Ajay Mitchell has the NBA's best contract

Mitchell's quite good coming off of screens, which is important in the Thunder's motion offense. He's also a solid passer, with 3.9 assists per game against just 1.6 turnovers.

Affordable players like Ajay Mitchell are crucial for the Thunder

The scoring is a bonus, but players don't get big minutes on the Thunder if they're not playing defense. Mitchell isn't the fastest or most athletic player on his team, but he has long arms and great instincts. That's how he's averaging 3.6 deflections per game, second only to Cason Wallace on the Thunder's disruptive defense, and 1.8 steals.

In other words, the Thunder have a 6-foot-5, 23-year-old combo guard who can handle the ball, pass, score and defend, and is a strong candidate for Sixth Man of the Year. They also have him under contract for three years at less than $9M, which means he's making slightly more than the league minimum.

That's crucial for the Thunder, who handed out extensions to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jalen Williams and Chet Holmgren this summer that will pay them $124M combined in 2026-27 and over $150M combined in 2027-28. With the NBA's harsh penalties for payrolls exceeding the luxury tax aprons, a player like Mitchell is crucial for keeping their roster intact.

He's also crucial for winning games right now. While Mitchell might lose playing time when Dort and Williams return, he's looking like a key piece for the Thunder for a long time, as well as an unbelievable bargain.