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The NBA’s small forward position has always been basketball’s luxury. They can do everything due to their size: scoring, defense, rebounding, and playmaking. And in 2026-27, teams are paying accordingly. From young two-way stars such as Jalen Williams and Franz Wagner to established superstars like Kevin Durant, Jimmy Butler, and Kawhi Leonard, the money at this position is absolutely enormous. Following our list of the highest-paid point guards and shooting guards ahead of the 2026-27 season, here are the biggest moneymakers at the small forward spot. 20. Toumani Camara – $18,080,358 Toumani Camara is getting paid in Portland because there simply aren’t enough wings who genuinely enjoy defending. He has built a reputation as a physical, versatile defender and is improving offensively as well. Last season, Camara posted 13.4 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 1.1 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 44.0% FG and 37.0% 3-PT FG. Nearly $18.1 million is a significant number, but Camara has the opportunity to make this contract look like a bargain if his offensive game continues to develop. The league will always find minutes for 6’7″ wings who defend, rebound, and don’t need the ball to impact a game. Camara isn’t being paid like a superstar yet. But he is being paid like someone the Trail Blazers believe could become one of the better role-playing wings in basketball. 19. Peyton Watson – $19,642,857 Peyton Watson‘s journey has been fascinating because his potential has always jumped off the screen. That is why the Cavaliers decided to acquire Watson from the Nuggets in a multi-team deal and significantly improve their starting lineup. Now, the nearly $20 million salary means potential is no longer the only thing being discussed. Production has to follow. The good news is that Watson has already shown flashes of being a legitimate difference-maker defensively. Last season, Watson posted a career-high 14.6 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 1.1 BPG on 49.1% FG and 41.1% 3-PT FG over 54 games with 40 starts. His length allows him to bother wings and protect the rim in ways most small forwards simply cannot. If his three-point shot and offensive consistency continue to improve, this could become one of the best contracts on the list. 18. Shaedon Sharpe – $20,089,286 Shaedon Sharpe is one of those players who can make you stop whatever you’re doing when he gets a runway toward the basket. It is truly a shame Sharpe has suffered a major knee injury and could be sidelined for up to six months. Last season, Sharpe averaged 20.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 2.6 APG, and 1.4 SPG on 45.2% FG and 33.7% 3-PT FG over 50 games with 42 starts. But $20 million also represents the transition from exciting young prospect to established NBA contributor. Sharpe has to become more than a highlight machine, but his focus has to be on rehab. Portland expected a lot from Sharpe moving forward, since the youngster is only 23 years old, but let’s see if he can recover his elite athleticism later on next season. 17. Dillon Brooks – $20,992,727 Dillon Brooks has built an entire NBA career around being the player everyone loves to talk about. He plays with an edge, talks constantly, and has never been afraid of a difficult defensive assignment. But Brooks deserves his salary because his production followed his reputation last season. In his first season with the Suns, the swingman averaged a career-high 20.2 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.2 BPG on 43.5% FG and 34.4% 3-PT FG over 56 games. Brooks is paid nearly $21 million because perimeter defense against elite wings is one of the hardest jobs in basketball, and his offensive game has grown as well. He brings toughness and personality for the Suns, and the franchise will be happy to bring him back in their starting lineup next season. 16. Cameron Johnson – $23,062,500 Cameron Johnson has become one of the NBA’s premier examples of how valuable shooting is when you’re 6’8″. His ability to stretch the floor creates space for everyone around him, and he doesn’t need 20 shots to have a major offensive impact. Johnson posted 12.2 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 2.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 48.0% FG and 43.0% 3-PT FG over 54 games. He started every game, even when he looked like a player who is best suited coming off the bench at times. At just over $23 million, Johnson is being compensated as one of the league’s high-level complementary wings. He can fit next to almost any superstar because he understands his role and doesn’t require the offense to revolve around him. Still, Denver needs more from him (beyond 12.2 PPG) to justify the money he will make. 15. De’Andre Hunter – $24,910,714 De’Andre Hunter has been carrying the label of a potential elite two-way wing. The physical profile is there: size, strength, and enough offensive skill to punish mismatches. That’s why he was able to get a nice paycheck from the Hawks at the time. The challenge has always been consistency. Nearly $25 million puts him in a salary range where the Kings expect more than flashes. The Kings need him to live up to his contract to potentially increase his value for a trade. They expect him to be available, dependable, and capable of making an impact against the league’s best wings. Time will tell if the 28-year-old can improve last season’s numbers: 14.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.7 SPG next season. 14. Trey Murphy III – $27,000,000 Trey Murphy III is exactly the type of modern wing the NBA has become obsessed with. He has size, athleticism, shooting range, and can play above the rim. At 6’8″, a player who can stretch defenses and still finish in transition is incredibly difficult to find. His $27 million salary could look even better as the years go by. Murphy’s game has continued to expand beyond simply standing in the corner waiting for a pass. Last season, the 26-year-old averaged 21.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 3.8 APG on 47.0% FG and 37.9% 3-PT FG over 66 games. He has shown more confidence creating offense, which raises his ceiling considerably. If he continues developing into a legitimate secondary scorer while maintaining his shooting efficiency, Murphy won’t be sitting at No. 14 on lists like this for very long. 13. Devin Vassell – $27,500,000 Devin Vassell is becoming one of the more complete shooting wings in the NBA. He can shoot, create off the dribble, and make difficult shots without needing the offense to completely revolve around him. That is why the Spurs have made him a key part of their starting lineup. Playing alongside Victor Wembanyama also gives him opportunities to attack defenses that simply cannot focus on everyone at once. Vassell posted 13.9 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 43.7% FG and 38.4% 3-PT FG. Nearly $27.5 million is the price of a wing with more offensive upside. Vassell’s ability to score at multiple levels makes him valuable, but his continued development as a defender and decision-maker will determine whether this becomes a great contract or simply a fair one. 12. Mikal Bridges – $33,482,145 Mikal Bridges has earned the reputation of being one of the NBA’s most durable and dependable wings. For the championship-winning Knicks last season, Bridges was invaluable as a lockdown defender and scorer from three and around the rim. At more than $33 million, the Knicks know what they are getting. Bridges is being paid like a major piece of a contender, and he deserves it after posting 14.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 3.7 APG on 49.0% FG and 37.1% 3-PT FG over 82 games. Fortunately, his versatility makes him an easy player to build around. Bridges is one of the best two-way small forwards in the NBA in terms of impact, and the Knicks are happy to have him as one of their untouchable pieces. 11. Brandon Ingram – $40,000,000 The NBA’s $40 million club is a different neighborhood, and Brandon Ingram has officially entered it. At is best, Ingram is one of the smoothest scorers in basketball. But the concern has been whether his team can consistently maximize that talent within a winning structure. At $40 million, he needs to be more than a beautiful scorer. He needs to be a player who elevates everyone around him for the Los Angeles Clippers (assuming the Kawhi Leonard deal stands). Ingram is coming off a season averaging 21.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 3.7 APG on 47.7% FG and 38.2% 3-PT FG. Still, wings with his size and shot-making ability don’t grow on trees. When Ingram gets hot, he can make the game look incredibly simple, and the Clippers are hoping the 28-year-old finally reaches his real potential next season. 10. Michael Porter Jr. – $40,806,150 Michael Porter Jr. is one of the most gifted shooters on this entire list. At 6’10”, he can simply rise over defenders and release a jumper that is almost impossible to contest. Playing alongside Nikola Jokic helped unlock the best parts of his game, and he had a career-year last season with the Nets. Porter Jr. averaged a career-high 24.2 PPG, 7.1 RPG, and 3.0 APG on 46.3% FG and 36.3% 3-PT FG over 52 appearances. More than $40 million is a superstar-level investment, which means Porter will always be judged against that number. But his offensive skill set is incredibly valuable. When he’s hitting shots, he looks like a player who deserves All-Star money. The key for Porter is ensuring the rest of his game continues catching up to his scoring ability. 9. Jalen Williams – $41,240,250 Jalen Williams can seemingly do whatever the game requires, which is why the OKC Thunder franchise loves him so much. Need scoring? He can get a bucket. Need a secondary playmaker? He can handle the ball. Need someone to defend a bigger wing? Send him out there. That versatility is why crossing the $40 million threshold feels justified. Williams (17.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 5.5 APG) has developed into the perfect modern co-star alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, giving Oklahoma City another player capable of making smart decisions without disrupting the offense. His rise has been one of the biggest reasons the Thunder’s core transformed into an NBA champion. And considering his age (25), his best basketball may still be ahead of him. 8. Franz Wagner – $41,754,690 Franz Wagner doesn’t always play with the flashy style that dominates social media, but basketball executives absolutely love what he brings. His game is smooth rather than explosive, but that doesn’t make it any less effective for the Orlando Magic. At nearly $42 million, Wagner is being paid as a franchise cornerstone. The Magic are betting that his size and skill combination will continue evolving into something special, coming off a season averaging 20.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 3.3 APG, 0.9 SPG, and 0.3 BPG on 48.1% FG and 34.5% 3-PT FG. He has already demonstrated that he can carry offensive responsibility, but the next step is turning all that talent into consistent postseason success. So far, Franz has only experienced what a first-round exit feels like at 24 years old. 7. Kevin Durant – $43,902,439 Kevin Durant at $43.9 million almost feels like a discount when you consider the player we’re talking about. This is one of the greatest scorers in NBA history, a player who is coming off an All-NBA Second Team selection at 37 years old by averaging 26.0 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 4.8 APG on 52.0% FG and 41.3% 3-PT FG. Even at this stage of his career, defenses still have no comfortable answer for him because contesting his jumper is almost impossible. The Rockets need Durant to be at this same level next season for them to reach the heights they dream of, and we won’t put that past the superstar forward. The conversation around Durant’s legacy will always be complicated, but Durant is still arguably a top 10 player in the world in terms of impact. Hopefully, his age-38 season continues with more of the same. 6. Lauri Markkanen – $46,113,154 Lauri Markkanen’s improvement has been one of the best reinventions in recent NBA history. Once viewed primarily as a talented stretch forward, he has developed into a legitimate All-Star-caliber scorer. At over $46 million, Markkanen is being paid accordingly. Markkanen averaged 26.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.5 BPG on 47.7% FG and 35.5% 3-PT FG for the Utah Jazz last season. The biggest challenge now, along with many players on this list, is translating his individual production into sustained team success, but there is no denying that Markkanen has become one of the NBA’s most difficult forwards to guard. 5. Anthony Edwards – $48,924,624 Anthony Edwards is a superstar, and the nearly $49 million salary reflects his importance to the Timberwolves as one of the faces of the NBA. He is right in the conversation for being a top 10 player in the world (28.8 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.7 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG), and we are still waiting for that MVP-level improvement from him on both ends. But what makes Edwards worth his money is his growth, and the Timberwolves have been patient with their 25-year-old superstar. He has become a more complete player, improving as a playmaker while maintaining the explosive scoring that made him special in the first place. Minnesota is betting heavily on him, and frankly, that’s an easy bet to understand. The franchise has given him LaMelo Ball to continue their rise in the West, and we can’t wait to see them suit up next to each other. 4. Kawhi Leonard – $50,300,000 When Kawhi Leonard is healthy, there are very few players in the world you would rather have for a playoff series. That is the simple argument behind a $50.3 million salary. Of course, availability will always be part of the conversation at this stage. A player making $50 million has to be on the floor, and Kawhi was last season. The superstar forward appeared in 65 games, posting 27.9 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.9 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 50.5% FG and 38.7% 3-PT FG. If healthy, he can still look like one of the five best basketball players alive. As he approaches 36 years old at some point next season, let’s see if Kawhi can continue earning his superstar money by remaining available and focused on basketball. 3. Paul George – $54,126,380 Paul George is not the same player who once made six All-NBA Team appearances. He averaged 17.3 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 43.9% FG and 39.2% 3-PT FG last season, appearing in only 37 games. So why did the Celtics believe he was the best option to bring back in the Jaylen Brown trade? Hope. Remember, $54 million is a salary that invites criticism whenever things go wrong. But we think George will have a very good season in 2026-27, playing for the biggest franchise of his career. George has spent most of his career dealing with high expectations, particularly in the postseason. “Playoff P” became both a compliment and a joke depending on the night, but George has a chance to fix his image with the Celtics. 2. Jimmy Butler – $56,832,773 Jimmy Butler has never cared much about winning a popularity contest. He cares about winning when the games get serious, which is why the Golden State Warriors desperately need him back for next season as he rehabs a major knee injury. Butler had an up-and-down season in 2025-26, averaging 20.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 4.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, and 0.2 BPG on 51.9% FG and 37.6% 3-PT FG over 38 games. At nearly $57 million, Butler is being paid for more than his stats, though. The question at this stage is how long Butler can maintain that level physically, but nobody should question what he brings when the pressure rises. 1. Jaylen Brown – $57,736,350 Jaylen Brown sits at the top of this list, and the number is staggering: $57.7 million for one season. The Celtics were so scared of that number that they traded him to a division rival. Time will tell if this was a terrible mistake or the right move. Still, Brown has earned his place among the NBA’s highest-paid wings. He has developed into a legitimate MVP-caliber player who posted a career-high 28.7 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 5.1 APG, 1.0 SPG, and 0.4 BPG on 47.7% FG and 34.7% 3-PT FG while finishing 6th in the MVP race. The pressure that comes with being the highest-paid small forward on this list will always be enormous. But that’s the price of success in today’s NBA, and the 76ers are more than happy to take whatever gamble that is. Nearly $58 million is a jaw-dropping number, but so is the modern NBA economy.