NBA Power Rankings: 15 Biggest Offseason Disappointments
As the NBA season gets older with each passing day, it becomes clearer and clearer which players haven't lived up to their potential. Every offseason players are brought in through free agency, trades or the draft. And every season there are players who don't live up to a big contract or being picked that high in the draft.
Past players who would have made this list include Baron Davis, Elton Brand and Adam Morrison, for example.
With that being said, let's take a look at this past offseason's biggest disappointments.
No. 15 Wesley Johnson
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The fourth overall pick in last year's draft hasn't had the kind of instant impact Minnesota had hoped. Johnson is already 23 years old, so it's a fair question to ask how much better he can get.
While Johnson's numbers look decent—9.4 points per game on 45-percent shooting—his shot selection has been questionable at best. One of the biggest concerns about Johnson's NBA prospects was his inability to drive to the basket.
At Syracuse, Johnson was mostly a jump shooter who sometimes used his strength and athleticism on the block to score. In the NBA, Johnson is going up against guys who are equally as athletic and strong as him, which has turned him mostly into a jump shooter.
Until Johnson develops some consistency and works on driving the ball to the basket, his performance will be hit or miss depending on if he's making jump shots.
No. 14 Tyrus Thomas
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Thomas' superior athleticism has teased many throughout his tenure in the NBA, so much so that he was given a five-year, $40 million contract this offseason from the Charlotte Bobcats.
While Thomas is capable of having terrific games—and he has this season—too often his focus seems to be elsewhere. No coach has been able to channel Thomas' excitable play into a smart and precise basketball player.
Thomas often settles for bad jumpers and hasn't developed a back-to-the-basket skill set yet. Until he becomes more consistent, he finds himself as one of the biggest disappointments from the offseason.
No. 13 Trevor Ariza
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It appears that Ariza's decision not to take less money with the L.A. Lakers a few years ago was a big mistake. Ariza had an OK season last year with Houston, but he isn't living up to the contract he signed. Because of his expandability, the Rockets shipped him off to New Orleans during the offseason.
Even with Chris Paul—one of the best point guards in the game—creating open looks for Ariza, he's shooting just 25 percent from beyond the arc. It's beginning to look like Ariza's postseason success with the Lakers was more of a fluke than anything.
No. 12 Chris Bosh
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Sure Miami's winning games and Bosh has been a key cog at points. But that doesn't keep him from landing on this list. Bosh is on a team with virtually no size, making it laughable that he isn't averaging more than 8.2 rebounds per game, especially considering he averaged double digits the prior two seasons.
It's understandable that Bosh is averaging less points per game considering his shots are down from playing with LeBron and D-Wade. But what isn't acceptable is his sad excuse for defense most of the time and his unwillingness to crash the glass.
The Heat have the talent to win games in the regular season because of Wade and James, but they'll need Bosh to play big in the postseason if they want to win a title. And so far, he hasn't shown he can do that.
No. 11 Travis Outlaw
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When the New Jersey Nets inked Outlaw to a five-year, $35 million deal, you knew it wasn't a good one. Outlaw's $7 million base salary is outrageous compared to what he brings to the basketball court.
He's never been a particular good shooter, but this season he's shooting 37 percent from the field and an even worse 32 percent beyond the arc. Throw in Outlaw's phantom defense and you have one of the worst deals from this past summer.
No. 10 David Lee
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Golden State acquired Lee via trade this offseason and then signed him to a six-year, $80 million deal. Lee's a nice player who put up good numbers on bad Knicks teams over the years. But Lee isn't worth the contract he got and he's showing it.
Never known for being a good defender, Lee puts added stress on himself to prove his worth by scoring and rebounding the basketball. It hasn't gone as well as in years past, seeing as Lee is averaging five fewer points a game than a year ago and two fewer rebounds.
Lee has battled injuries this season, including a scary elbow infection which was said to almost have cost him his career. Fortunately for both the Warriors and Lee, he has made it back onto the court. Now they just need to get him healthy and start playing like he was for the Knicks.
No. 9 Joe Johnson
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It isn't Johnson's fault that the Atlanta Hawks gave him a six-year, $119 million contract, but he isn't even performing at the level he did a year ago. Johnson is averaging nearly three fewer points per game, shooting under 30 percent from three-point land and a measly 41 percent from the field.
Those aren't numbers you expect from somebody you're paying over $16 million a year. There's no way Johnson will ever live up to his bloated contract, but the least he can do is put up similar numbers to his prior seasons with the Hawks.
No. 8 Josh Childress
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Despite playing in Alvin Gentry's system, Childress' numbers don't reflect what the Phoenix Suns envisioned when they acquired him this offseason. Childress was the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft and he took an interesting career path in 2008 when he went over to Europe to play basketball.
Now back in the NBA, Childress is struggling to crack the Phoenix rotation and has found himself the odd man out on most nights. Childress is set to make over $30 million in the next five years. And with the lack of playing time and production he has given the Suns, it's definitely a move Phoenix is regretting, although it isn't all of Childress' fault, considering he doesn't control playing time.
No. 7 Jermaine O'Neal
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When Boston signed O'Neal to a two-year deal that will pay him close to $12 million, you knew the team wasn't focused on his regular season stats. O'Neal was brought in to add depth to the Celtics roster and be another body Doc Rivers could go to in the playoffs.
But O'Neal has had a hard time staying on the court this season, making the offseason acquisition of him look like a poor one. The Celtics used their mid-level exception on O'Neal, but it could be wasted if he is unable to stay healthy.
O'Neal's giving the Celtics under four boards per game and chipping in a little over five points per game. Those are numbers that are going to have to improve if O'Neal doesn't want to end up as one of the biggest busts of the offseason.
No. 6 Al Harrington
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Denver is a team in disarray due to the uncertain future of the team's superstar player in Carmelo Anthony. The distractions have led to a team that doesn't play together, which is understandable with the persistent rumors swirling around the organization.
You would think that a veteran like Harrington would have thrived in Denver, but that has not been the case. Harrington's averaging a surprisingly low 11.8 points per game and has battled a thumb injury this season. Nevertheless, it isn't an excuse when you're set to make $33.4 million over the next five years.
Harrington needs to pick up his play to justify the contract he signed with the Nuggets this offseason.
No. 5 Corey Maggette
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The Milwaukee Bucks acquired Maggette this offseason for Charlie Bell and Dan Gadzuric. Maggette's expensive contract, which will pay him close to $31 million over three years, was a financial risk the Bucks took this past summer.
On the basketball court, things haven't gone as imagined for both sides. Maggette's 10.8 points per game are a far cry from his 19.8 points per game a season ago. The 12th-year pro hasn't ignited the Bucks' offense, which is why he finds himself as one of the biggest disappointments of the offseason.
No. 4 Joel Anthony
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When Pat Riley re-signed Anthony, nobody really said anything. But now that we are 30-plus games into the season, it's safe to say Riley made a dumb decision in giving Anthony a five-year, $17 million deal.
Anthony is averaging 1.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game. Riley could have gotten that production from a D-leaguer, but instead he chose to invest in Anthony. Not a good move.
The one thing Anthony did do well this season was when he had to guard Amar'e Stoudemire. Considering New York could meet Miami in the playoffs, Anthony could end up being valuable after all. But when looking at his contract, his production doesn't even come close to matching the dollar amount.
No. 3 Chris Duhon
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Just an absolutely atrocious signing by Otis Smith this past summer and he pretty much admitted so by trading for Gilbert Arenas. Duhon was acquired to back up Jameer Nelson on a four-year, $15 million deal. Duhon is not worth that amount of money and he's been relegated to mop-up duty, at most, since the arrival of Arenas.
So virtually, Orlando's paying Duhon not to play right now. Great move, Otis.
It doesn't make sense why the Magic even brought in Duhon in the first place. His inability to hit jump shots allows defenses to sag off him, which ultimately puts the Magic down a man on offense any time he's in the game.
Bottom line: this is one of the most inexcusable moves of the summer.
No. 2 Brendan Haywood
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Once again this past summer, Dallas overpaid for an OK, but not great, center. The Mavericks gave Haywood a six-year, $55 million deal that already is regrettable.
Tyson Chandler came to Dallas via trade in the offseason and has won the starting gig, which hasn't gone over well with Haywood. In fact, Haywood pouted for awhile and it's clear he isn't putting in the effort he did a year ago.
Haywood's averaging just 3.9 points per game to go with five rebounds. More concerning is how bad he's been shooting free throws, which has led teams to go to a hack-a-Haywood strategy at times. Mark Cuban is known for overpaying centers who don't live up to expectations and it appears Haywood can be added to the list.
No. 1 Evan Turner
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It's never a good sign when the No. 2 pick in the draft is averaging just 6.8 points per game through 33 games. What's more concerning is how big of a non-factor Turner has been dishing out the ball to his teammates—1.8 assists per game.
At Ohio State, Turner was the go-to-guy who was always counted on to make a play. Whether that be scoring the basketball or creating open looks for others, he did it. The same can't be said since Turner has arrived in Philadelphia.
He's shooting 38 percent from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc. At this rate, it appears Turner could be heading for a disappointing pro career. One thing appears to be certain and that's that he isn't who the 76ers thought he was.
Turner is the biggest disappointment thus far.
