NBA Free Agents 2011: Every Team's Best and Worst Contracts
A number of players will become free agents in the 2011 offseason. The good and bad contracts teams already have on their books will have an enormous effect on who teams can sign.
Players like Jamal Crawford, David West, Rodney Stuckey and Caron Butler could be there for the taking this season.
Fans should examine what value their teams are getting with some players and the lack of value other players give them.
The cost per year in this slideshow refers to the average salary players will make between the 2011-2012 season and the end of their contract.
Boston Celtics
1 of 30
Best Contract: Rajon Rondo (Signed through 2014-2015 season, $11.5 million per year)
Worst Contract: Paul Pierce (Signed through 2013-2014 season, $15.8 million per year)
Boston is an aging team that will soon have to make decisions about its future. Although the Big Three and Rondo are all under contract for next season, Danny Ainge may wheel and deal to try and have this rendition of the Big Three avoid what he saw up close with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish.
Rajon Rondo has one of the best contracts in the game. A young, talented point guard of Rondo's ilk generally makes significantly more.
Paul Pierce is aging and is no longer the type of star who can take a team on his back for long stretches. In the next few years, he will likely continue to slip. While he is a Celtics legend and should retire in green, the amount of money two years from now will be far too much to pay a glorified role player.
New Jersey Nets
2 of 30
Best Contract: Brook Lopez (Signed through 2011-2012 season, $3.1 million per year)
Worst Contract: Johan Petro (Signed through 2012-2013, $3.4 million per year)
The Nets don't have any incredibly bad contracts. Deron Williams will make more than $16 million per year in the next two seasons (player option for $17.7 million in 2012-13), but that can hardly be called bad.
Lopez is one of the best big men in the league. Petro gets the knock as worst contract because he is so close to Lopez in salary and is much less productive when he plays.
The Nets should have flexibility to make moves in this offseason or the next.
New York Knicks
3 of 30
Best Contract: Carmelo Anthony (Signed through 2013-2014, $21 million per year with player option in 2014-15 for $23.5 million)
Worst Contract: Amar'e Stoudemire (Signed through 2014-2015, $21 million per year)
Following the 2011-2012 season, the Knicks will have only three players under contract: Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire and Renaldo Balkman (Toney Douglas has a team option for 2012-13 for $2.1 million and a qualifying offer for 2013-14 for $3.1 million).
While it's tough to say Stoudemire is the worst anything, big men typically break down sooner than forwards in the NBA. Stoudemire's style of play and the beating he takes on a nightly basis could be concern for future injuries.
The Knicks will have room to make a big move in the next couple offseasons. Chris Paul, anyone?
Philadelphia 76ers
4 of 30
Best Contract: Evan Turner (Signed through 2011-2012, $5 million per year with two team options in 2012-13 and 2013-14 for $5.3 and $6.7 million respectively, followed by a player option in 2014-2015 for $8.7 million)
Worst Contract: Andre Iguodala (Signed through 2012-2013, $14 million per year with player option in 2013-2014 for $15.9 million)
Andre Iguodala is a good player. For the amount of money the 76ers are paying him, he must become a great one. He averaged only 14 points per game last season and did not lead the team as many expected.
Evan Turner had a decent rookie campaign he should be able to build upon. Overshadowed by John Wall and Blake Griffin, Turner struggled to play at an elite level. Even so, the 76ers have two team options after next season that will allow them to judge his progress.
The 76ers are tied up with Iguodala and Elton Brand's contract for the next few years, but should have enough flexibility to go get a guy like Caron Butler if they want him.
Toronto Raptors
5 of 30
Best Contract: Amir Johnson (Signed through 2014-2015, $6.25 million per year)
Worst Contract: Andrea Bargnani (Signed through 2014-2015, $10.5 million per year)
Bargnani is a good scorer, but doesn't bring much else to the table as the Raptors star. He averaged about 21 points per game last season, but only had five rebounds and two assists per game.
For a 7'0" star, he must pull down more rebounds to justify his enormous contract.
Amir Johnson is just about as different from Bargnani as possible. Johnson was a second-round pick, not first overall. He is only 6'9", but pulls down almost double the rebounds Bargnani does.
With Peja Stojakovic coming off the books after this season, the Raptors will have room to play with their roster.
Chicago Bulls
6 of 30
Best Contract: Derrick Rose (Signed for 2011-2012, $7 million per year, eligible for a qualifying offer in 2012-2013 for $9.1 million)
Worst Contract: Carlos Boozer (Signed through 2014-2015, $15.15 million per year)
Derrick Rose won the MVP this season. Even if he was a max-contract player, the argument could be made he is the best contract on the Bulls.
The Bulls do not have many bad contracts on their roster. Joakim Noah and Luol Deng will both make $10-plus million over the next few seasons, but it would be hard to argue with their numbers.
Boozer is also an effective player, but is undeserving of being the highest-paid player on Chicago. He played well for Chicago, but he could break down in the later years of his contract.
Chicago doesn't have the cap room to make a big move. With Derrick Rose due to get a raise and a team in place, the Bulls will likely be in the market for spare parts and little else this offseason.
Cleveland Cavaliers
7 of 30
Best Contract: J.J. Hickson (Signed through 2011-2012, $2.4 million per year, eligible for a qualifying offer in 2012-2013 for $3.4 million)
Worst Contract: Baron Davis (Signed through 2012-2013, $14.4 million per year)
The Cleveland Cavaliers are not in good shape. J.J. Hickson was the lone bright spot of the past season, averaging 14 points and nine rebounds per game.
Baron Davis is one of the worst contracts in basketball at this point in his career. Although he still has the ability to put up respectable numbers, the effect he has on teams is often detrimental.
Detroit Pistons
8 of 30
Best Contract: Greg Monroe (Signed through 2011-2012, $3 million per year with team options in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 for $3.2 and $4.1 million respectively, and a qualifying offer in 2014-15 for $5.5 million)
Worst Contract: Richard Hamilton (Signed through 2012-2013, $12.7 million per year)
The Pistons are a team at the end of an era. Hamilton has contributed to the Pistons success of the last decade. His contract is a remnant. He is not a bad player—still averaging double-digit points—but he is not the scorer he once was.
The Pistons seem to be in a rebuilding phase that might force them to pick up a star in the next couple offseasons.
One piece that will remain is Greg Monroe who was a force on the boards all season.
Indiana Pacers
9 of 30
Best Contract: Roy Hibbert (Signed through 2011-2012, $2.6 million per year with a qualifying offer in 2012-13 for $3.7 million)
Worst Contract: None
Next season, the Indiana Pacers will have two players making more than $3 million per year: Danny Granger ($12 million) and James Posey ($6.9 million).
After next season, Granger is the only contract that will definitely be on the books (Dahntay Jones has a 2012-13 player option for $2.9 million)—anyone else would have to have their team options picked up.
The Pacers have tons of cap room and will continue to have room for seasons to come. Granger is a solid building block.
Roy Hibbert also seems to be developing quickly. Last season he averaged 10 points and seven rebounds per game.
Milwaukee Bucks
10 of 30
Best Contract: Brandon Jennings (Signed through 2011-2012, $2.5 million per year with a team option in 2012-2013 for $3.2 million and a qualifying offer in 2013-14 for $4.3 million)
Worst Contract: Corey Maggette (Signed through 2012-2013, $10.5 million per year)
Brandon Jennings is one of the best young players in the NBA. He is dynamic, and if he can increase his field-goal percentage and decrease his turnovers, he will be able to lead the Bucks out of obscurity.
Corey Maggette has never been a star, but he is getting paid more than any other player except Andrew Bogut next season.
The Bucks have Michael Redd's $18.3 million contract coming off the books next season and should be able to make some noise during the offseason.
Atlanta Hawks
11 of 30
Best Contract: Josh Smith (Signed through 2012-2013, $12.8 million per year)
Worst Contract: Joe Johnson (Signed through 2015-2016, $21.5 million per year)
Joe Johnson is the Hawks' best scorer and has been for many years. He is starting to age, and the Hawks will begin to regret their decision for such a lucrative long-term contract five years from now when Johnson is making $25 million.
Josh Smith has more versatility than Johnson and his contract allows the Hawks flexibility in a couple of seasons to evaluate how his career is progressing.
The Hawks have significant money locked up long-term. Al Horford is also making $12 million each season between now and 2015-2016.
While the Hawks will likely have a quiet offseason this year, contracts will start coming off the books after the 2012-2013 season and they might try to make a splash in that free-agent market.
Charlotte Bobcats
12 of 30
Best Contract: D.J. Augustin (Signed through 2011-2012, $3.2 million per year with a qualifying offer in 2012-13 for $4.4 million)
Worst Contract: DeSagana Diop (Signed through 2011-2012, $7 million per year with player option in 2012-2013 for $7.4 million)
The Bobcats will have money to play with this offseason with Morris Peterson and Joel Pryzbilla coming off the books.
They will be looking to support quality, cheap role players like D.J. Augustin and Tyrus Thomas.
The DeSagana Diop contract was confounding when it was signed and continues to be baffling.
He has never been a star and only played in 15 games this past season, averaging fewer than two points in each.
Miami Heat
13 of 30
Best Contract: LeBron James (Signed through 2013-2014, $17.5 million per year with player options in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 for $20.5 and $22.1 million respectively)
Worst Contract: Dwyane Wade (Signed through 2013-2014, $17 million per year with player options in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 season for $20 and $21.6 million respectively)
Wade is the worst contract on the Heat for a different reason: He is making less than the other two members of the Big Three. Bosh has the same contract as James. Wade is the team leader and the slight decrease for him is the worst thing about the Heat's contracts.
James is arguably the best player in the game. Yet there are a number of players making significantly more money than him—including Joe Johnson. Any contract that nets a player of James' caliber is phenomenal. Any time it can be done for any price other than the max, it is among the best contracts in the game.
The Heat have their team locked in for the duration of the contracts above. So Heat fans better hope the experiment works, because there's no reset in sight.
Orlando Magic
14 of 30
Best Contract: Jameer Nelson (Signed through 2012-2013, $7.6 million per year)
Worst Contract: Gilbert Arenas (Signed through 2013-2014, $19.2 million per year with player option in 2012-2013 for $20.8 million)
The Orlando Magic have a stacked payroll until Dwight Howard comes off the books after next season (unless he accepts his player option).
Everything the Magic do this offseason has to be geared toward keeping their star.
Jameer Nelson has become one of the top point guards in the East, a group Gilbert Arenas once belonged in. Arenas is a shell of his former self and figures to be paid millions to sit on the bench for the next few years.
Washington Wizards
15 of 30
Best Contract: John Wall (Signed through 2011-2012, $5.5 million per year with team options in 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 for $5.9 and $7.5 million respectively, and a player option in 2014-15 for $9.7 million)
Worst Contract: Rashard Lewis (Signed through 2012-2013, $22.9 million per year)
Things are looking up for the Washington Wizards for the first time in a long time. Although overshadowed by Blake Griffin's rookie performance with the Clippers, John Wall was great, at times, for Washington.
When Lewis' contract comes off the books in 2013, the Wizards can make a play at one of the marquee names on the market and team him up with Wall to put the team in long-term contention. The Wizards also should have some flexibility this offseason with Josh Howard and Al Thornton coming off the books.
Dallas Mavericks
16 of 30
Best Contract: Corey Brewer (Signed through 2012-2013, $3.1 million per year)
Worst Contract: Brendan Haywood (Signed through 2014-2015, $8.8 million per season with a team option in 2015-2016 for $10.5 million)
The Mavericks have numerous contracts off the books in the next two seasons that will allow them to make plays in the 2012 free-agent market.
This season, they will lose Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler. Combined with the loss of some less expensive players, this will bring the Mavericks' second-highest payroll in the league down to a meager $60 million.
Next season, the team will lose Jason Terry and Jason Kidd, which will put them below the cap even more to make significant, roster-changing moves.
Houston Rockets
17 of 30
Best Contract: Kyle Lowry (Signed through 2013-2014, $5.9 million per year)
Worst Contract: Luis Scola (Signed through 2014-2015, $10 million per year)
Luis Scola is not a bad contract now, but he is the worst on the roster simply because of the length of time the Rockets are committing to him. Lowry has developed into one of the most underrated point guards in the NBA.
Yao Ming will be a free agent after this season and his $17.6 million will be off the Rockets cap, allowing them to either make a move this offseason, or start creating space for when players like Dwight Howard and Chris Paul become free agents in the next couple seasons.
Memphis Grizzlies
18 of 30
Best Contract: Mike Conley (Signed through 2015-2016, $7.9 million per year)
Worst Contract: Rudy Gay (Signed through 2014-2015, $17.2 million per year)
Earlier this season, Rudy Gay might have been considered the most valuable player on the Grizzlies. When he returns, he will likely still be the most talented.
The run the Grizzlies have gone on without him, however, makes his contract seem excessive. Marc Gasol will be a restricted free agent after this season, and after this run, Memphis would be wise to re-sign him.
Shane Battier and Marko Jaric also go off the books. Memphis can choose to re-sign the duo, or look elsewhere for help.
The Grizzlies are an up-and-coming team with a number of decisions ahead of them that could make—or break—their future.
New Orleans Hornets
19 of 30
Best Contract: Trevor Ariza (Signed through 2012-2013, $7.3 million per season with a player option in 2013-14 for $7.7 million)
Worst Contract: Emeka Okafor (Signed through 2013-2014, $13.5 million per season)
The Hornets simply don't have many players left on their roster who are signed to long-term deals. Only five players have guaranteed spots on next year's roster (Aaron Gray and David West have player options), and the year after that, everything could blow up when Chris Paul makes his own "Decision."
The Hornets have a number of role players, including Ariza and Okafor, who could be around a while, but the money they invested long-term in Okafor might have been better served waiting for Paul's free agency.
San Antonio Spurs
20 of 30
Best Contract: Manu Ginobili (Signed through 2012-2013, $13.5 million per year)
Worst Contract: Richard Jefferson (Signed through 2012-2013, $9.7 million per year with player option in 2013-2014 for $11 million)
The Spurs' dynastic run is coming to an end. Tony Parker is a free agent after this year, Tim Duncan next year and Manu Ginobili the season after that.
The Spurs will have substantial cap room opening up and will have to determine the best way to go about the post-Duncan era.
This might not be the offseason where the Spurs make their move, but expect them to have significant cap room available after next season.
Denver Nuggets
21 of 30
Best Contract: Ty Lawson (Signed through 2011-2012, $1.6 million per year with a team option in 2012-13 for $2.5 million and a player option in 2013-14 for $3.6 million)
Worst Contract: Al Harrington (Signed through 2014-2015, $7 million per year)
The Nuggets decided to take on the Carmelo Anthony problem head on with the Knicks trade earlier this season. In the process, they ensured they would have significant cap space to compete with anyone in the league for the services of the best free agents on the market in seasons to come.
Ty Lawson and Ray Felton give the Nuggets one of the best duos of young guards in the league. If they can nab a star in the coming years, the Nuggets will again be a force to be reckoned with.
Minnesota Timberwolves
22 of 30
Best Contract: Kevin Love (Signed through 2011-2012, $5.3 million per year with a qualifying offer in 2012-13 for $6.1 million)
Worst Contract: Darko Milicic (Signed through 2013-2014, $5.2 million per year)
The Timberwolves have Eddy Curry coming off the books after this season and have only $13.9 million committed in the 2012-2013 season and beyond.
They will be looking to pick up guys in the offseason to return to contention for the first time since the KG era.
Portland Trail Blazers
23 of 30
Best Contract: Wesley Matthews (Signed through 2014-2015, $6.7 million per year)
Worst Contract: Marcus Camby (Signed through 2011-2012, $9.2 million per year)
Camby's contract is a blessing and a curse to the Blazers. It will prevent them from picking up players this season, but his money should get off the books in time for Dwight Howard and Chris Paul's free agencies.
Whether the Blazers actually contend for any of the big-name free agents remains to be seen, but having the money could be huge when it comes. And with pieces in place already like Brandon Roy and Wesley Matthews, the Blazers could soon become a contender.
Oklahoma City Thunder
24 of 30
Best Contract: Kendrick Perkins (Signed through 2014-2015, $8.5 million per year)
Worst Contract: None
Oklahoma City is one of the younger, more exciting teams in the NBA. They appear positioned for a sustained run of success.
They have superstar Kevin Durant signed through 2015-2016, Russell Westbrook through at least next season and Perkins through 2014-2015. Nazr Mohammed's departure after this season will kick some money off the books if the Thunder want to pick up another player, but their nucleus is set for a long time.
Utah Jazz
25 of 30
Best Contract: Devin Harris (Signed through 2012-2013, $8.9 million per year)
Worst Contract: Al Jefferson (Signed through 2012-2013, $14.5 million per year)
Jefferson is barely a bad contract—when healthy he has some of the best post moves in the game. Along with Devin Harris and Paul Millsap, Jefferson is part of the heart and soul of the Jazz.
Andrei Kirilenko's departure after this season will give the Jazz money to play with—and they may save it until an offseason with more stars on the market. Although Utah can be a tough sell location-wise, the Jazz would rather take the risk Dwight Howard might consider them than spend money on the Caron Butlers and David Wests of the world.
Golden State Warriors
26 of 30
Best Contract: Mike Conley (Signed through 2015-2016, $7.9 million per year)
Worst Contract: Rudy Gay (Signed through 2014-2015, $17.2 million per year)
Earlier this season, Rudy Gay might have been considered the most valuable player on the Grizzlies. When he returns, he will likely still be the most talented.
The run the Grizzlies have gone on without him, however, makes his contract seem excessive. Marc Gasol will be a restricted free agent after this season, and after this run, Memphis would be wise to re-sign him.
Shane Battier and Marko Jaric also go off the books. Memphis can choose to re-sign the duo, or look elsewhere for help.
The Grizzlies are an up-and-coming team with a number of decisions ahead of them that could make—or break—their future.
Los Angeles Clippers
27 of 30
Best Contract: Blake Griffin (Signed through 2011-2012, $5.7 million per year with team option in 2012-2013 for $7.2 million and a qualifying offer in 2013-14 for $9.4 million)
Worst Contract: Chris Kaman (Signed through 2011-2012, $12.2 million per year)
With the development of young big men like Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, the need for Chris Kaman has diminished.
There is a buzz surrounding the Clippers that has not existed—ever—and it's all due to Blake Griffin's arrival as a star. Even if the Clippers don't win, Griffin could have a spectacular play.
The Clippers are positioning themselves to lure a star to the Los Angeles market to pair with Griffin. They only have $12.5 million committed in payroll beyond 2011-2012.
Los Angeles Lakers
28 of 30
Best Contract: Ron Artest (Signed through 2011-2012, $7 million per year with a player option in 2012-13 for $7.3 million)
Worst Contract: Kobe Bryant (Signed through 2013-2014, $27.8 million per year)
It is heresy to say Kobe Bryant is anything but one of the top two players in the NBA. Yet his contract will handcuff the Lakers for the next three seasons and prevent them from rebuilding.
Kobe has been a legend for the Lakers over the past few years and brought a number of championships to Los Angeles. But more will not come until the Lakers are rid of his contract.
Phoenix Suns
29 of 30
Best Contract: Marcin Gortat (Signed through 2013-2014 season, $7.3 million per year)
Worst Contract: Josh Childress (Signed through 2013-2014 season, $6.8 million per year with a player option in 2014-15 for $7.3 million)
The Phoenix Suns are not the team they used to be. Marcin Gortat has been solid for a reasonable price, as has Channing Frye.
Steve Nash is getting older and his skills are diminishing. The Suns will likely not pick up their $18 million option for Vince Carter next season and that should give them flexibility to begin the next era of Suns basketball.
Sacramento Kings
30 of 30
Best Contract: Tyreke Evans (Signed through 2011-2012, $4.2 million per year with a team option in 2012-2013 for $5.3 million and a qualifying offer in 2013-2014 for $6.9 million)
Worst Contract: Francisco Garcia (Signed through 2012-2013, $5.95 million per season with a team option in 2013-14 for $6.4 million)
The Kings don't have a star and currently have the lowest payroll in the entire NBA. They only have $27.6 million committed to players under contract next season, with Samuel Dalembert coming off the books.
Evans is a talented scorer, but needs to learn how to play winning basketball in order to take the Kings out of the basement in the West.
