The worst contract in the NBA

by clarkpojo on Aug 27, 2008 9:58 PM MDT

The other day a Blazer fan mentioned that he thought Andrei Kirilenko had the worst contract in the NBA. I started to wonder if there was any validity to this statement. As I looked at a list of NBA players along with their salaries, I realized that there are many NBA players who have worse contracts. Here are a couple zingers.

1. Shaquille O'neal- The big cactus is due $21 million a year for the next 2 years and not only have his numbers dwindled (15 pts, 9 rebounds/game), but he is not the missing piece Phoenix needs to win the title.

2. Ben Wallace- Wallace is due $30 million for the next two years and he is a backup center who is worse than non-existent offensively and is an average defender at best now.

3. Antoine Walker- He is only due $9 million/ year for the next 3 years, but he may not contribute at all. Walker is probably one of the most out of shape pro ballers and I would much rather have AK's contract anyday.

4. Kenyon Martin- His numbers are okay, but his contract is almost identical to Andrei's and who would you rather have?

5. Darius Miles- This is a low blow to all Portland fans. Miles will cost the Blazers $18 million over the next two seasons to play for the Celtics. Ouch.

6. Jason Collins- It is bad enough to be paying Jarron $2.5 million a year, but the T-Wolves are paying his unskilled twin brother $6 a year. Can you imagine, Jazz fans?

7. Vince Carter- This may seem like a stretch, but if Carter played for the Jazz, he would be the 3rd option too and his numbers wouldn't be as good. And he plays NO defense. He is owed $45 million over 3 seasons too.

Now it's your turn.

Poll

Who has the worst contract in the NBA?

Andrei Kirilenko

12 votes

Shaquille O'neal

36 votes

Ben Wallace

70 votes

Kenyon Martin

8 votes

Antoine Walker

22 votes

Darius Miles

28 votes

Jason Collins

6 votes

182 votes | Poll has closed

All comments are the opinion of the commenter and not necessarily that of SLC Dunk or SB Nation.

0 recs | Comment 29 comments

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Comments

Darius without a doubt...

The difference between Darius and the rest is that he is not even playing. And from personal expierences I have had with him, he is a bum. What player can you think of that would be at a bar while his team is playing about 3 hours up the road?? Only Darius and his crew were there drinking the night away watching his “teammates” lose to Seattle. He has no heart. We all had high expectations for him, but he is all about Darius. Of course, as a blazer fan, I wish that things don’t work out in Boston so that we have a ton of cap space…But, if they do, I hope he plays with whatever talent he has left. He has always had talent, it’s just a matter with his love of the game…

by ptownblazer1 on Aug 28, 2008 12:06 AM MDT 0 recs

great name, we should be friends

it was me that mentioned that, but it was after about 4 to 6 hours of reserch and writing up a trade proposal involving kirilenko to the blazers to see what others would think(we have a lot of well educated fans at the BEdge) and posting it that I was confronted with the idea that kirilenko had the worst contract in the nba by one of the secondary moderators of that site. that was his only comment, the “nothappening, he has the worst contract in the nba”. I would love to see him on the blazer roster, anyway, great post.

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by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 9:19 AM MDT up 0 recs

Trades in the same division aren't likely but...

I would give you Andrei Kirilenko and Jarron Collins’ expiring contract for Raef LaFrentz and Joel Pryzbilla.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Aug 28, 2008 9:57 AM MDT up 0 recs

thats a tough one

but i wouldnt give up joel przybilla (z before y), would be thinking more along the lines of channing + filler, and raif of course. I dont read his blog, so im not in love with channing. also i dont think its cute how weird he seams to think portland is. roomer has it that we have outlaw on the block, but I havent read anything that confirms it for me, added speculation is that we are vying for a point gaurd, but I think we have enough allready. I wouldn’t mind upgrading uotlaw into kirilenko though, regardless of how much hes getting paid, he would be huge on a team that will focuss on defence, and would be just as versitile so far as playing both the 3 and 4. we have enough players that can be forth quarter scorers when needed, so hes not a nessessaty in that regard, but he could be a nice addition for the jazz, verry fricken cheep.

tell me what you think, reif, for caprelief, travis outlaw, at 4 mill, and diago, at something like 3.5(i think) he was a lottery pick a few years back and has a few injuries, a back to the basket player, that actually tries on defence, and a few second rounders. for kirilenko – you keep collins

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 10:21 AM MDT up 0 recs

You want AK...

you have to take Flop or Harpring. Sorry. If you want, we could get a couple of positive posts up about the guys to try and sway you. :)

As for Channing… the year the Jazz drafted Deron, they tried to work out Channing. He refused to come to Utah. I don’t think the Jazz try for him now… god forbid we have another Rony Seikaly.

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The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
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by UtesFan89 on Aug 28, 2008 10:51 AM MDT up 0 recs

Portland and Jazz probably won't trade with each other.

The big problem is that both the Blazers and Jazz are trying to get better and it would be almost impossible for both to be benefitted by a trade. We need a big defensive guy and the Blazers need a better point guard or a reliable small forward. So if you got one of those from the Jazz (it would be AK, cuz you aren’t getting D will) then we would need Przybilla in return to make it worth it. Which you think hurts your team, but if the Blazers wouldn’t do it, then all other trades would hurt the Jazz.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Aug 28, 2008 11:00 AM MDT up 0 recs

that made me laugh

cuz you aren’t getting D will

your right though, I dont really think a trade could be worked out, but it sure wouldnt hurt my fealings if when we do have cap space, utah decides to salery dump, ala denver, and we just pick him up for the right to exchange second rounders or something. we’ll have cap space cause stevie fransis, raif lefriends, and(head bowd on bent knees) darious miles will all come off the books at the same time. I personaly think kirilenko is as good a pickup as any we could get. and honestly if we could get better while the jazz get worse(honestly, he will be hard to replace) well, that could only help our allready slim chances to get the win in a seven game series. I know that that would probably never happen, but a guy can dream right?

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 11:45 AM MDT up 0 recs

that might not add up right,

im on my way to the gym and dont have time to look up contracts, but i know I wouldnt want to give up przybilla

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 10:22 AM MDT up 0 recs

Your gym comment

Reminded me of Chris Farley’s in Tommy Boy. When he’s on his way out of the hotel to get a pizza, he passes a chick,

Do you know where the weight room is?
I’ll check it out.

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Aug 28, 2008 11:18 AM MDT up 0 recs

yeah, and like farley

i didnt go. lol. damn sbnation

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 11:47 AM MDT up 0 recs

stephon marbury

how did you miss that one? isn’t he due something like 20M? nothing even comes close to how terrible that deal is.

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by cap'n hack on Aug 28, 2008 1:10 AM MDT 0 recs

Yep.

He needs to be on this list. Although, you might as well just put down the Knicks for an option.

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by Basketball John on Aug 28, 2008 7:15 AM MDT up 0 recs

You two read my mind.

I had both Stephon Marbury and Rashard Lewis on my list, but left them off. I couldn’t include any expiring contracts because those aren’t bad contracts anymore. Stephon is due $20 million, but this is his last year. If the Knicks were looking to add anymore good players onto the team, they could use Marbury’s contract. Or else it only hurts them one more year. And no joke BBJ, I thought about putting the entire Knicks team on the list. They are $29 million over the salary cap and like $19 million of that is luxury.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Aug 28, 2008 8:09 AM MDT up 0 recs

That's good news for Jazz fans

Because they’ll be trying to shed contracts and take on crappy players to get under the cap for 2010. That can only mean a poor season for 09-10.

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by Basketball John on Aug 28, 2008 8:53 AM MDT up 0 recs

Great Point.

I was a little nervous when the Knicks picked up Dantoni and Walsh, that they might get their act together in time for us not to get a great pick. But more than likely, the Knicks will still be a bottom 5 team by the time we get their pick.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Aug 28, 2008 9:05 AM MDT up 0 recs

They're getting their act together for the summer of LeBron

I think that had to be the selling point for Dantoni (other than he didn’t have a job). I think they’ll get either Wade or Carmelo. But their cap situation kills them right now.

Unless Dantoni somehow gets them to play harder and better.

SLCDunk.com, The Utah Jazz on SBNation

by Basketball John on Aug 28, 2008 9:19 AM MDT up 0 recs

LeBron

is coming to Utah.
Yahoo! has already foreseen it.

The Utah Jazz. The Jazz... duh.
The best NBA team in Utah... no doubts about it!
Playing For Pride. Pirates, Utes, Panthers, and more...
Because, in the end, only one team can "win it all".

by UtesFan89 on Aug 28, 2008 10:48 AM MDT up 0 recs

Rashard Lewis?

Owed roughly $100 million over the next 5 seasons.

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by Ben Q Rock on Aug 28, 2008 7:45 AM MDT 0 recs

Rashard would be honorable mention.

I agree that his contract is bad, but he is also the 2nd best player on his team and scored almost 20 points a game. I didn’t think his could be considered one of the worst.

The more you try to erase me, the more that I appear.

by clarkpojo on Aug 28, 2008 8:10 AM MDT up 0 recs

Better than Hedo?

I don’t know about that…

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by Patrick517 on Sep 1, 2008 12:22 PM MDT up 0 recs

Yes

You forgot Rashard and Starbury.

But what about Larry Hughes. $26 mill for 2 more years. That cat is the highest paid 2nd maybe even 3rd stringer. He wouldn’t start for 85% of the teams, yet is getting paid like he is a franchise player.

Speaking of “franchise” isn’t Steve Francis still collecting a check? I would look it up by my work internet is jacked up. If so that has to be on the list.

I believe Finley was the highest paid Maverick last season. He was still cashing a check w/ Cuban’s signature on it and a Spurs check. Lots of money going out to a couple bad knees. With both teams I think he was the 2nd highest paid player last year.

by P_Dizzle on Aug 28, 2008 8:49 AM MDT 0 recs

stevei "franchise killer"

was bought out by the blazers and is now collecting something close to the minimum with houston, or at least he was last year. we never even let that guy in the clubhouse, he was bought out immidiatly, i would think he qualifies as a bad contract.

--- Woodrow Wilson

by ptwnblzr on Aug 28, 2008 9:26 AM MDT up 0 recs

smart move...

I’m telling ya… The Blazers’ front office does it right.

Whitewater In The Morning

by neff on Aug 28, 2008 11:25 AM MDT up 0 recs

It's Not the Huge Contracts

that kill a team. I mean, yeah, it’s not a great idea to be paying Ben Wallace $30 million over two years, but we’ve seen time and time again that these “untradable” contracts get traded all the time – often for other “untradable” contracts. The contracts that really kill a team are the ones for marginal players that are virtually untradable because the players just aren’t good enough to get a GM excited enough to pick up a phone. Here’s a few examples:

Jerome James (NYK): $12.8 million over the next two years
Quentin Richardson (NYK): $18.2 million over the next two years
Andres Nocioni (CHI): $29 million through 2012, $36.5 if his team option is picked up in 2012/13
Mike James (NOR): $12.5 million over the next two years
Earl Watson (OKC): $12.8 million over the next two years
Darius Songalia (WAS): $13.6 million over the next three years
Cuttino Mobley (LAC): $18.9 million over the next two years
Brian Cardinal (MIN): $13 million over the next two years
Rafer Alston (HOU): $10.1 million over the next two years
Tony Battie (ORL): $8 million over the next two years

This is just a random sampling of players I got by clicking on the team names over at HoopsHype. But, one thing all of these players have in common is that they were offered either the full Mid-Level Exception, or something close to the MLE, when there was virtually no competing offers from other teams. (Trust me, no one was lining up to sign Jerome James in 2005, except Isiah Thomas). But, players like these are the ones who kill your cap flexibility. They don’t perform at a high enough level on the court to justify their salary, they’re not going to be moved in a trade, and the take up space under the cap when you’re trying to maneuver for trades or free agent signings.

by kris247 on Aug 28, 2008 10:40 AM MDT 1 recs