T&T board top 10 worst contracts - Vote for #4

[jambalaya]

Harris does not belong on this list now. Previously it would have been appropriate but not now and not close.

[JasonStern]

vote: Draymond Green. if he's washed up now at 30, just imagine paying him $27.5M three seasons from now.

N: Damian Lillard. Yes, he’s one of the ten best players in the NBA. But his extension is four years, at about $50 mil a year. Lillard’s 30 now. I just think it’s almost impossible he can produce this much. However, an injury would instantly make this, by far, the worst contract in the NBA.

that's ridiculous. a lot of Dame's game isn't based on freak athleticism, and he's proven himself to be incredibly durable. even if his game deteriorates, you're still looking at what would be an overpaid but still elite shooter that can significantly spread defenses. in no situation is getting a top ten player for likely 2-3 seasons not worth that, especially a loyal player with no risk of pouting/demanding a trade.

[shrink]

vote: Draymond Green. if he's washed up now at 30, just imagine paying him $27.5M three seasons from now.

N: Damian Lillard. Yes, he’s one of the ten best players in the NBA. But his extension is four years, at about $50 mil a year. Lillard’s 30 now. I just think it’s almost impossible he can produce this much. However, an injury would instantly make this, by far, the worst contract in the NBA.

that's ridiculous. a lot of Dame's game isn't based on freak athleticism, and he's proven himself to be incredibly durable. even if his game deteriorates, you're still looking at what would be an overpaid but still elite shooter that can significantly spread defenses. in no situation is getting a top ten player for likely 2-3 seasons not worth that, especially a loyal player with no risk of pouting/demanding a trade.

$31,626,953 $43,750,000 $47,250,000 $50,750,000 $54,250,000

Meh. You have to admit there is little chance he outperforms this salary. That’s such a high bar, with very little upside, but downside is there for any contract this size. He isn’t a great defender now, so I feel just calling him “overpaid” at $50 mil is a lot more significant than the typical “overpaid” adjective.

EDIT: I would also add that as an elite shooter, he’s 19th among active players in TS% 58.14, but 4% lower than guys like Curry and Towns. But mostly this is about the size of the deal. I like Dame and called him one of the ten best players in the nba, but that contract is huge.

[JasonStern]

vote: Draymond Green. if he's washed up now at 30, just imagine paying him $27.5M three seasons from now.

N: Damian Lillard. Yes, he’s one of the ten best players in the NBA. But his extension is four years, at about $50 mil a year. Lillard’s 30 now. I just think it’s almost impossible he can produce this much. However, an injury would instantly make this, by far, the worst contract in the NBA.

that's ridiculous. a lot of Dame's game isn't based on freak athleticism, and he's proven himself to be incredibly durable. even if his game deteriorates, you're still looking at what would be an overpaid but still elite shooter that can significantly spread defenses. in no situation is getting a top ten player for likely 2-3 seasons not worth that, especially a loyal player with no risk of pouting/demanding a trade.

$31,626,953 $43,750,000 $47,250,000 $50,750,000 $54,250,000

Meh. You have to admit there is little chance he outperforms this salary. That’s such a high bar, with very little upside, but downside is there for any contract this size.

But either flip the contract:

$54,250,000 $50,750,000 $47,250,000 $43,750,000 $31,626,953

...or average it out to $45.5M/season, and that's far from a terrible contract for a top ten player. Now if in the future, he suffers career altering injuries or something like that, then it would obviously become a bad contract. But the idea that you'd rather pay an often injured Gordan Hayward $30M/season of years despite being nowhere near a top ten player than Dame is, at this point, nonsensical.

[JD45]

I think many are confusing "overpaid" with "worst contract." I don't think any player should be on this list unless their team would trade them for expiring contracts. Most of the players listed here are productive, just paid more than fans think they should be. But their teams aren't looking to dump them for expiring deals. They need their production.

I vote Powell in Dallas as one of the worst. Its not his fault, but he was overpaid for his production to begin with and then had an injury that diminished his abilities. He would be lucky to get a vet minimum contract if he was a free agent.

[James Gatz]

Love