He signed a new contract last June with incentive clauses that include minutes played and rebounds.
This season, he signed a $250,000 contract that included several incentive clauses.
The contract has an incentive clause based on the number of plays Smith is on the field for.
Many were not familiar with the business language of sports, from incentive clauses to guarantees.
As a compromise, the team will probably include incentive clauses that would make it possible for the contract's value to increase.
Mendoza, 28, could also make about $200,000 in incentive clauses that are based on the number of starts he makes.
There were also incentive clauses such as making an extra $100,000 if he scored 12 touchdowns in a season.
The contract also included incentive clauses that could have pushed the worth of the deal to nearly $3 million.
It includes an incentive clause for the players, too.
Bonuses and incentive clauses could have raised the figure to $771,000.