Every good team has one. The guy who plays 24 minutes, never has a play called for him, and
somehow the team is better every time he checks in. Broadcasters call him a “glue guy,” which
is a compliment in roughly the way “he has a great personality” is a compliment.
The model has no idea what glue is. It just counts. And by its count, some of the best value in
the league in 2025-26 came from exactly these players: the ones nobody puts on a billboard.
The ground rules
A role player here is anyone who averaged under 28 minutes a night and earned under
10% of the cap ($15M).1
The list
Julian Champagnie leads: 6.2 wins above replacement in 27.9 minutes a
night, for $3.0M. Moussa Diabaté is next, at 6.0 wins for
$2.3M. For context, 6.2 wins is what the model credited
to plenty of players earning ten times as much.
Now look at the salary column. Five of the top ten earned less than
$4.6M, about 3% of the cap. That is, give or take, what it costs to employ
someone the league considers interchangeable. They were not interchangeable.
-4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 $0M $5M $10M $15M Dylan Harper: 5.5 WAR on $12M Kris Dunn: 4.9 WAR on $5.4M Donovan Clingan: 4.6 WAR on $7.2M Isaiah Joe: 4.6 WAR on $12M Luke Kennard: 4.4 WAR on $11M Cason Wallace: 4.3 WAR on $5.8M Ausar Thompson: 4.1 WAR on $8.8M Sandro Mamukelashvili: 4.0 WAR on $2.5M Oso Ighodaro: 3.8 WAR on $2.0M Sam Merrill: 3.7 WAR on $8.5M Cam Spencer: 3.6 WAR on $2.5M Jose Alvarado: 3.6 WAR on $4.5M Coby White: 3.6 WAR on $13M Luke Kornet: 3.5 WAR on $11M Jaylin Williams: 3.4 WAR on $8.4M Brook Lopez: 3.3 WAR on $8.8M Derrick Jones Jr.: 3.3 WAR on $10M Day'Ron Sharpe: 3.3 WAR on $6.2M Tre Jones: 3.3 WAR on $8.0M Robert Williams III: 3.2 WAR on $13M Dean Wade: 3.1 WAR on $6.6M Reed Sheppard: 3.1 WAR on $11M Cedric Coward: 3.1 WAR on $5.7M Javonte Green: 3.0 WAR on $2.3M Miles McBride: 3.0 WAR on $4.3M Tari Eason: 3.0 WAR on $5.7M Jordan Goodwin: 3.0 WAR on $2.4M Steven Adams: 2.9 WAR on $14M Sion James: 2.9 WAR on $2.3M Kyle Filipowski: 2.9 WAR on $3.0M De'Anthony Melton: 2.8 WAR on $3.1M Pelle Larsson: 2.8 WAR on $2.0M Kel'el Ware: 2.7 WAR on $4.4M Jamal Shead: 2.7 WAR on $2.0M Al Horford: 2.7 WAR on $5.7M Jay Huff: 2.7 WAR on $2.4M Jalen Williams: 2.7 WAR on $6.6M Nicolas Batum: 2.7 WAR on $5.6M Jalen Smith: 2.6 WAR on $9.0M Jock Landale: 2.6 WAR on $2.3M Mouhamed Gueye: 2.6 WAR on $2.2M Tim Hardaway Jr.: 2.5 WAR on $2.3M Daniss Jenkins: 2.5 WAR on $3.8M Gui Santos: 2.5 WAR on $2.2M Ryan Kalkbrenner: 2.5 WAR on $2.3M Tristan da Silva: 2.4 WAR on $3.8M Clint Capela: 2.4 WAR on $6.7M Jake LaRavia: 2.4 WAR on $6.0M Mitchell Robinson: 2.4 WAR on $13M Svi Mykhailiuk: 2.4 WAR on $3.7M Mike Conley: 2.4 WAR on $11M Goga Bitadze: 2.3 WAR on $8.3M Paul Reed: 2.3 WAR on $5.3M Ayo Dosunmu: 2.3 WAR on $7.5M Quenton Jackson: 2.1 WAR on $0.6M Collin Murray-Boyles: 2.1 WAR on $6.3M Luka Garza: 2.1 WAR on $2.5M Josh Okogie: 2.1 WAR on $2.3M Baylor Scheierman: 2.1 WAR on $2.6M Hugo González: 2.1 WAR on $2.8M Quinten Post: 2.1 WAR on $2.0M T.J. McConnell: 2.1 WAR on $10M Dominick Barlow: 2.1 WAR on $3.4M Simone Fontecchio: 2.0 WAR on $8.3M Egor Dëmin: 2.0 WAR on $6.9M Landry Shamet: 2.0 WAR on $2.3M Aaron Wiggins: 2.0 WAR on $10M Moses Moody: 2.0 WAR on $12M Kris Murray: 2.0 WAR on $3.1M Aaron Holiday: 1.9 WAR on $2.3M Keon Ellis: 1.8 WAR on $2.3M Justin Champagnie: 1.8 WAR on $2.4M Bobby Portis Jr.: 1.8 WAR on $13M Brandon Williams: 1.8 WAR on $2.3M Lonzo Ball: 1.7 WAR on $10M Mark Williams: 1.7 WAR on $6.3M Caris LeVert: 1.7 WAR on $14M Josh Minott: 1.7 WAR on $2.4M Jaylon Tyson: 1.7 WAR on $3.5M Bones Hyland: 1.6 WAR on $2.3M Craig Porter Jr.: 1.6 WAR on $2.2M Kasparas Jakučionis: 1.6 WAR on $3.7M Ryan Nembhard: 1.6 WAR on $0.3M Daniel Gafford: 1.6 WAR on $14M Rasheer Fleming: 1.6 WAR on $1.3M Jalen Pickett: 1.6 WAR on $2.2M Dwight Powell: 1.5 WAR on $4.0M Nique Clifford: 1.5 WAR on $3.1M Dru Smith: 1.5 WAR on $2.4M Dennis Schröder: 1.4 WAR on $14M Jaylen Wells: 1.4 WAR on $2.0M Jonas Valanciunas: 1.4 WAR on $10M Kenrich Williams: 1.4 WAR on $7.2M John Konchar: 1.4 WAR on $6.2M Kevin Love: 1.4 WAR on $4.2M Nikola Jović: 1.4 WAR on $4.5M Ja'Kobe Walter: 1.4 WAR on $3.6M Alex Sarr: 1.3 WAR on $12M Jamir Watkins: 1.3 WAR on $1.1M Vince Williams Jr.: 1.3 WAR on $2.3M Jeremiah Fears: 1.3 WAR on $7.5M D'Angelo Russell: 1.3 WAR on $5.7M Jarred Vanderbilt: 1.3 WAR on $12M Jared McCain: 1.3 WAR on $4.2M Jordan Clarkson: 1.2 WAR on $11M Gary Payton II: 1.2 WAR on $2.3M Ty Jerome: 1.2 WAR on $8.8M Isaiah Jackson: 1.2 WAR on $7.6M Obi Toppin: 1.2 WAR on $14M Karlo Matković: 1.2 WAR on $2.0M Guerschon Yabusele: 1.2 WAR on $5.5M Leonard Miller: 1.1 WAR on $2.2M Jordan Walsh: 1.1 WAR on $2.2M Danny Wolf: 1.1 WAR on $2.8M Dorian Finney-Smith: 1.1 WAR on $13M Nae'Qwan Tomlin: 1.1 WAR on $0.7M Derik Queen: 1.1 WAR on $5.2M Tre Johnson: 1.1 WAR on $8.2M Jaylen Clark: 1.1 WAR on $2.2M Marvin Bagley III: 1.1 WAR on $2.3M Kobe Sanders: 1.1 WAR on $0.5M Grant Williams: 1.1 WAR on $14M Andre Drummond: 1.1 WAR on $5.0M Jaxson Hayes: 1.1 WAR on $3.5M Adem Bona: 1.1 WAR on $2.0M Micah Peavy: 1.0 WAR on $1.3M Myron Gardner: 1.0 WAR on $0.4M Walter Clayton Jr.: 1.0 WAR on $4.0M Tyler Kolek: 0.9 WAR on $2.2M Ben Sheppard: 0.9 WAR on $2.8M Jonathan Isaac: 0.9 WAR on $15M Jevon Carter: 0.9 WAR on $6.8M Jamaree Bouyea: 0.9 WAR on $0.6M Josh Green: 0.8 WAR on $14M Sidy Cissoko: 0.8 WAR on $0.7M Marcus Sasser: 0.8 WAR on $2.9M Pete Nance: 0.8 WAR on $0.6M Ryan Dunn: 0.8 WAR on $2.7M Buddy Hield: 0.8 WAR on $9.2M Tristan Vukcevic: 0.8 WAR on $2.9M Will Richard: 0.8 WAR on $1.3M Matisse Thybulle: 0.8 WAR on $12M Micah Potter: 0.8 WAR on $1.5M Vít Krejčí: 0.7 WAR on $2.4M Gabe Vincent: 0.7 WAR on $12M Cam Thomas: 0.7 WAR on $6.0M Khaman Maluach: 0.7 WAR on $6.0M Yanic Konan Niederhäuser: 0.7 WAR on $2.7M Precious Achiuwa: 0.7 WAR on $2.1M Tyrese Proctor: 0.7 WAR on $1.3M Kevon Looney: 0.7 WAR on $8.0M Jericho Sims: 0.7 WAR on $2.5M Zach Edey: 0.7 WAR on $6.0M Johnny Furphy: 0.7 WAR on $2.0M Kyle Anderson: 0.7 WAR on $9.2M Tony Bradley: 0.7 WAR on $2.9M Mohamed Diawara: 0.7 WAR on $1.3M Devin Carter: 0.7 WAR on $4.9M Yves Missi: 0.7 WAR on $3.4M Isaac Okoro: 0.6 WAR on $11M Keshad Johnson: 0.6 WAR on $2.0M Spencer Jones: 0.6 WAR on $0.6M Isaiah Stewart: 0.6 WAR on $15M Jordan McLaughlin: 0.6 WAR on $2.3M Cole Anthony: 0.6 WAR on $3.7M Cameron Payne: 0.6 WAR on $0.7M Moritz Wagner: 0.6 WAR on $5.0M Tyus Jones: 0.6 WAR on $7.0M Cam Christie: 0.6 WAR on $2.0M Asa Newell: 0.6 WAR on $3.2M Liam McNeeley: 0.6 WAR on $2.8M Thomas Bryant: 0.6 WAR on $2.3M Jalen Wilson: 0.6 WAR on $2.2M Jabari Walker: 0.6 WAR on $0.7M Julian Phillips: 0.6 WAR on $2.2M Pat Spencer: 0.5 WAR on $0.9M Kelly Olynyk: 0.5 WAR on $13M Carter Bryant: 0.5 WAR on $4.9M Corey Kispert: 0.5 WAR on $14M Trayce Jackson-Davis: 0.5 WAR on $2.2M Noah Penda: 0.5 WAR on $1.3M Larry Nance Jr.: 0.5 WAR on $2.3M Christian Koloko: 0.5 WAR on $0.1M Jase Richardson: 0.5 WAR on $3.0M Chris Paul: 0.5 WAR on $2.3M Ron Harper Jr.: 0.5 WAR on $0.1M Tyrese Martin: 0.5 WAR on $2.2M Gradey Dick: 0.5 WAR on $5.0M Joan Beringer: 0.5 WAR on $4.2M Jamal Cain: 0.4 WAR on $0.3M Dalen Terry: 0.4 WAR on $5.4M Jamison Battle: 0.4 WAR on $2.0M Gary Harris: 0.4 WAR on $3.6M Lindy Waters III: 0.4 WAR on $2.3M Jordan Miller: 0.4 WAR on $0.7M Bilal Coulibaly: 0.4 WAR on $7.3M Maxi Kleber: 0.4 WAR on $11M Duop Reath: 0.4 WAR on $2.2M Joe Ingles: 0.3 WAR on $2.3M Anthony Gill: 0.3 WAR on $2.3M Terrence Shannon Jr.: 0.3 WAR on $2.7M DaRon Holmes II: 0.3 WAR on $3.2M Zaccharie Risacher: 0.3 WAR on $13M Dereck Lively II: 0.3 WAR on $5.2M Jae'Sean Tate: 0.3 WAR on $2.3M Chaz Lanier: 0.3 WAR on $1.4M Scoot Henderson: 0.3 WAR on $11M Taylor Hendricks: 0.3 WAR on $6.1M Doug McDermott: 0.3 WAR on $2.3M Scotty Pippen Jr.: 0.3 WAR on $2.3M Caleb Martin: 0.3 WAR on $9.6M Ariel Hukporti: 0.3 WAR on $2.0M JD Davison: 0.3 WAR on $2.3M Mason Plumlee: 0.2 WAR on $2.3M E.J. Liddell: 0.2 WAR on $0.7M A.J. Lawson: 0.2 WAR on $0.0M Malachi Smith: 0.2 WAR on $0.1M Ochai Agbaji: 0.2 WAR on $6.4M Keaton Wallace: 0.2 WAR on $2.3M Alondes Williams: 0.2 WAR on $0.1M Tolu Smith: 0.2 WAR on $0.1M Tyler Smith: 0.2 WAR on $2.0M Pat Connaughton: 0.2 WAR on $9.4M Taurean Prince: 0.2 WAR on $3.3M Chris Boucher: 0.2 WAR on $2.3M Drew Timme: 0.2 WAR on $2.0M Seth Curry: 0.2 WAR on $1.8M DeAndre Jordan: 0.2 WAR on $2.3M Adou Thiero: 0.2 WAR on $1.3M Kyle Lowry: 0.1 WAR on $2.3M Dalton Knecht: 0.1 WAR on $4.0M Garrison Mathews: 0.1 WAR on $0.3M Nolan Traore: 0.1 WAR on $3.8M Mac McClung: 0.1 WAR on $0.2M Monte Morris: 0.1 WAR on $0.3M Bronny James: 0.1 WAR on $2.0M Ace Bailey: 0.1 WAR on $9.1M Patrick Baldwin Jr.: 0.1 WAR on $0.1M Pacôme Dadiet: 0.1 WAR on $2.9M Xavier Tillman: 0.1 WAR on $2.5M GG Jackson: 0.1 WAR on $2.2M Brice Sensabaugh: 0.1 WAR on $2.7M Eric Gordon: 0.1 WAR on $2.3M Taj Gibson: 0.1 WAR on $1.0M Cody Martin: 0.1 WAR on $0.1M Omer Yurtseven: 0.1 WAR on $0.1M Jaden Ivey: 0.1 WAR on $10M Amari Williams: 0.1 WAR on $0.5M Haywood Highsmith: 0.1 WAR on $5.6M Brandon Clarke: 0.1 WAR on $12M Tyler Burton: 0.1 WAR on $0.1M Caleb Houstan: 0.1 WAR on $0.7M Jett Howard: 0.1 WAR on $5.5M Jaden Hardy: 0.0 WAR on $6.0M Dillon Jones: 0.0 WAR on $2.8M Nikola Topić: 0.0 WAR on $5.2M Thanasis Antetokounmpo: 0.0 WAR on $2.3M Dario Saric: 0.0 WAR on $5.4M Amir Coffey: 0.0 WAR on $2.3M Charles Bassey: 0.0 WAR on $0.1M Mouhamadou Gueye: 0.0 WAR on $0.1M Cam Whitmore: 0.0 WAR on $3.5M Hunter Tyson: 0.0 WAR on $2.2M Dalano Banton: 0.0 WAR on $0.1M Markelle Fultz: 0.0 WAR on $0.1M Nigel Hayes-Davis: 0.0 WAR on $2.0M DeJon Jarreau: 0.0 WAR on $0.1M Andre Jackson Jr.: 0.0 WAR on $2.2M Chris Livingston: 0.0 WAR on $2.3M Kam Jones: 0.0 WAR on $1.3M Yang Hansen: 0.0 WAR on $4.4M Garrett Temple: -0.0 WAR on $2.3M DaQuan Jeffries: 0.0 WAR on $0.1M Isaac Jones: 0.0 WAR on $2.0M Mo Bamba: -0.0 WAR on $0.2M Trendon Watford: -0.0 WAR on $2.5M Killian Hayes: -0.0 WAR on $0.4M Malaki Branham: -0.0 WAR on $5.0M Kobe Bufkin: -0.0 WAR on $4.5M Jonathan Mogbo: -0.0 WAR on $2.0M AJ Johnson: -0.1 WAR on $3.1M Jeff Green: -0.1 WAR on $2.3M James Wiseman: -0.1 WAR on $1.0M Bismack Biyombo: -0.1 WAR on $2.3M Zeke Nnaji: -0.1 WAR on $8.2M Rob Dillingham: -0.1 WAR on $6.6M Justin Edwards: -0.2 WAR on $2.0M Blake Wesley: -0.2 WAR on $3.4M Bryce McGowens: -0.2 WAR on $0.7M Drew Eubanks: -0.2 WAR on $2.3M Will Riley: -0.2 WAR on $3.5M Tidjane Salaün: -0.2 WAR on $7.9M Jeremiah Robinson-Earl: -0.2 WAR on $0.3M Julian Strawther: -0.3 WAR on $2.7M Maxime Raynaud: -0.3 WAR on $1.3M Ziaire Williams: -0.3 WAR on $6.2M Ousmane Dieng: -0.3 WAR on $6.7M Jeremy Sochan: -0.3 WAR on $7.1M Nick Smith Jr.: -0.3 WAR on $2.7M Ben Saraf: -0.4 WAR on $2.9M Tre Mann: -0.4 WAR on $8.0M Jordan Hawkins: -0.5 WAR on $4.7M Kobe Brown: -0.5 WAR on $2.6M Noah Clowney: -0.5 WAR on $3.4M Olivier-Maxence Prosper: -0.6 WAR on $1.0M Nick Richards: -0.7 WAR on $5.0M Bruce Brown: -1.0 WAR on $2.3M Jarace Walker: -1.0 WAR on $6.7M Drake Powell: -1.0 WAR on $3.4M Gary Trent Jr.: -1.1 WAR on $3.7M Isaiah Collier: -1.1 WAR on $2.6M Cody Williams: -1.6 WAR on $5.7M Rayan Rupert: -2.1 WAR on $2.2M Bub Carrington: -3.1 WAR on $4.7M Julian Champagnie: 6.2 WAR on $3.0M Sam Hauser: 6.1 WAR on $10M Moussa Diabaté: 6.0 WAR on $2.3M Neemias Queta: 5.7 WAR on $2.4M Ajay Mitchell: 5.5 WAR on $3.0M Julian Champagnie Sam Hauser Moussa Diabaté Neemias Queta Ajay Mitchell Salary WAR Every role player on the 2025-26 board: salary against wins above replacement. The five most valuable are named. Why the market keeps missing these guys
Some of this is the rulebook again: six of the top ten are on rookie-scale deals, whose
price the collective bargaining agreement sets before anybody has seen them play. Those aren’t
mistakes so much as the league’s entry fee paying off.
The rest are the interesting ones. One plausible story, and it is only a story: salaries follow
what a player does with the ball, and ratings like this one follow what happens to the scoreboard
while he’s on the floor. Those are different things. A screen that frees a shooter, a rotation
that kills a drive, a big man who is simply always in the right spot; none of it shows up in a box
score, all of it shows up in the margin, and only one of those two gets priced in July.2
A last note on what success looks like for a role player. Payton Pritchard would have
topped this list, except he played 32.3 minutes a night and graduated out of the
category. That is what happens to role players who are this good: they stop being role players.
Their salaries, eventually, notice.
Figures: the 2025-26 season on the retrospective
players board , as of this build. Wins are on this model’s own scale and
dollars at the open-market price of a win; the method explains
both.
Both lines are arbitrary, as all such lines are. Move them a little and the names shuffle a little; the pattern does not. ↩ This is the Moneyball argument, and it has the Moneyball weakness: once enough people believe it, it stops being true. The column will check next year whether these players got paid. ↩
