Worst Contracts in NBA History

Since NBA free agency began in 1988, plenty of teams have paid the price for overpaying players.

Worst Contracts in NBA History

Joakim Noah played in 53 games for the Knicks after signing a four-year, $72 million deal in 2016.

We live in the era of the transaction. In the NBA, every offseason becomes more anticipated than the last one, as teams seek to make statements with high-profile moves.

When teams miss out on their top targets, or get desperate and re-sign their own declining stars to stay relevant, beware. Since NBA free agency began in 1988, plenty of organizations have paid the price for overpaying players.

These contracts are the most egregious mistakes. And teams still have not learned.

60. Jermaine O’Neal

Year: 2003

Team: Indiana Pacers

Contract: 7 years, $127 million

Return on investment: 284 G, 19.6 PPG, 9.1 RPG, 2.3 APG, 44.5 FG%

Bottom line: A lot to unpack here, as Jermaine O’Neal lived many different lives as an NBA player, but the player that received this contract had earned it to that point.

As a young player, O’Neal kept Reggie Miller young and the Pacers relevant into the 2000s, providing a dynamic low-post scoring presence.

As O’Neal became the star of the show, the team slipped into the middle of the East, and O’Neal’s role in the Malice at the Palace gave Indy an excuse to send him packing to the Toronto Raptors.

59. Eddie Robinson

Year: 2001

Team: Chicago Bulls

Contract: 5 years, $32 million

Return on investment: 144 G, 6.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, 47.7 FG%

Bottom line: Eddie Robinson was more or less a one-trick pony as a young NBA player, posting some decent scoring numbers in limited usage the first couple years of his career.

Bulls GM Jerry Krause felt that Robinson could become a star if given more playing time and signed Robinson to what he hoped would become a team-friendly deal.

Krause was out of a job in 2004, and new GM Jon Paxson thought it was best to send Robinson with him, buying out the last two years of his contract for $10 million. He never played another NBA game.

58. Chris Bosh

Year: 2014

Team: Miami Heat

Contract: 5 years, $118 million

Return on investment: 97 G, 20.0 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 2.3 APG, 46.4 FG%

Bottom line: Chris Bosh benefitted from LeBron James’ departure from the Heat in 2014. Before that shocking turn of events, it looked like he was going to sign on with Houston to join Dwight Howard and Chandler Parsons.

Bosh showed he was still an All-Star those first two years of the deal, despite missing time to some health complications. It was finally revealed he had a dangerous blood cot in his lungs, cutting short one of the great NBA careers of the modern era.

The 13-year NBA veteran retired in 2016, and Miami retired his No. 1 jersey in 2019.

57. Brandon Roy

Year: 2010

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Contract: 5 years, $82 million

Return on investment: 47 G, 12.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 2.7 APG, 42.3 FG%

Bottom line: Brandon Roy came into the league as an elite prospect, but teams were wary of the poor medical forecast for his knees.

Portland looked like it got a steal after Roy’s meteoric rise as a prime-time scorer, playing in 65 or more games each season from 2007 to 2010, making three All-Star teams.

The Blazers locked him up, and then came the knee problems. Roy missed half of the next season and was forced into retirement later that year.

He made a brief comeback with the Timberwolves a year later, which lasted no more than five games.

56. Carmelo Anthony

Year: 2013

Team: New York Knicks

Contract: 5 years, $124 million

Return on investment: 263 G, 24.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.3 APG, 44.1 FG%

Bottom line: It was tough to predict a decline this sharp and steep for Carmelo Anthony. To the Knicks’ credit, he was still an elite-level scorer when he signed on the dotted line, and maybe a better supporting cast would have helped him maintain that status a bit longer.

Melo’s descent into reluctant bench player came quickly, and he’s more or less out of the league until he gets out of the mindset that he’s a superstar.

Still, the Knicks deserve blame for not giving him nearly enough help, making him look like a scapegoat for not being able to carry a team like LeBron James.

55. Bismack Biyombo

Year: 2016

Team: Orlando Magic

Contract: 4 years, $72 million

Return on investment: 163 G, 5.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, 1.1 BPG, 52.4 FG%

Bottom line: What a difference a series can make. Bismack Biyombo waded through the NBA waters in Charlotte before making his way to Toronto in the 2015-16 season.

His role as a backup big man didn’t tick up much until the Raptors squared off against the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference finals. Biyombo stole the show in the first half of the series, putting up career numbers in blocks and rebounds.

The Magic saw this as potential rising to the surface and signed him to an absurd deal. He’s been the exact same player in Orlando, which doesn’t amount to earning that paycheck.

54. Ian Mahinmi

Year: 2016

Team: Washington Wizards

Contract: 4 years, $64 million

Return on investment: 142 G, 4.8 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 0.7 APG, 54.0 FG%

Bottom line: Ian Mahinmi popped as a reliable rim protector in his only season as a starter in Indiana, which happened to coincide with his free-agency year.

Even with the increased offensive and defensive roles that year, he showed a slew of red flags, including being prone to turnovers and inefficiency as a rebounder for his size.

He’s been a glorified 12th man on the Wizards for nearly his entire first three seasons, and also has been in injury trouble as he transitions into his 30s.

53. Ryan Anderson

Year: 2016

Team: Houston Rockets

Contract: 4 years, $80 million

Return on investment: 138 G, 11.6 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.9 APG, 42.3 FG%

Bottom line: Ryan Anderson can best be described as "Kevin Love’s floor." Houston scooped up the 6-foot-11 outside shooting specialist to be the missing piece on a contending team.

He had a solid first season with the Rockets, but struggled to stay on the floor as the team got more athletic and played at a faster pace. The Rockets sent Anderson to Phoenix after two seasons.

52. Kevin Love

Year: 2018

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Contract: 4 years, $120 million

Return on investment: 22 G, 17.0 PPG, 10.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 38.5 FG%

Bottom line: This deal has less to do with the player Kevin Love was and still is, and more to do with where Cleveland was when it gifted him a max contract.

After losing one of the best three players in NBA history (for a second time), the Cavs signed Love in the hopes of having a somewhat respectable squad in the relatively near future.

That hasn’t panned out, and Love remains a decent trade chip for the Cavs, but it’s clear he’s far from the max player he once was, both in terms of durability and versatility.

51. Harrison Barnes

Year: 2016

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Contract: 4 years, $95 million

Return on investment: 205 G, 18.4 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 44.6 FG%

Bottom line: Harrison Barnes has lived a lifetime of ups and downs in the NBA — from his time with the Warriors, when he was a key component on an all-time great team, to an atrocious NBA Finals appearance the next year and finally signing this deal that offseason.

The Mavericks weren't deterred by his poor showing on the big stage and inked him to a max deal.

Barnes proved to be a one-trick pony in Dallas, and despite consistent scoring, he offered little help elsewhere and was sent to Sacramento in year No. 3 of the deal.

50. Marvin Williams

Year: 2016

Team: Charlotte Hornets

Contract: 4 years, $54.5 million

Return on Investment: 229 G, 10.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 1.3 APG, 43.3 FG%

Bottom line: A bust of a No. 2 overall pick in Atlanta, Marvin Williams still was able to carve out a role as an NBA player, and despite not living up to the hype he built up at North Carolina, he showed he can be a useful rebounder and defender who could knock down some shots.

It’s hard to imagine that Carolina connection didn’t factor into this contract offer. It’s not often players like Williams get an offer like this in their 30s, and from his production, it’s easy to see why.

49. Allen Crabbe

Year: 2016

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Contract: 4 years, $75 million

Return on investment: 79 G, 10.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 1.2 APG, 46.8 FG%

Bottom line: Allen Crabbe, a lights out 3-point shooter for the Trail Blazers his first few years in the NBA, landed a massive offer sheet from Brooklyn to become a more focal point in the offense. The Trail Blazers' matched the Nets' offer sheet, but Crabbe’s game isn’t built for a primary role.

After a lackluster year in Portland, he was traded to Brooklyn, and his efficiency continued to suffer. Putting up nearly three more shots per game than he had in Portland, Crabbe shot less than 40 percent from the field in Brooklyn, averaging 11.9 points per game in 118 games.

That wasn't good enough, and after two seasons, the Nets traded Crabbe to Atlanta.

48. Tim Hardaway Jr.

Year: 2017

Team: New York Knicks

Contract: 4 years, $71 million

Return on investment: 103 G, 17.8 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 2.6 APG, 42.6 FG%

Bottom line: Drafted by the Knicks and later traded to the Hawks, Tim Hardaway Jr. found himself back in New York after posting a breakout season as a scorer in Atlanta.

The Knicks have been trying to trade this contract ever since, as Hardaway’s efficiency slipped despite his usage increasing.

They found a buyer, attaching him to Kristaps Porzingis in 2018’s blockbuster deal with Dallas.

47. Brandon Knight

Year: 2015

Team: Phoenix Suns

Contract: 5 years, $70 million

Return on investment: 106 G, 15.2 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 3.7 APG, 40.8 FG%

Bottom line: A jack of all trades when he came into the league,Brandon Knight showed serious promise as a playmaker and a scorer, averaging upward of 17 points per game in three straight seasons before he turned 25.

That was when the injury bug bit him hard and often. He missed more than 50 games the first two years of his contract extension, and then tore his ACL heading into 2017-18.

He was swapped for another bad contract the next offseason in a deal with Houston for Ryan Anderson.

46. Matthew Dellavedova

Year: 2016

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Contract: 4 years, $38 million

Return on investment: 126 G, 6.1 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 39.1 FG%

Bottom line: Matthew Dellavedova cashed in big after popping in the NBA Finals in 2015 and helping the Cavaliers take home the title the following year.

Although it was clear his ceiling wasn’t high, the Bucks hoped he could be a solid guard off the bench or in a spot start.

He was a non-factor in his final 100 or so games before he was traded back to Cleveland in 2018 for what amounts to spare parts.

45. Tyler Johnson

Year: 2016

Team: Miami Heat

Contract: 4 years, $50 million

Return on investment: 189 G, 12.2 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 2.8 APG, 42.8 FG%

Bottom line: Tyler Johnson hit the market at the right time in 2016, as teams were giving out big money like it was nothing.

He re-signed a super backloaded contract with Miami that paid him roughly $5 million each of the first two seasons, and $19 million apiece in the final two.

Johnson’s production spiked in 2016-17, but it dipped in the two years since. Miami luckily found a taker in Phoenix for his services.

44. Reggie Jackson

Year: 2015

Team: Detroit Pistons

Contract: 5 years, $80 million

Return on investment: 258 G, 16.1 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 5.2 APG, 42.6 FG%

Bottom line: Reggie Jackson, who was clearly the third-best player (at best) on the Oklahoma City Thunder, walked and talked like the top dog. That never lasts long, as the whole locker room turned on him before he was traded to Detroit in early 2015.

An understandably motivated Jackon put up a stellar 27 games in Detroit, as the team surged to make the last spot in the playoffs.

The Pistons signed him long term the following offseason. A strong 2015-16 campaign aside, the Pistons are still looking for their money’s worth out of him.

43. John Wall

Year: 2017

Team: Washington Wizards

Contract: 4 years, $170 million

Return on investment: 73 G, 20.0 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 9.2 APG, 43.1 FG%

Bottom line: John Wall has been a polarizing player in his eight-year career, but nobody can deny he has top-level talent. The question is if he would ever reach that ceiling.

It now seems like a near impossibility that will come to pass, after an Achilles tear ended his 2018 season.

Prior to that, though, Wall’s post-contract-signing behavior (most notably showing up out of shape) indicated he wasn’t exactly motivated to reach those lofty expectations.

42. Andrew Wiggins

Year: 2017

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Contract: 5 years, $148 million

Return on investment: 155 G, 17.9 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.2 APG, 42.5 FG%

Bottom line: Andrew Wiggins looked the part. A dynamic, versatile scorer with great lateral movement and defensive instincts, Wiggins seemed poised to blossom into a top two-way player, in the mold of a Kawhi Leonard.

Where those two players differ is their work ethic. Wiggins has never put up a consistent effort defensively, driving Jimmy Butler to the brink of insanity in less than two seasons with the Timberwolves.

Still, promise will get you very far in the NBA, and Minnesota is now forced to build a winning squad with Wiggins a large part of the plans. He’s only 23, but after five years in the NBA, he has more doubters now than ever.

41. Chris Paul

Year: 2018

Team: Houston Rockets

Contract: 4 years, $160 million

Return on investment: 116 G, 17.1 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 8.0 APG, 44.1 FG%

Bottom line: The whole league saw this coming as it was happening, and despite that, it was pretty much a consensus that the Rockets had to give Chris Paul this deal.

The team was coming off a year where, if Paul had been healthy the last two games against Golden State, they probably win the championship.

As it turned out, running it back wasn’t the best move either, but the Rockets were able to trade Paul and his contract to the Thunder, who also might move the point guard.

40. Nicolas Batum

Year: 2016

Team: Charlotte Hornets

Contract: 5 years, $120 million

Return on investment: 286 G, 12.8 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 42.1 FG%

Bottom line: Nobody in the league saw this coming, except Michael Jordan, who continues to be a bottom-five owner.

Batum is a very solid NBA starter. He can give you 20 on any given night, is lanky and provides good spacing on both ends. He’s just not a max player.

His best season before getting that contract was 13 points and 7 rebounds per game. His best season since is 15 points and 6 rebounds for game. He has not exactly flourished as the front office had hoped.

39. Dion Waiters

Dion Waiters has been trending in the wrong direction with the Heat.

Year: 2017

Team: Miami Heat

Contract: 4 years, $52 million

Return on investment: 120 G, 14.0 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2,9 APG, 41.4 FG%

Bottom line: Dion Waiters’ skillset is well-suited for today’s NBA. His overconfidence makes that skillset all but irrelevant.

Waiters was disgruntled on some horrible Cavaliers teams, but he didn’t fit in with the Thunder, either. The Heat were his final chance, and under their fitness program, he whipped himself into shape, posting career numbers in 2016.

Miami was the only team that fell for the mirage, and re-upped Waiters to big money. He’s been often out of shape and more or less ineffective since.

38. Stephon Marbury

Year: 2003

Team: Phoenix Suns

Contract: 4 years, $76 million

Return on investment: 34 G, 20.8 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 8.3 APG, 43.2 FG%

Bottom line: Stephon Marbury and Kevin Garnett looked like the next dynamic guard-big combo in the NBA during Marbury's first two years in Minnesota, until his relationship with KG became untenable and Marbury was sent to New Jersey.

After a few years putting up strong scoring numbers, he was traded to Phoenix in the Jason Kidd deal and averaged over 20 points per game in his first two seasons with the Suns.

Marbury signed a mega-deal with Phoenix to become their new franchise player but had some trouble getting along with people in the organization and didn't last half a season.

After a couple years in New York, Marbury was out of the league at 31 and became a star in China.

37. Kenyon Martin

Year: 2004

Team: Denver Nuggets

Contract: 7 years, $92 million

Return on investment: 371 G, 12.3 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.9 APG, 49.6 FG%

Bottom line: Kenyon Martin came out of Cincinnati as a highly touted prospect, going first overall to the Nets.

He flashed that potential at times, leading to Denver shelling out huge numbers for the 2003 All-Star.

Martin helped the Nuggets make a Western Conference finals in one of their best seasons in franchise history, but he never reached his ceiling, mostly due to a confluence of being in poor condition and a rash of bad-luck injuries.

36. Hassan Whiteside

Year: 2016

Team: Miami Heat

Contract: 4 years, $98 million

Return on investment: 203 G, 14.5 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.9 BPG, 55.7 FG%

Bottom line: Hassan Whiteside’s story is one to admire. A second-round pick later released by the Kings, he spent two full years out of the NBA before re-emerging as a completely different player in Miami.

His defense made him a force, but in an evolving league, Whiteside’s skillset is a poor fit.

The Heat failed to read that evolution correctly, handing out a max deal to Whiteside, who has frequently been disgruntled by his usage on a mediocre team. In July, he was traded to the Trail Blazers.

35. Shawn Kemp

Year: 1997

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Contract: 7 years, $107 million

Return on investment: 426 G, 12.2 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.4 APG, 43.4 FG%

Bottom line: Shawn Kemp made the Sonics choose between him and Gary Payton when Kemp demanded an extension in the mid-1990s. The Sonics made their choice, and Kemp wanted out, forcing a trade to Cleveland.

Kemp continued to be a dominant force, until his fourth season with the Cavs, when we began showing up out of shape and unmotivated. His production plummeted when his athleticism fell off, and he was traded to Portland that offseason.

34. Austin Croshere

Year: 2001

Team: Indiana Pacers

Contract: 7 years, $51 million

Return on investment: 511 G, 6.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.0 APG, 40.1 FG%

Bottom Line: The Pacers rewarded a 24-year-old Austin Croshere with a big payday after his sharp shooting helped the team go deep in the postseason.

His game didn’t stretch much beyond that, and he never really became the reliable No. 3 to team with Jermaine O’Neal and Reggie Miller.

33. Jayson Williams

Year: 1998

Team: New Jersey Nets

Contract: 6 years, $90 million

Return on investment: 30 G, 8.1 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 44.5 FG%

Bottom Line: This is really a tale of horrible luck. A surprise as the 21st pick in the 1990 NBA draft by the Suns, Jayson Williams was traded to the 76ers.

After two seasons in Philadelphia, Willams was traded to the Nets and blossomed into a rebounding force.

He made the All-Star team in 1998, and the Nets locked him up that offseason, but 30 games into the next season, he suffered a career-ending leg injury on a collision with Stephon Marbury,

32. Steve Francis

Year: 2002

Team: Houston Rockets

Contract: 6 years, $85 million

Return on investment: 160 G, 18.8 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 6.2 APG, 42.0 FG%

Bottom line: Steve Francis inked a hefty deal to remain in Houston, where he had been an All-Star point guard with massive potential.

Francis put up numbers, but the team struggled to win consistently, finishing in the middle of the Western Conference in the 2002-03 season. New head coach Jeff Van Gundy wanted to feature Yao Ming offensively, which didn’t mesh with Francis' volume-scoring style.

Francis was traded to Orlando and fizzled out after one last run with the Rockets in 2010.

31. Evan Turner

Year: 2016

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Contract: 4 years, $70 million

Return on investment: 217 G, 8.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 3.0 APG, 44.3 FG%

Bottom line: After an unprecedented spike in the salary cap in the summer of 2016, some teams went a little crazy and started handing out big money deals to role players. Evan Turner is the ultimate example of this.

His production in Portland was in lockstep with the rest of his career. In June 2019, he was shipped off to Atlanta with one year left on his deal.

30. Erick Dampier

Erick Dampier, left, did not live up to his $73 million opportunity with the Mavericks.

Year: 2004

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Contract: 7 years, $73 million

Return on investment: 424 G, 6.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 0.7 APG, .591 FG%

Bottom line: Say what you will about the price tag, but Erick Dampier was a contributor for much of his contract. Just not a $73 million contributor.

The Mavericks relied on the 6-11 center as a strong defensive presence and offensive rebounder. However, they were paying for the Dampier who averaged a double-double in his final year in Golden State.

It never happened over six seasons in Dallas. The closest he came was 9.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in his first year with the Mavericks.

29. Peja Stojakovic

Year: 2006

Team: New Orleans Hornets

Contract: 5 years, $64 million

Return on investment: 219 G, 14.3 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, .418 FG%

Bottom line: Peja Stojakovic was brought in to flank Chris Paul, the face of the Hornets franchise.

Stojakovic, who had limitless range, showed how useful he could be in the right offense with some terrific Sacramento Kings teams just a few years before.

But injuries caused his offense to dip rapidly, and after playing just 13 games in his first year in New Orleans, he saw his per-game averages drop before being traded to Toronto.

28. Grant Hill

Year: 2000

Team: Orlando Magic

Contract: 7 years, $93 million

Return on investment: 200 G, 16.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 3.1 APG, .500 FG%

Bottom line: Grant Hill signed to help usher in a new era of Magic basketball, as it was rumored Tim Duncan might be coming to join him.

The Duncan move never materialized, and injuries haunted Hill’s tenure in Orlando, as he lost five of his seven seasons on the deal sitting courtside cheering on teammates.

27. Elton Brand

Elton Brand, left, averaged 68 games per season in his four years with the Sixers.

Year: 2008

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Contract: 5 years, $80 million

Return on Investment: 263 G, 12.7 PPG, 7.2 RPG, 1.4 APG, .488 FG%

Bottom line: Elton Brand was a star for the Clippers, one of the few bright spots in the franchise’s history to that point, making the All-Star team twice in his seven seasons in Los Angeles.

Despite an Achilles injury that sidelined him for his last year with the Clippers, he still landed a big deal to join Philly for his age 29 season.

Brand never played a full season with the Sixers and was released in 2012.

26. Josh Smith

Year: 2013

Team: Detroit Pistons

Contract: 4 years, $54 million

Return on investment: 105 G, 15.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 3.5 APG, .413 FG%

Bottom line: Josh Smith was the centerpiece of the Atlanta Hawks' offense, as his athleticism and strength on the drive made him a nightmare for defenses.

His efficiency disappeared in Detroit, with his shooting percentage decreasing by five percentage points from his time in Atlanta.

He ended up playing only 105 games with the Pistons and was waived in 2014.

25. Eddy Curry

Year: 2005

Team: New York Knicks

Contract: 6 years, $60 million

Return on investment: 222 GP, 15.2 PPG, 5.8 RPG, 0.5 APG, .563 FG%

Bottom line: Eddy Curry was decent for the Knicks, and probably warranted the big contract. He did not warrant the four draft picks the Knicks gave away in a sign-and-trade to get him.

The bloated contract led to an even more bloated Curry, who visibly fell out of shape just two years into his deal. In the 2011 offseason, he was dealt to the Timberwolves in a three-team blockbuster trade that brought Carmelo Anthony to New York.

Curry never played a game for Minnesota and played out the rest of his career with the Heat and Mavericks.

24. Jon Koncak

Join Koncak — Jon Koncak did not deliver much ROI to the Hawks after signing a $13.1 million deal in 1989.

Year: 1989

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Contract: 6 years, $13.1 million

Return on investment: 504 G 3.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.2 APG, .455 FG%

Bottom line: The deal Jon Koncak signed with Atlanta in 1989 was one of the biggest in NBA history to date. And that’s where Koncak’s contributions to NBA history end.

Unlike most overpaid players, he finished out all six years with the Hawks, but the returns were far from fruitful for a player whose career high in points was 25.

23. Darius Miles

Year: 2004

Team: Portland Trail Blazers

Contract: 6 years, $48 million

Return on investment: 145 G, 13.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.0 APG, .487 FG%

Bottom line: A phenom in high school, Darius Miles had the misfortune of being drafted by the Los Angeles Clippers, the league’s most dysfunctional franchise.

Despite Miles being infected with bad Clippers juju, the Blazers banked on being able to harness his potential in a better environment. But long-term success never materialized for Miles.

He had a catastrophic knee injury that forced him to miss two full seasons in Portland, and retired 34 games into his comeback effort with the Grizzlies.

22. Hedo Turkoglu

Year: 2009

Team: Toronto Raptors

Contract: 5 years, $53 million

Return on investment: 74 G, 11.3 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 4.1 APG, .409 FG%

Bottom line: A dynamic ball handler and scorer for the Magic, Hedo Turkoglu got the opportunity to branch out in an even bigger role as Toronto’s biggest free-agent pickup since Hakeem Olajuwon in 2001.

The move north of the border didn’t go as planned for Turkoglu, who wound up back in Orlando just a year later, with a layover of 25 games in Phoenix.

21. Bobby Simmons

Bobby Simmons played 145 games with the Bucks.

Year: 2005

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Contract: 5 years, $47 million

Return on investment: 145 G, 10.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.7 APG, .441 FG%

Bottom line: Bobby Simmons was a breakout star for the Clippers in 2004, flashing playmaking potential and averaging better than 16 points per game.

His first season as a Buck was going OK until a devastating ankle injury sidelined him for a full season.

When he returned, his burst did not, and he lasted just one more season in Wisconsin.

20. Timofey Mozgov

Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov, right, did not have too many highlights wearing the purple and gold.

Year: 2016

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Contract: 4 years, $64 million

Return on investment: 54 G, 7.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 0.8 APG, .515 FG%

Bottom line: The Lakers have made some bad moves in the post-Jerry Buss era. The Timofey Mozgov deal was one of the worst.

With the Warriors dominating the Western Conference through efficient shooting, the Lakers chose to go the other direction and signed Mozgov to a ludicrous contract. Despite being known as a rim protector, he never had averaged close to two blocks per game and was an inefficient rebounder for his 7-foot-1, 275-pound size.

The Lakers quickly realized this and cut ties after one season.

19. Brian Grant

Year: 2000

Team: Miami Heat

Contract: 7 years, $86 million

Return on investment: 312 G, 11.0 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, .482 FG%

Bottom line: The Heat signed Brian Grant to be their starting center for his age 28 season. It was a curious move given his production in his first six NBA seasons.

Even though Grant had a history of being sidelined for consistent stretches of time with the Kings and Trail Blazers, the Heat gambled on a player who was a good rebounder for his 6-foot-9 size.

Grant failed to live up to his hefty price tag, but his contract did come in handy when Miami traded for Shaquille O’Neal.

18. Baron Davis

Year: 2008

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

Contract: 5 years, $65 million

Return on investment: 183 G, 14.6 PPG, 3.4 RPG, 7.6 APG, .394 FG%

Bottom line: A hero in Golden State for his starring role in the Warriors’ famous upset of No. 1-seed Dallas in 2007, Baron Davis cashed in with a big deal in the Clippers’ attempt to buy their way into relevance for the first time in franchise history.

Davis did not bring that same winning prowess to Los Angeles and was frequently criticized for being out of shape.

The point guard (and L.A. native) made it through slightly more than half of his contract with the Clippers before being sent out of town.

17. Ben Wallace

Year: 2006

Team: Chicago Bulls

Contract: 4 years, $60 million

Return on investment: 127 G, 5.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.1 APG, .422 FG%

Bottom Line: Despite being a bit undersized at 6-foot-9, Wallace was a defensive powerhouse for the Detroit Pistons, who made several trips to the Eastern Conference finals and won an NBA title.

His lack of offensive production was fine in Detroit, where he was surrounded by Rasheed Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton, but on a less stacked team, Wallace was asked to do more and just didn’t have the skills.

16. Amar'e Stoudemire

Year: 2010

Team: New York Knicks

Contract: 5 years, $100 million

Return on investment: 255 G, 17.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.3 APG, .518 FG%

Bottom line: Amar'e Stoudemire earned his big payday after teaming with Steve Nash in Phoenix to revolutionize basketball. Those Suns were dynamic, and Stoudemire was an offensive force.

His first couple of months in New York looked like it would be an East Coast version of that playing style, but injuries plagued the rest of his time in the Big Apple.

And he never found a groove with Carmelo Anthony taking a bulk of the usage.

15. Jim McIlvaine

Year: 1996

Team: Seattle SuperSonics

Contract: 7 years, $34 million

Return on investment: 160 GM, 3.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 0.3 APG, .463 FG%

Bottom line: While it might not seem like a king’s ransom in today’s bloated terms, Jim McIlvaine’s contract made him a higher-paid player than Magic Johnson or Larry Bird in their primes.

That's what happens when a team swings and misses on Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning, leaving them to go with a big risk for Plan C.

Plan C did not work well for the now-defunct franchise.

14. Juwan Howard

Year: 1996

Team: Washington Bullets

Contract: 7 years, $105 million

Return on investment: 264 G, 17.6 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 3.3 APG, .472 FG%

Bottom line: In what seems to be a trend in the NBA, Juwan Howard benefited from other big men (Shaquille O’Neal and Alonzo Mourning) signing monster contracts with other teams. These moves put the pressure on Washington to lock up its young stud.

Unfortunately for the Bullets, Howard’s best season came the year before he signed the contract, and was his only All-Star selection in a near-20 year career.

13. Allan Houston

Year: 2001

Team: New York Knicks

Contract: 6 years, $101 million

Return on investment: 229 G, 20.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, .438 FG%

Bottom Line: After Allan Houston recorded back-to-back All Star seasons in New York, the Knicks signed him to ungodly sum of $101 million to lead them into the 21st century.

Houston kept his scoring up for the first couple of years of the deal, but after a devastating knee injury, he was never the same and called it quits in 2005, leaving New York on the hook for the rest of that contract for the next two seasons.

12. Larry Hughes

Larry Hughes and LeBron James — Larry Hughes, left, did not like playing second fiddle to LeBron James with the Cavaliers.

Year: 2005

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Contract: 5 years, $70 million

Return on investment: 146 G, 14.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 3.3 APG, .396 FG%

Bottom line: Larry Hughes was brought to Cleveland tbe the Robin to LeBron James’ Batman on the Cavaliers in the mid-2000s.

Hughes did not seem interested in playing second fiddle, often arguing with James about shot distribution.

The Cavs dealt the former 20-point scorer to Chicago in 2008 after a little more than two years. James went on to do one or two things in the league.

11. Vin Baker

Year: 1999

Team: Seattle Supersonics

Contract: 7 years, $86 million

Return on investment: 326 G, 15.5 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, .477 FG%

Bottom line: Vin Baker was one of the best players in the game from 1994 to 1997, making three All-Star teams and averaging a double-double for the Bucks.

So when the Sonics landed Baker with a big contract, they thought they struck gold. After another All-Star selection in 1998, Baker fell out of shape during the strike-shortened season (1998-99) and never found his way back into it.

He bounced around the league and ended up blowing nearly $100 million. Then, he went to work at Starbucks and is rebuilding his life.

10. Bryant Reeves

Year: 1997

Team: Vancouver Grizzlies

Contract: 6 years, $61.8 million

Return on investment: 243 G, 11.2 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.5 APG, .477 FG%

Bottom line: After two years in the NBA, "Big Country" Bryant Reeves looked like he was blossoming into the next star center in the league, scoring more than 16 points per game.

One year after his big payday, Reeves went into an unprecedented decline. His scoring dipped to just eight points per game in his final two seasons, and he was out of the league at age 28.

9. Andris Biedrins

Year: 2008

Team: Golden State Warriors

Contract: 6 years, $54 million

Return on investment: 254 G, 5.1 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 1.1 APG, .568 FG%

Bottom line: Andris Biedrins developed nicely in his first few years in the Bay Area, and after the first year of this deal, he looked like a steal, bringing his counting stats up to a double-double and shooting better than 56 percent.

Injuries derailed his development, and some atrocious free-throw averages made him nearly unplayable.

He was out of the NBA at age 28.

8. Rashard Lewis

Year: 2007

Team: Orlando Magic

Contract: 6 years, $118 million

Return on investment: 257 G, 16.3 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.1 APG, .442 FG%

Bottom line: A 20-plus point scorer in Seattle, Rashard Lewis never was allowed to flourish in Orlando’s system, which basially called for surrounding Dwight Howard with shooters.

Lewis did make an All-Star team, and the Magic made it to the NBA Finals in 2009, so it’s not all wasted money.

Still, Lewis experienced a drop-off in athleticism, and with it, his scoring dipped, making him a glorified spot-up shooter.

7. Emeka Okafor

Year: 2008

Team: Charlotte Bobcats

Contract: 6 years, $72 million

Return on investment: 82 G, 13.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 0.6 APG, .561 FG%

Bottom line: Four years into Emeka Okafor's career, most of the NBA could tell what he was — a solid starter, but nothing spectacular.

Most of the NBA did not include the team that drafted him, as the then Bobcats locked up their No. 2 overall pick from 2004 to a big deal.

He spent just one more season in Charlotte, and fizzled out of the league four years later.

6. Penny Hardaway

Year: 1999

Team: Phoenix Suns

Contract: 7 years, $87 million

Return on investment: 236 G, 12.4 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, .444 FG%

Bottom line: Penny Hardaway flashed NBA superstar potential in Orlando playing alongside Shaquille O’Neal, making it to the NBA Finals and earning four All-Star nods in his first five years in the league.

After Shaq's departure, the Magic looked like they messed up by not keeping Hardaway the captain of their team. But then Hardaway’s health deteriorated in Phoenix, and he was never the same dynamic player after his first year in the desert.

5. Luol Deng

Year: 2016

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Contract: 4 years, $72 million

Return on investment: 57 G, 7.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 1.3 APG, .387 FG%

Bottom line: This deal was panned from the beginning.

In his prime, Luol Deng was a stout defender and a driving athletic wing, but by the time the Lakers inked him to this huge deal, those days were long gone.

He was a healthy scratch for essentially his entire second season in Los Angeles, and the Lakers let him go.

4. Joakim Noah

Year: 2016

Team: New York Knicks

Contract: 4 years, $72 million

Return on investment: 53 G, 4.6 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 2.0 APG, .491 FG%

Bottom line: Another deal from the "instant regret" collection. Signing Joakim Noah to a $72 million contract in 2008 would have been a steal, but in 2016, it was an albatross.

Noah’s physical deterioration and antiquated style made him unplayable, and the Knicks added to their legacy as a laughingstock with this move, for which they’re still paying.

3. Chandler Parsons

Year: 2016

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Contract: 4 years, $94 million

Return on investment: 95 G, 7.2 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 1.8 APG, .393 FG%

Bottom line: Chandler Parsons was a stud in Houston, mostly while playing off the ball, but by the time he hit free agency, he was physically a different player.

Knee injuries derailed most of his time in Dallas, but the Grizzlies still took a big swing at him.

While it was a worthy risk for a franchise that doesn’t attract too many big-name free agents, the move has not paid off. And Parson still has one year left on the contract.

2. Gilbert Arenas

Year: 2008

Team: Washington Wizards

Contract: 6 years, $111 million

Return on investment: 68 G, 15.0 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 5.0 APG, .386 FG%

Bottom line: "Agent Zero" burst onto the NBA scene with some dynamic scoring and awe-inspiring dribble moves.

The former second-round pick made all the other teams in the league regret not drafting him — until he signed his massive deal to stay in Washington.

A slew of injuries and an infamous locker-room incident led to less than 100 games played in three seasons, and the Wizards shipped him to Orlando. He was done playing NBA basketball just a year later.

1. Raef Lafrentz

Year: 2002

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Contract: 7 years, $70 million

Return on investment: 69 G, 9.3 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 0.8 APG, .518 FG%

Bottom line: Raef Lafrentz looked like a promising young prospect on the Denver Nuggets, knocking down 3-pointers and pulling in about eight rebounds per game.

The Mavericks traded for him and were so impressed with Lafrentz's 27 games in Dallas that they signed him to a long-term deal.

The honeymoon period wore off, and Lafrentz was traded to Boston after one full season in Dallas.