Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam has been labeled the NBA's most overpaid player in a new financial analysis. The study, which evaluated players based on 2025-26 production versus their 2026-27 cap charges, gave Siakam an overpaid score of 77 out of 100. This news arrives as the Pacers look to rebound from a tough stretch, having lost their last two games including a 121-133 defeat to the Detroit Pistons on April 12, 2026.
The analysis examined every NBA player with a cap hit of at least $8 million for the 2026-27 season. Researchers used salary data from Spotrac and Win Shares from Basketball-Reference, requiring a minimum of 49 appearances and 500 minutes played last season. Win Shares estimate a player's total contribution to team victories, providing a single metric to compare across positions. The study then calculated the salary cost per Win Share and compared players within their positional groups.
For Siakam, the numbers were stark. He generated 2.6 Win Shares during the 2025-26 campaign. When his $48.9 million cap figure was divided by that total, the cost came to about $18.8 million for each Win Share. His free-throw shooting also dipped, converting 69.3% of his attempts. That was 6.1 percentage points below his career average and 5.8 points below the average for power forwards.
Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams ranked second with a score of 74. Williams had an $18 million cap charge but recorded minus-0.1 Win Shares, the lowest total among the study's top five. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green placed third with a score of 73. Green produced 1.7 Win Shares against a $27.7 million cap figure, costing roughly $16.3 million per Win Share while shooting 41.8% from the field.
Two more Pacers appeared in the top five. Center Myles Turner and guard Malik Monk tied for fourth with scores of 70. Turner registered three Win Shares with a $26.6 million cap hit. Monk produced one Win Share against a $20.2 million charge, making him the study's most expensive player per Win Share. This financial context adds another layer to a challenging period for the team, which has a recent form of 1 win and 4 losses in its last five outings.
The study measures financial efficiency, not every aspect of a player's impact. But placing Siakam at the top of this list is a tough look for Indiana's payroll management as a new season approaches. The Pacers have invested heavily in their core, and this analysis suggests the return on that investment was poor last year. The team's performance down the stretch supports that concern, with losses including a 94-105 result against the Philadelphia 76ers on April 10 and a 104-124 defeat to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 7.
At the other end of the spectrum, Charlotte Hornets forward Kon Knueppel was named the best value. He scored just 11 on the overpaid scale after producing eight Win Shares on a $10.5 million cap hit. Houston Rockets guard Amen Thompson followed with a score of 14, posting a league-high 10.3 Win Shares among the top values. For the Pacers, the focus now shifts to improving both on-court results and financial output. Fans can track the team's progress and upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
