseason, Nerlens Noel's move to the Thunder went under the radar. The center was drafted with the sixth overall pick in the 2013 draft by the Pelicans, although his rights were later traded to the Philadephia 76ers. Noel immediately became a starter on a struggling Sixers team, and he almost averaged a double-double in his first two seasons.

Despite this, Noel's career has recently been derailed by injuries, and the 24-year-old played just 52 times in his final 18 months with the Dallas Mavericks. The young center joined the Thunder this summer on a contract worth just $1,757,429 for the season. While playing backup to Steven Adams, Noel has been excellent from the bench, and he looks to be one of the biggest steals of the 2018 NBA offseason.