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Joakim Noah
The New York Knicks had to have known that giving Joakim Noah the contract they did in 2016 was a big risk. Noah hit his peak during the 2013-14 season, as he averaged a career-high 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.5 blocks per game while shooting 48% from the field, was selected as an all-star for the second time, a member of the All-Defensive 1st team for the second time, and a member of the All-NBA 1st team, and won the Defensive Player of the Year. However, Noah would regress big time next season, putting up his lowest numbers since his second season, and the following year would lose his starting job and miss the majority of the year with injuries, playing in just 29 games. Those red flags didn't stop the Knicks from signing the New York-native Noah to a 4-year, $72 million contract, however, and after a first season plagued by injuries, his second season in the Big Apple was nothing short of a disaster.
Already serving a suspension for violating the anti-drug policy, Noah would miss the first ten games of the season. After returning in late November, Noah would play in just seven games before a verbal altercation with coach Jeff Hornacek in January ended with Noah exiled from the team. Noah wouldn't play following that argument and ended his season playing only 40 minutes total with averages of 1.7 point and 2 rebounds per game. When the Knicks gave Noah that contract, I'm assuming they weren't expecting to pay $17.8 million so he could play less than an hour of game time total. Hornacek is out as head coach so Noah could find his way back onto the team, but that's a huge maybe. With two years left on his contract, Knicks fans better hope these next two seasons go by quick.
Luol Deng
Another former Chicago Bull, Luol Deng is a former two-time all-star but was far removed from that all-star level by the time the Los Angeles Lakers picked him up. Like Noah, Deng had hit his peak long before his big contract signing, as he made two straight all-star appearances between 2011 and 2013 and averaged 16 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 42% from the field and 34% from three-point range. Following those two seasons, Deng was traded midway through the 2013-14 season to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Following that season, Deng played two seasons with the Miami Heat where he averaged 13.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and a steal per game while shooting 46% from the field and 35% from three-point range. Following those two years, Deng signed with the Lakers on a 4-year, $72 million contract in 2016. The deal seemed alright initially, but after a first year that saw him benched at the end of the year for younger players, the writing was probably on the wall for what would happen next year.
Everything seemed fine at first. Deng even got the start on opening night against the Los Angeles Clippers, and while he only recorded 2 points, 1 assists, and 1 steal, he could still bounce back. However, that was the only game Deng would play all season long. Deng was basically deactivated for the rest of the season, with Deng and coach Luke Walton deciding that not playing was better for him than only playing when the game was decided. Deng had already seen his minutes reduced following Magic Johnson becoming president of basketball operations for the Lakers last season, so this move wasn't too surprising. Still, Deng got paid $17.2 million this season to essentially work the Santa Claus-schedule of one night a year despite being healthy. If that's not basically a heist I don't know what is.
Timofey Mozgov
You know, I feel kind of bad putting Timofey Mozgov on this list. Maybe it's because he's a former Cavalier, but there's just something I like about him. That being said, he definitely should not have gotten the big contract he did. After winning an NBA Championship with the Cavs in a season where he averaged 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game while shooting 57% from the field, Mozgov got a 4-year, $64 million contract in 2016 from the Los Angeles Lakers. You know...I'm seeing a pattern here. Mozgov put up slightly better numbers in what ended up being his only season as a Laker, averaging 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting 52% from the field. However, the Lakers decided to dump his contract after that season, sending him to the Brooklyn Nets as part of the Brook Lopez-D'Angelo Russell trade. Even with expectations low, however, Mozgov underperformed big time.
While he initially got the starting job in Brooklyn, Mozgov quickly fell out of favor with the Nets. After averaging 5.2 points and 4.6 rebounds while shooting 56% from the field through his first 13 games, Mozgov was benched and quickly became a garbage time player. Playing in just 31 games this season, Mozgov ended the year with averages of 4.2 points and 3.2 rebounds per game while shooting 56% from the field. With Jarrett Allen receiving more playing time during the end of the year, it became clear that whatever plans the Nets had for the future, Timofey Mozgov was not part of them. That being said, it's not surprising that Brooklyn dumped Mozgov and his terrible contract (2 years, $33 million on it) when they got the chance, trading him to Charlotte Hornets in the Dwight Howard trade. Charlotte also quickly dumped Mozgov off to another team, sending him to the Orlando Magic in a three-team trade. Mozgov shouldn't have gotten the contract he did to begin with, but since he did, he made out with $15.3 million to play bad basketball for less than half a season.
Ian Mahinmi
Like Mozgov, Ian Mahinmi definitely should not have gotten the massive contract he did. In (surprise, surprise) 2016, Mahinmi signed a 4-year, $64 million contract with the Washington Wizards. Mahinmi was coming off his best season yet, as he averaged 9.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 59% from the field with the Indiana Pacers. However, Mahinmi would not improve beyond that season, and he would regress back his less than stellar play in his first season with the Wizards, averaging 5.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 59% from the field while also suffering from knee injuries. This season, Mahinmi put up even worse numbers, not at all justifying $16.6 million he made for the season.
Mahinmi would play in 77 games this year and averaged just 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game while shooting 56% from the field. Playing behind Marcin Gortat, Mahinmi would see limited playing time for the majority of the season, averaging 14.9 minutes per game and only playing over 20 minutes in 17 of the 77 games he played this year. Mahinmi never put up great numbers, but before he went to Washington he was only making $4 million at the most, not the near $17 million he made in Washington. With two years left on his contract, Wizards fans should either be thankful Mahinmi can play solid defense or hope the guy can put up decent numbers at least.
Brook Lopez
It might be a bit of stretch to put Brook Lopez on this list, as he didn't have a horrible season. But considering how much better he was just one year before, it's safe to say he disappointed. During his 9-year stint with the New Jersey/Brooklyn Nets, Lopez was one of the few bright spots that the team had, averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field and made an all-star appearance in 2013 during his time with the Nets. After a season where he averaged 17.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game while shooting 51% from the field, Lopez was rewarded with a 3-year, $63 million extension in 2015. After two more seasons with the Nets where he averaged 20.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 49% from the field and developed a decent enough three-point shot (34% from the beyond the arc in those two seasons), Lopez was shipped to the Los Angeles Lakers for D'Angelo Russell. However, the Brook Lopez the Nets had was not the same Brook Lopez who played for the Lakers this season.
Like I said, Brook Lopez did not do terrible this season. However, he did have his worst season to date and had drops in statistics across the board. For the season, Lopez averaged 13 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.3 blocks per game while shooting 47% from the field and 35% from three-point range. The scoring drop is notable, as he wasn't the main scoring option like he was in Brooklyn, but those rebounding numbers have to be the most egregious. The most rebounds Lopez had in a game this year was 11. To put that in perspective, I play rec league basketball, and I had 13 rebounds in one game. The difference between me and Brook Lopez is that Brook Lopez is seven feet tall and plays in a league where the average height is 6'7, and I'm 5'11 and fat. Despite underperforming big time this season, Lopez walked away with a whopping $22.6 million.
JR Smith
As a Cavaliers fan, I feel like I need to make this abundantly clear: No, this is not purely because of...the incident.
When JR Smith came to Cleveland via a trade with the New York Knicks in 2015, he ended up being a valuable part of a roster that would go on to win an NBA Championship in 2016. During that season, Smith averaged 12.4 points and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 42% from the field and 40% from three-point range. Additionally, Smith averaged 10.6 points and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 40% from the field and 36% from three-point range during the finals against the Golden State Warriors. Smith was rewarded for his strong play during the season with a 4-year, $57 million extension during the offseason because it was 2016 and everyone got a giant contract. However, one Smith got paid, his stats dropped big time. His numbers during the 2016-17 season were very poor, as he dropped to 8.6 points per game and shot below 35% from the field, and the next season was no better.
Smith was able to improve his shooting during the season, shooting 40% from the field and 38% from three-point range, but his stat line was still disappointing considering the $13.8 million he pulled in for the year. Smith averaged just 8.3 points per game during the season, adding 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Smith has never been anything besides a scorer for most of his career, so when he's not scoring, his poor stats in other categories become more noticeable. Smith's shooting in the playoffs was nothing short of terrible, as he shot below 35% from the field in the playoffs altogether and just 32% from the field in the Finals. Smith's contract & numbers aren't as bad as some players on this list, but when he's not doing the one thing he's good at and still pulling in an eight-figure salary, that's a waste of money.
Smith was able to improve his shooting during the season, shooting 40% from the field and 38% from three-point range, but his stat line was still disappointing considering the $13.8 million he pulled in for the year. Smith averaged just 8.3 points per game during the season, adding 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. Smith has never been anything besides a scorer for most of his career, so when he's not scoring, his poor stats in other categories become more noticeable. Smith's shooting in the playoffs was nothing short of terrible, as he shot below 35% from the field in the playoffs altogether and just 32% from the field in the Finals. Smith's contract & numbers aren't as bad as some players on this list, but when he's not doing the one thing he's good at and still pulling in an eight-figure salary, that's a waste of money.
Kawhi Leonard
Out of all the players on this list, Kawhi Leonard is the one whose contract was easily the most understandable. After all, Leonard was a rising star at just 23 years old with career averages of 12.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 50% from the field and 37% from three-point range. Leonard had also just led the league in steals and made the All-Defensive 1st team for the prior season and had led the San Antonio Spurs to an NBA Championship in 2014, winning Finals MVP along the way. Taking that into consideration, it's not surprising that Leonard got a big 5-year, $94 million contract extension in 2015. That deal started off great, as Leonard put in two all-star seasons where he averaged 23.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 49% from the field and 41% from three-point range, also winning two Defensive Player of the Year awards and making both the All-NBA and All-Defensive 1st teams in both years. However, things took a turn for the worse for the Spurs this season.
Leonard would miss the first 27 games of the season thanks to a right quadriceps injury (thanks a lot, Zaza.) I know I said players who missed most of the season because of injuries wouldn't be included but based on what happened after Leonard returned from injury, I think I can make the exception. Leonard would return from his injury and play on and off for about a month. However, after playing just nine games, Leonard was put on an indefinite leave to "continue to rehab his injury." I put that in quotes because the Spurs medical staff had cleared him, so it seems like Leonard was just flat out refusing to play. Even after a tense players-only meeting, Leonard would not return to action during the season and skipped the Spurs' playoff series against the Warriors. While it is possible that Leonard was actually hurt, as he did get a second opinion from his own doctors, but if we are to believe the Spurs' medical staff, then Kawhi Leonard abandoned his team and collected his $18.9 million.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to share if you enjoy!
Leonard would miss the first 27 games of the season thanks to a right quadriceps injury (thanks a lot, Zaza.) I know I said players who missed most of the season because of injuries wouldn't be included but based on what happened after Leonard returned from injury, I think I can make the exception. Leonard would return from his injury and play on and off for about a month. However, after playing just nine games, Leonard was put on an indefinite leave to "continue to rehab his injury." I put that in quotes because the Spurs medical staff had cleared him, so it seems like Leonard was just flat out refusing to play. Even after a tense players-only meeting, Leonard would not return to action during the season and skipped the Spurs' playoff series against the Warriors. While it is possible that Leonard was actually hurt, as he did get a second opinion from his own doctors, but if we are to believe the Spurs' medical staff, then Kawhi Leonard abandoned his team and collected his $18.9 million.
Thanks for reading. Be sure to share if you enjoy!
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