The Top 10 NBA Free-Agent Busts of All Time

July 31, 2024

Eleazar Gonzales enumerates the top ten NBA free agent busts of all-time.

Whenever the NBA free agency opens during the off-season, it's where most people's attention is. After all, free agency is where some of the magic in the NBA happens. It's either a big name makes a surprising move or a team signs a questionable player.

The free agency saw millions of dollars worth of deals signed. That is why players are expected to perform in the same manner as how they are paid. However, there are a handful of free agents who failed to deliver.

Today we discuss the NBA's top ten free agent busts of all time.

Gilbert Arenas

We all know Gilbert Arenas had 128 games where he scored 30+ points, 29 with 40+ points, and three with 50+ points. We all know Agent Zero was one of the explosive scorers of his time and yet, many people believe he tops the list of free agent busts.

In 2008, Arenas signed a stout contract with the Washington Wizards. That decision cost the Wizards in many ways as Arenas was coming off a knee injury in 2007. He tried rushing his rehabilitation.

During the 2008-2009 season, Arenas only played TWO games.

The next season, Gilbert Arenas was suspended for 50 games after a gun incident involving then-teammate Javaris Crittenton.

All of that for 111 million dollars.

Gilbert Arenas was originally suspended for joking about the gun incident while under investigation (photo).

Weeks later, Stern changed the suspension from “indefinite” to “remainder of the season”. https://t.co/iEIOuLukA0 pic.twitter.com/tk3bGNo68C

— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) November 8, 2019

Shawn Kemp

Shawn Kemp held a superstar status when he was dunking over people as a player of the Seattle SuperSonics. However, things went south when he signed a seven-year, 107-million deal with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1997.

Kemp went from averaging 16.2 points and 9.6 rebounds in Seattle in 625 games to averaging 18 points and nine rebounds for the Cavs. However, he also struggled mainly with weight issues during his stint in Ohio and was traded to the Portland Trail Blazers in 2000.

Kemp only started eight games in Portland and spent one season with the Orlando Magic before being released in 2003.

Imagine being paid 14.3 million dollars while you're at home.

Ok how bout Shawn Kemp Cavs?!? 🤣😂😂 pic.twitter.com/EiVxwhPCWm

— SHIZZLE303.ETH (@SHIZZLE303) July 13, 2023

Ben Wallace

Ben Wallace was a terrific defender for most of his career -- primarily with the Detroit Pistons. However, he was already beyond his prime years when the Chicago Bulls signed him to a four-year, 50-million dollar deal in 2006.

Age played a factor as to why Ben Wallace wasn't as effective for Chicago as he was for Detroit. He only averaged 5.9 points but pulled down 9.9 rebounds, and blocked 1.9 shots per game in 127 games in a Bull uniform.  

Still, things went downwards for Big Ben as he was limited to just 50 games in the 2007-2008 season before Chicago had enough and traded him to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Share your favorite picture of an NBA legend in a random jersey.

I'll start: Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls pic.twitter.com/bzZgf2ZHge

— Dave Kluge (@DaveKluge) October 20, 2021

Eddy Curry

The New York Knicks had a long list of free agency fumbles and in 2005, Eddy Curry added himself to the list of fumbles.

Before signing a 56-million dollar deal with the Knicks, Curry had a heart issue that forced him to miss the 2004 playoffs. What made things worse from the start was Curry not wanting to have his heart checked to determine the problem. The Knicks looked past the heart issue and offered Curry the deal. And it fired back big time.

Curry averaged 13.6 points and six rebounds in 72 games during the 2005-2006 season. He slightly improved in the next season where he averaged 19.5 points and seven rebounds in 81 games. Then, he fell off and was limited to 58 games and was benched for weight issues and failure to remain in good playing condition.

“Eddy Curry's agent said he has found…a willing buyer in a sign-&-trade for the Bulls center. The agent, Leon Rose, declined to name the team, but sources familiar…said it was the Knicks”

—The Chicago Tribune 2 weeks before the Knicks traded for Eddy Curry on this day in 2005 pic.twitter.com/NN6FbVDtk2

— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) October 3, 2022

Elton Brand

Elton Brand spent a good seven seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers where he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, and two blocks. That's why he's included in this list.

In 2008, Brand signed a five-year deal, 82-million-dollar contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, and that started the decline of Brand's game. He missed 76 games as a Sixer and only averaged 12 points and seven rebounds in 29 games. He never reached the end of the contract as he was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.

Join Sixers Nation in wishing our team’s GM, Elton Brand, a happy 42nd birthday! 🎉🎂 pic.twitter.com/XsJ1RWPy6n

— Sixers Nation (@SixersNationCP) March 11, 2021

Luol Deng

There was a stretch when Luol Deng was already retired and yet, he was still being paid by teh Los Angeles Lakers.

In 2016, the Lakers signed Luol Deng to a 72-million-dollar contract. However, Deng only played in 49 games during the first year of the four-year deal and was already overtaken in the rotation by Brandon Ingram. He was benched during the entire 2017-2018 campaign before getting waived.

Since the Lakers opted to stretch the remainder of Deng's contract to five years, he was still paid by the Lakers while playing for the Minnesota Timberwolves and during the first few years of his retirement.

In 57 games with the Lakers, Deng averaged 7.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 1.3 assists.

The Lakers are officially done paying Luol Deng's contract.

Deng signed with the team in 2016 for four years, $72M and played a total of 57 games. Deng's contract was then stretched.

He was the fifth-highest paid player on the Lakers' roster this year. pic.twitter.com/krR2ssVdER

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 11, 2022

Timofey Mozgov

Timofey Mozgov's stint with the Los Angeles Lakers was viewed as a failure for the Lakers and a complete waste of money and a roster spot.

Even though he was signed to last four years, he only lasted one season -- only playing 54 games in the 2016-2017 season. He averaged 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds. Is that what 64 million dollars gets you?

Never forget when the Lakers paid Timofey Mozgov $64,000,000 in 2016 pic.twitter.com/aQ69ZxzdBO

— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) June 30, 2022

Evan Turner

Evan Turner was initially signed by the Portland Trail Blazers to form a trio alongside Damien Lillard and CJ McCollum.

Instead, Turner's 70-million-dollar contract only took up massive space in the Blazers' salary cap space and only averaged ten points per game in three seasons. In 2019, Portland shipped Turner to the Atlanta Hawks.

BREAKING:

Evan Turner has been traded to the Hawks for Kent Bazemore. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/grkIh27BeD

— Mr. Portland (@Mr_Portland) June 24, 2019

Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah spent most of his career as a primary rim protector and rebounder for the Chicago Bulls.

In 2016, the New York Knicks fumbled again in the free agency when they signed Noah to a four-year contract worth 72 million dollars. Before coming to New York, Noah only played 29 games the season before due to injuries.

In two seasons in a Knick uniform, Noah played 53 games due to injuries.

BREAKING: The Knicks are bringing back Joakim Noah for Center depth for the rest of the season.

"Screw it, we're paying him $6M this season, may as well make him work for it," said Knicks President Leon Rose. pic.twitter.com/60pNi19Rwn

— Knicks Memes (@KnicksMemes) April 1, 2022

Larry Hughes

Larry Hughes played for three different teams before joining the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2005. He even earned a nod to the All-NBA Defensive First Team and led the league in steals in the 2004-2005 season.

When he signed a 70-million-dollar with the Washington Wizards, He was brought in on the belief he would be the next superstar to partner LeBron James.

Sadly, Hughes failed hefty expectations and averaged 14.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals. Those were a far cry compared to his averages during his last season in the capital at 22 points, six rebounds, and three steals.

Larry Hughes discusses why the veteran Cavs team didn’t have issues yielding power to a young #Lebron coming on the scene & taking over, b/c he showed respect to everyone in the locker room from the moment he got there
Click link below for full interview https://t.co/lkZKekxFUA pic.twitter.com/Bh1UmKJULg

— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) October 18, 2020