Larry Hughes Career Overview and Contract History
Larry Hughes is a retired professional basketball player who spent 14 seasons in the NBA, primarily as a shooting guard. He was selected 8th overall in the 2000 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers after playing one season at Saint Louis University. Hughes played for the 76ers, Golden State Warriors, Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Charlotte Bobcats, Chicago Bulls, Orlando Magic, and Sacramento Kings before retiring in 2013. His most notable contract came in 2005 when he signed a 6-year, $70 million maximum rookie extension with the Washington Wizards, which included a player option for the final year. The deal made him one of the highest-paid guards in the league at the time and reflected his status as a defensive specialist and transition threat. His career earnings from NBA contracts totaled approximately $95 million before his final contracts with the Chicago Bulls and Orlando Magic in 2012 and 2013. More details on his career timeline are available on his Basketball Reference page. Larry Hughes Basketball Reference
Hughes signed a 1-year contract with the Chicago Bulls in 2012 worth the veteran minimum of approximately $1.3 million, then a similar 1-year deal with the Orlando Magic in 2013. His final NBA season was 2012-2013, after which he was not on an NBA roster. His contract history shows a clear arc from a maximum rookie extension to veteran minimum deals, consistent with a player whose role shifted from primary option to specialist role player. His peak salary was roughly $14 million per year during the 2007-2008 season with the Wizards. The decline in his contract value reflected injuries and a shift in team offensive systems that reduced his role. His salary data is tracked on sites like Spotrac and HoopsHype, which archive NBA contract figures and salary tables. Larry Hughes Spotrac
Larry Hughes Contract Structure and Financial Breakdown
Key Terms of the Washington Wizards Maximum Extension
The 2005 Larry Hughes contract with the Washington Wizards was a 6-year extension worth $70 million, signed when he was a restricted free agent. The deal included a full guarantee structure and a player option for the sixth year, giving Hughes control over whether to stay with Washington or test free agency again. The Wizards also held a matching right that allowed them to retain him if another team offered a qualifying offer. The average annual value of the contract was approximately $11.7 million, placing Hughes among the top 15 highest-paid guards in the NBA at the time of signing. The contract was structured with standard escalators and incentives tied to playing time and performance metrics common for veteran maximum deals. The Wizards used this contract to anchor their backcourt alongside Antawn Jamison and later Gilbert Arenas, making Hughes a central piece of their roster construction. Details on the contract structure are discussed in NBA salary analyses on sites like Overthecap, which break down guaranteed money and cap hits. Larry Hughes Overthecap
Salary Progression and Cap Hits
Under the terms of the Wizards extension, Larry Hughes earned approximately $10 million in the first season of the deal, with annual raises of roughly 8 to 10 percent per the standard rookie scale rules that applied to his extension. His cap hit remained steady throughout the deal, and the Wizards never placed him on waivers or bought out the contract early. The player option in the final year was not exercised, and