NBA Free Agency 2012: 5 Deals That Won't Be Worth the Dollars

As the NBA free-agency season slowly starts to come down from its peak, it's safe to say that some of the deals that have been signed are just plain ridiculous. Just when we got out of an NBA lockout that was partially caused by teams giving out ridiculous contracts to unworthy players, it's clear that owners haven't learned anything. Old habits die hard, as teams are back at it again.

One deal that stands out to me is that of Jeremy Lin, who inked a three-year, $25 million offer sheet with the Houston Rockets that the New York Knicks opted not to match. Nothing against Lin, as he is a talented point guard with a bright future, but the ridiculously back-loaded contract isn't anywhere close to what he should be paid.

Unfortunately, his contract isn't the only one that fits this category.

5. Ryan Anderson

Ryan Anderson had a breakout season for the Orlando Magic last season, averaging 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds while shooting 39 percent from long range. His efforts netted him the NBA Most Improved Player award, and as he entered restricted free agency, he was in a prime position to get a big offer.

That offer came from the New Orleans Hornets, who inked him to a four-year, $36 million contract in a sign-and-trade with Orlando, who received center Gustavo Ayon.

As good as Anderson was last season, however, he's hardly worth $9 million a year. He is a good three-point shooter and talented scorer in the making, but his defensive game is hardly developed for someone 6'10", 240 pounds.

He'll do well in New Orleans and will do a fine job putting points on the board, but a pure, non-elite scorer is hardly worth the money that GM Dell Demps shelled out for the former California Golden Bear.

4. Jeremy Lin

"Linsanity" certainly upped Jeremy Lin's value as he entered restricted free agency this summer, but the offer sheet he signed with the Houston Rockets is so ridiculous that even Knicks teammate Carmelo Anthony had an opinion about it.

Under the terms of the contract, Lin will earn $25 million over the course of three years, $14 million of which he is paid in the final season of the deal.

I loved watching Lin's breakout season, but he's far from an elite point guard. He has talent, but he isn't worth anything close to that much money per season. Were he more of a pass-first point guard and less of a scorer (though his passing is great) and didn't accumulate as many turnovers as he does, then I'd agree that he is worth $25 million over three years.

Right now, he's a potential bad contract waiting to happen.

3. Landry Fields

Over the first two years of his career, second-round pick Landry Fields did quite well for the New York Knicks, especially as a defensive pest and rebounder. After averaging 6.4 rebounds and shooting 39 percent from long range as a rookie, the former Stanford Cardinal regressed in his sophomore season, averaging just 4.2 boards and shooting just 26 percent from three-point land. Thus, one would think that he wouldn't get a lucrative offer in restricted free agency.

However, such was not the case. 

The Toronto Raptors offered Fields a three-year, $20 million offer sheet, and the Knicks did not match. I'm not sure what Toronto's plan is for Fields, but no matter how you look at it, he isn't worth anywhere close to $6 million-plus a year.

His defense is effective, but the inconsistencies in his scoring and passion could prove to be disappointing.

2. Marcus Camby

Marcus Camby is one of my favorite players to watch, as he is one of the best defensive players in the NBA. Last season, playing for the Portland Trail Blazers and Houston Rockets, the 6'11" center averaged nine rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. For his career, he has averaged 9.9 boards and 2.4 blocks, and in 2007, he was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Sure enough, once he hit the free-agent market, Camby chose to return to the team on which he became a household name, the New York Knicks. In a sign-and-trade deal, he received a three-year contract worth $13.2 million.

Nothing against Camby, as his skills on defense speak for themselves, but it should be noted that he's 38 years old and his offensive game is slowly becoming nonexistent. That isn't a bad thing at all, as he is on the Knicks to play defense, but there's no way to justify giving him that much money, not to mention that many years.

1. Jason Kidd

In the prime of his career, Jason Kidd was a triple-threat point guard whom every team feared. He could score, dish out assists and crash the boards extremely well, and for J-Kidd, racking up another triple-double was nothing out of the ordinary.

Today, however, Kidd is little more than a three-point shooter. He can still make pretty passes, but he's not the same player we fell in love with years ago. At 39 years old, it appeared that his next contract would probably be a one-year deal for slightly above the veteran's minimum.

Instead, the New York Knicks signed him to a three-year contract worth $9 million. Yes, Kidd is a fine leader who could definitely be a mentor to younger players, but this is just a bit much for him. For someone to primarily serve as a locker-room presence, dependable leader and occasional three-point threat—especially one at his age—$3 million a year just isn't the right number.

If you ask me, he won't even last the full length of the contract.