10 Worst NBA Contracts Of The Decade

As we approach the end of the decade, like 4 days away, it’s fun to look back at the top players/moments/games, but while we will be providing our thoughts on those we also want to look at some other top 10’s of the decades.

The NBA has been known for it’s terrible contracts that put teams and players in positions where they both look for ways out, usually the team.  Being that the NBA is one of the few leagues that has a cap and can’t just get out of contracts it makes it even more fitting for us to look at the top 10 worst NBA contracts of the decade:

10. Kenyon Martin: 7 years, $92.5 Million (2004) – Coming off a very good 4 years with the New Jersey Nets, the Denver Nuggets gave K-Mart a huge contract.  Injuries and sub par play in comparison to his early years mixed has caused this to be a contract on the fine line of bad.  If it wasn’t for the $92.5 million he hasn’t been bad enough to really make the list, but at an average of $13 million a year, it’s hard to defend.

9. Larry Hughes: 5 years, $70 Million (2005) – After averaging 22 points/game in 04-05, the Cleveland Cavaliers signed Hughes to be Lebron’s version of Scottie Pippen.  The only difference was Pippen did something.  Nagged by injuries and just a lack of fitting in, Hughes eventually was sent to Chicago and then to the Knicks contract slaughter house.  Hughes was never able to justify his $70 million contract and was never able to be consistent enough to help.

8. Jerome James: 5 years, $30 Million (2005) – I know, I know this was only $6 million/year, no big deal compared to some others that didn’t make the list, but at least the other had talent.  The Knicks signed James and he didn’t play more than 44 games in any of his 4 seasons with the Knicks, in fact he started a combined 20 games in that span.  His points/game high in that span was 3.1.  Yes, 3.1 points/game gets you that contract.  He didn’t average over 10 minutes/game in any season with the Knicks.

7. Andrei Kirilenko: 6 years, $86 Million (2004) – Can’t say I fully blame the Jazz for this one.  He looked like he was really going to pan out and be a decent player in the league, especially on defense.  Then he didn’t want to play anymore and it fell apart.  Averaging 8.3 points/game in 06-07 and barely getting into double digits in the following 3 seasons (including 09-10) I would say he isn’t worth $86 Million.

6. Jermaine O’Neal: 7 years, $126.6 Million (2003) – This one might not have been terrible if the Pacers didn’t sign it for 7 years, but either way, injuries happened and the young kid got old real quick.  He hasn’t played over 70 games in any season since 03-04 and while he had a bounce back year in 06-07, he hasn’t ranked in the top 10 in rebounds since 03-04 or any other statistical category except for blocks.

5. Raef LaFrentz: 7 years, $70 Million (2002) – What were the Mavericks thinking?  He gets traded to Dallas from the Nuggets and then gets a huge deal.  He averaged 1 point for every million dollars a season he got and then ultimately was shipped to Boston.  Raef LaFrentz, that’s all.

4. Eddy Curry: 6 years, $60 Million (2005) – In one of the many confusing contracts of the New York Knicks payroll, they signed Curry after a good year in Chicago.  He was young, talented, and had missed the 04 playoffs with a heart issue.  So that means give him $10 million/year.  Curry should have tried out for The Biggest Loser since he gained a ton of weight and has become the contract no one wants.

3.  Ben Wallace: 4 years, $60 Million (2006) – Coming off 4 straight all-star games and 4 Defensive Player of the Year awards in 5 years the Chicago Bulls found it fitting to give him $60 Million over 4 years.  Let’s just say it hasn’t really worked out as he hasn’t been to an all-star games since.

2. Stephon Marbury: 4 years, $76 Million (2003) – Marbury signed this extention with the Suns, not the Knicks although 3 months after signing the deal he was traded to the Knicks where the rest becomes history.  Tattoo’s on his face and arguments with Isiah ultimately led to the Knicks buying him out in the 08-09 season.  And to think, he did all this as his own agent.

1. Allen Houston: 6 years, $100 Million (2001) – Houston led the Knicks to great success in the late 90’s even into the 00-01 season.  As a beloved Knick, they gave him a contract that would eventually lead to the demise of the team since it caused them to make no free agent moves.  Houston had knee problems and had to retire in 2005.  All you really need to know is that the NBA made an “Allan Houston Rule” which grants teams the option of releasing one player to not count against the luxury tax.  He’s number 1 because this led to the fall of the Knicks in this decade from beginning to end, it all started with this contract.