Celtics stars at peace with soaring salaries for role players

2:49 PM ET

When Boston Celtics center Tyler Zeller agreed to a two-year, $16 million contract extension on Saturday, it made him the fourth-highest paid player on the roster. With a skyrocketing cap, role players inked deals this summer that will pay them more than pacts inked by All-Star-caliber players in recent seasons.

That’s left some wondering if there will be any lingering resentment in NBA locker rooms because of salary disparity. Zeller, who logged 25 DNPs last season, is scheduled to earn more than the likes of All-Star point guard Isaiah Thomas ($6.6 million) and starting forward Jae Crowder ($6.3 million).

For their part, both Thomas and Crowder have stressed recently that they are not angry with players cashing in on a lucrative market, and eagerly await their chance at a big payday.

Celtics Salaries

A look at Boston’s top 15 salaries:

Player2016-17 SalaryAl Horford$26.5 millionAmir Johnson$12 millionAvery Bradley$8.3 millionTyler Zeller$8 millionIsaiah Thomas$6.6 millionJae Crowder$6.3 millionJonas Jerebko$5 millionJaylen Brown$4.7 millionMarcus Smart$3.6 millionKelly Olynyk$3.1 millionTerry Rozier$1.9 millionJames Young$1.8 millionGerald Green$1.4 millionJordan Mickey$1.2 millionR.J. Hunter$1.2 million

“Everybody go get all you can get, I guess. It’s out there for everybody. Now we don’t have to go and play baseball, we can go get those type of deals in basketball,” Thomas said this month while visiting the Celtics at summer league. “I mean, it’s unbelievable …

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