Post by aar on Oct 1, 2015 16:32:16 GMT
While I'm sure that I am forgetting some players on this list, this is an entirely subjective look at some of the league's worst contracts.
This list has very few untradeable guys as a lot of them are specialists or players whose fortunes could reverse with a single good TC.
This list has some players who are actually quite good, but their output doesn't live up to their salary.
10) Felipe Lopez SF 25 6'6'' 210 B- A- C+ C+ D+ B
$6,750,000 $7,593,750 $8,542,969 $9,610,840 $0 $0 $0 $32,497,559
31.5 mpg 13.9 ppg 3.4 rpg 2.4 apg 1.1 spg 1.0 bpg 2.3 topg 49.1 FG% 82.7 FT% 48.2 3P%
Lopez is actually a pretty good player. He does a bit of everything aside from rebounding and taking care of the ball, where he is pretty much downright abysmal.
This guy should not be a starter in the league, but a long-term commitment was made to him and I'm sure that if the Blazers could waive him for free that they would.
Lopez would work for a team as a non-option in an outside offense, but barely.
Tradeability grade: C-
9) Isaiah Rider SG 29 6'6'' 223 B A- C C+ C C
$6,000,000 $6,600,000 $7,260,000 $7,986,000 $0 $0 $0 $27,846,000
34.1 mpg 15.3 ppg 6.5 rpg 3.4 apg 1.4 spg 0.1 bpg 2.7 topg 46.7 FG% 79.5 FT% 35.2 3P%
Rider is a guy who was overpaid on his last contract and is still a bit overpaid because he is probably more of a liability than an asset at this point.
Rider turns the ball over way too much for a guy who is mostly a non-option.
He is at best a decent started in an outside or balanced offense, but he really doesn't bring enough to the table to be anything more than a solid backup at this point.
His contract really isn't awful, but it would be tough to trade at this point.
Tradeability grade: C-
8) Shareef Abdur-Rahim PF 25 6'9'' 230 B+ C C A- C+ C
$16,456,458 $17,827,830 $19,199,201 $20,570,573 $0 $0 $0 $74,054,062
28.9 mpg 13.1 ppg 10.0 rpg 2.0 apg 1.1 spg 1.6 bpg 1.7 topg 44.5 FG% 69.4 FT% 50.0
3P%
Abdur-Rahim has great ratings, but his output doesn't match them.
I truly think that if SAR was used as a small forward in an inside offense that his value would increase, but honestly, not by much.
His contract is a tough pill to swallow, but his ratings are good enough that someone would take a gamble on him if they got him cheap enough and he fit their system.
Tradeability grade: C-
7) Stephen Jackson SF 26 6'8'' 220 B- B C B C C
$9,350,000 $10,285,000 $11,313,500 $0 $0 $0 $0 $30,948,50
31.8 mpg 10.6 ppg 5.1 rpg 1.6 apg 1.3 spg 0.3 bpg 1.5 topg 46.2 FG% 76.8 FT% 35.3 3P%
Jackson looked like he had really solid upside early on. He had good TCs in his first few seasons and put up solid numbers.
He had an 18/6 season early on and was a solid defender.
At some point, though, Jackson hit a wall and hasn't been the same.
He plays pretty much exactly as he should play for a guy with his ratings, but his output does not warrant a 7-figure contract, which is what he will have for the next two seasons.
Tradeability grade: D+
6) Jayson Williams PF 30 6'10'' 240 C C- C B A D
$6,000,000 $6,000,000 $6,000,000 $6,000,000 $0 $0 $0 $24,000,000
24.1 mpg 2.8 ppg 8.5 rpg 1.0 apg 0.6 spg 1.0 bpg 1.0 topg 44.7 FG% 62.0 FT% 00.0 3P%
A one trick pony, but a useful one.
Finding elite rebounders is tough and as a result, they get paid.
If Williams was an MLE player, that would be totally fine and acceptable.
The biggest issue with Williams and this contract is that as soon as his defensive and rebounding ratings go down, which at age 30 is a reality, his value is virtually gone.
Tradeability grade: D+
5) Derek Anderson SG 26 6'5'' 195 C+ A- C+ B D C
$9,350,000 $10,285,000 $11,313,500 $0 $0 $0 $0 $30,948,50
25.3 mpg 7.5 ppg 3.0 rpg 2.5 apg 1.5 spg 0.1 bpg 1.5 topg 40.7 FG% 78.8 FT% 36.1 3P%
Anderson is a guy who looked like he had really solid upside. He shot the ball well, barely turned it over and was a spark plug off the bench.
Those qualities earned him a solid long-term contract which he certainly hasn't lived up to.
He's still a decent bench player, but not good enough to warrant such a big contract.
Perhaps Anderson could excel with a change of scenery or a starting role, but he's at a position that is oversaturated with talent.
Tradeability Grade: D
4) Keith Van Horn SF 25 6'10'' 220 B A- D C+ C C
$15,125,000 $16,637,500 $18,301,250 $20,131,375 $0 $0 $0 $70,195,125
30.9 mpg 18.2 ppg 6.5 rpg 1.4 apg 0.7 spg 0.1 bpg 2.6 topg 44.7 FG% 82.5 FT% 39.9 3P%
The Hawks did a good job of building up Van Horn's value when he was on his rookie deal.
They did such a good job that Van Horn got a max contract that he will almost certainly never live up to.
Van Horn shoots solid percentages, gets rebounds, but is a liability on defense and turns the ball over way too much.
Like some of the aforementioned players, Van Horn could be useful as a starter in an offense catered more to him, but the turnovers and defense will always be an issue.
Tradeability Grade: D
3) Mike Bibby PG 24 6'2'' 190 C B+ B B D+ C
$7,500,000 $8,250,000 $9,075,000 $9,982,500 $0 $0 $0 $34,807,500
18.5 mpg 6.4 ppg 2.5 rpg 3.8 apg 0.9 spg 0.1 bpg 1.9 topg 44.0 FG% 85.0 FT% 41.3 3P%
Bibby is a good point guard. Nothing more, nothing less.
But in this league, point guards are a dime a dozen and Bibby is nowhere near starting caliber.
He puts up solid percentages, but with nearly 4 topg per 36, he's probably not worth the gamble at this point as a starter and no bench point guard who isn't really a serviceable shooting guard deserves this sort of cash for this many seasons.
Tradeability Grade: D
2) Michael Porter SF 29 6'8'' 211 B- A- C B- C D
$18,150,000 $19,800,000 $21,450,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $59,400,000
21.8 mpg 10.6 ppg 4.3 rpg 1.3 apg 1.2 spg 0.2 bpg 0.9 topg 47.3 FG% 82.2 FT% 40.3 3P%
HeatFlash managed to give Porter a second wind in his career by putting him in a system that maximized his talents and somehow had GMs ignore the fact that his ratings may not translate just anywhere.
Now the Sonics are saddled with his contract long-term, he's coming off the bench and they gave up some valuable assets, including a lottery pick that was used as a key piece to land a huge upgrade in Larry Hughes, for him.
Porter is still a solid player, but with the current stats that he has advertised, I doubt that many will pursue him.
Tradeability Grade: F+
1) Mahney Long SG 32 6'6'' 200 B- A- C+ B- D+ D
$21,078,750 $22,835,313 $24,591,875 $0 $0 $0 $0 $68,505,938
35.0 mpg 17.8 ppg 4.1 rpg 2.8 apg 1.8 spg 0.5 bpg 1.7 topg 44.7 FG% 72.8 FT% 35.9 3P%
I'm actually sad writing about this one because Mahney Long was one of my favorite players in the league when he was in his prime.
Long was a perennial All-League and All-Defensive player who was always good for solid percentages, high efficiency and at least 20 ppg.
Now Long is virtually untradeable, making over 20 mil per year over the next three seasons in a league where he will take up nearly a quarter of your cap space under the hard cap.
Long was given a big long-term deal under the premise that he would retain the value that he had in his previous deal. No dice.
Tradeability Grade: F-
This list has very few untradeable guys as a lot of them are specialists or players whose fortunes could reverse with a single good TC.
This list has some players who are actually quite good, but their output doesn't live up to their salary.
10) Felipe Lopez SF 25 6'6'' 210 B- A- C+ C+ D+ B
$6,750,000 $7,593,750 $8,542,969 $9,610,840 $0 $0 $0 $32,497,559
31.5 mpg 13.9 ppg 3.4 rpg 2.4 apg 1.1 spg 1.0 bpg 2.3 topg 49.1 FG% 82.7 FT% 48.2 3P%
Lopez is actually a pretty good player. He does a bit of everything aside from rebounding and taking care of the ball, where he is pretty much downright abysmal.
This guy should not be a starter in the league, but a long-term commitment was made to him and I'm sure that if the Blazers could waive him for free that they would.
Lopez would work for a team as a non-option in an outside offense, but barely.
Tradeability grade: C-
9) Isaiah Rider SG 29 6'6'' 223 B A- C C+ C C
$6,000,000 $6,600,000 $7,260,000 $7,986,000 $0 $0 $0 $27,846,000
34.1 mpg 15.3 ppg 6.5 rpg 3.4 apg 1.4 spg 0.1 bpg 2.7 topg 46.7 FG% 79.5 FT% 35.2 3P%
Rider is a guy who was overpaid on his last contract and is still a bit overpaid because he is probably more of a liability than an asset at this point.
Rider turns the ball over way too much for a guy who is mostly a non-option.
He is at best a decent started in an outside or balanced offense, but he really doesn't bring enough to the table to be anything more than a solid backup at this point.
His contract really isn't awful, but it would be tough to trade at this point.
Tradeability grade: C-
8) Shareef Abdur-Rahim PF 25 6'9'' 230 B+ C C A- C+ C
$16,456,458 $17,827,830 $19,199,201 $20,570,573 $0 $0 $0 $74,054,062
28.9 mpg 13.1 ppg 10.0 rpg 2.0 apg 1.1 spg 1.6 bpg 1.7 topg 44.5 FG% 69.4 FT% 50.0
3P%
Abdur-Rahim has great ratings, but his output doesn't match them.
I truly think that if SAR was used as a small forward in an inside offense that his value would increase, but honestly, not by much.
His contract is a tough pill to swallow, but his ratings are good enough that someone would take a gamble on him if they got him cheap enough and he fit their system.
Tradeability grade: C-
7) Stephen Jackson SF 26 6'8'' 220 B- B C B C C
$9,350,000 $10,285,000 $11,313,500 $0 $0 $0 $0 $30,948,50
31.8 mpg 10.6 ppg 5.1 rpg 1.6 apg 1.3 spg 0.3 bpg 1.5 topg 46.2 FG% 76.8 FT% 35.3 3P%
Jackson looked like he had really solid upside early on. He had good TCs in his first few seasons and put up solid numbers.
He had an 18/6 season early on and was a solid defender.
At some point, though, Jackson hit a wall and hasn't been the same.
He plays pretty much exactly as he should play for a guy with his ratings, but his output does not warrant a 7-figure contract, which is what he will have for the next two seasons.
Tradeability grade: D+
6) Jayson Williams PF 30 6'10'' 240 C C- C B A D
$6,000,000 $6,000,000 $6,000,000 $6,000,000 $0 $0 $0 $24,000,000
24.1 mpg 2.8 ppg 8.5 rpg 1.0 apg 0.6 spg 1.0 bpg 1.0 topg 44.7 FG% 62.0 FT% 00.0 3P%
A one trick pony, but a useful one.
Finding elite rebounders is tough and as a result, they get paid.
If Williams was an MLE player, that would be totally fine and acceptable.
The biggest issue with Williams and this contract is that as soon as his defensive and rebounding ratings go down, which at age 30 is a reality, his value is virtually gone.
Tradeability grade: D+
5) Derek Anderson SG 26 6'5'' 195 C+ A- C+ B D C
$9,350,000 $10,285,000 $11,313,500 $0 $0 $0 $0 $30,948,50
25.3 mpg 7.5 ppg 3.0 rpg 2.5 apg 1.5 spg 0.1 bpg 1.5 topg 40.7 FG% 78.8 FT% 36.1 3P%
Anderson is a guy who looked like he had really solid upside. He shot the ball well, barely turned it over and was a spark plug off the bench.
Those qualities earned him a solid long-term contract which he certainly hasn't lived up to.
He's still a decent bench player, but not good enough to warrant such a big contract.
Perhaps Anderson could excel with a change of scenery or a starting role, but he's at a position that is oversaturated with talent.
Tradeability Grade: D
4) Keith Van Horn SF 25 6'10'' 220 B A- D C+ C C
$15,125,000 $16,637,500 $18,301,250 $20,131,375 $0 $0 $0 $70,195,125
30.9 mpg 18.2 ppg 6.5 rpg 1.4 apg 0.7 spg 0.1 bpg 2.6 topg 44.7 FG% 82.5 FT% 39.9 3P%
The Hawks did a good job of building up Van Horn's value when he was on his rookie deal.
They did such a good job that Van Horn got a max contract that he will almost certainly never live up to.
Van Horn shoots solid percentages, gets rebounds, but is a liability on defense and turns the ball over way too much.
Like some of the aforementioned players, Van Horn could be useful as a starter in an offense catered more to him, but the turnovers and defense will always be an issue.
Tradeability Grade: D
3) Mike Bibby PG 24 6'2'' 190 C B+ B B D+ C
$7,500,000 $8,250,000 $9,075,000 $9,982,500 $0 $0 $0 $34,807,500
18.5 mpg 6.4 ppg 2.5 rpg 3.8 apg 0.9 spg 0.1 bpg 1.9 topg 44.0 FG% 85.0 FT% 41.3 3P%
Bibby is a good point guard. Nothing more, nothing less.
But in this league, point guards are a dime a dozen and Bibby is nowhere near starting caliber.
He puts up solid percentages, but with nearly 4 topg per 36, he's probably not worth the gamble at this point as a starter and no bench point guard who isn't really a serviceable shooting guard deserves this sort of cash for this many seasons.
Tradeability Grade: D
2) Michael Porter SF 29 6'8'' 211 B- A- C B- C D
$18,150,000 $19,800,000 $21,450,000 $0 $0 $0 $0 $59,400,000
21.8 mpg 10.6 ppg 4.3 rpg 1.3 apg 1.2 spg 0.2 bpg 0.9 topg 47.3 FG% 82.2 FT% 40.3 3P%
HeatFlash managed to give Porter a second wind in his career by putting him in a system that maximized his talents and somehow had GMs ignore the fact that his ratings may not translate just anywhere.
Now the Sonics are saddled with his contract long-term, he's coming off the bench and they gave up some valuable assets, including a lottery pick that was used as a key piece to land a huge upgrade in Larry Hughes, for him.
Porter is still a solid player, but with the current stats that he has advertised, I doubt that many will pursue him.
Tradeability Grade: F+
1) Mahney Long SG 32 6'6'' 200 B- A- C+ B- D+ D
$21,078,750 $22,835,313 $24,591,875 $0 $0 $0 $0 $68,505,938
35.0 mpg 17.8 ppg 4.1 rpg 2.8 apg 1.8 spg 0.5 bpg 1.7 topg 44.7 FG% 72.8 FT% 35.9 3P%
I'm actually sad writing about this one because Mahney Long was one of my favorite players in the league when he was in his prime.
Long was a perennial All-League and All-Defensive player who was always good for solid percentages, high efficiency and at least 20 ppg.
Now Long is virtually untradeable, making over 20 mil per year over the next three seasons in a league where he will take up nearly a quarter of your cap space under the hard cap.
Long was given a big long-term deal under the premise that he would retain the value that he had in his previous deal. No dice.
Tradeability Grade: F-
