Vit Krejci is one of the best shooters in the NBA this season, yet he is locked in until 2028 on a four-year, $10 million deal. This is, without a doubt, the best-value contract in the league.
“Best value” can vary in the eye of the beholder. Regardless of your perspective, the criteria considered are player quality, annual salary, and contract length (in that order).
Krejci's contract was already a steal before he broke out
When the Hawks signed Pistol Vit, they were looking for a source of bench playmaking to accompany Trae Young. Krejci was a mixed bag as a shooter when he received his deal, with one season each in the 20s, 30s, and 40s from three point land.
Krejci is averaging 10.6 points in 23.6 minutes a night, just 0.9 less time than the former #1 pick Zaccharie Risacher. The fifth-year player out of Czechia has blossomed into one of the best shooters in the NBA this season – Krejci is shooting 47.7% from deep, the second-highest clip in the league of players with at least 100 attempts (roughly three a game over the season).
Unlike fellow Hawks sharpshooter Luke Kennard, Krejci is known for letting it fly, and his confidence shines through the TV screen when he’s in the game. Krejci hunches over like a large cat stalking its unfortunate prey in the halfcourt, using screens and his arms to fight less physical defenders and find the minimal space required to fire off a shot. He’s leading the Hawks in three point attempts per 100 possessions and is 41st in the league – a remarkable rate considering his percentage.
While players like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Cade Cunningham are clearly a tier above Krejci, their contracts reflect their value. Krejci, however, is owed a total of $8 million over the next three years (assuming Atlanta exercises his team option in 2027-28, which is all but guaranteed if he remains in the rotation).
Of all players who are not on their rookie-scale deal, Krejci holds the best combination of player ability and
To put Krejci’s contract in perspective, Luke Kennard is currently on a one-year, $11 million deal. While the Hawks admittedly overpaid Kennard, this is the salary required to lure a premier sharpshooter in the modern NBA. The only problem? Krejci already overtook Kennard in the rotation, and he’s earning less than a quarter of Kennard’s salary.