Top 5 Least Desirable Contracts in the NBA

 As we inch closer to 2022 Free Agency - with many big questions looming - now is as good a time as any to check out some of the ugliest contracts currently holding franchises back.  This list is based off of money earned / 2021-2022 advanced production +/- (compiling EPM, DPM, LEBRON, and RAPTOR).  Note: every player on this list has at least 2 years remaining on his current deal.  Deals with 1 year left are considered expiring and, in general, are much more useful.

#5

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Klay Thompson

Contract: $41.9m/year - 2 years

Age: 32

2021/2022 Per Minute Production Rank: #96/440

If you're a fan of the NBA, you're probably a fan of Klay Thompson.  If he were making less than $40m he would not be on this list.  He's an ultra intelligent, extremely active sharpshooter.  Sadly, though, even before his devastating Achilles injury his production began declining.  Even his 3P% - which constantly hovered around 42% for his career - has dropped to 39%.  At this point in his career Klay is a mediocre starter and at his age will not be getting better.  With a cap hit of almost $42m per year, his contract is just rich enough to make this list.

#4

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Gordon Hayward

Contract: $30.8m/year - 2 years

Age: 32

2021/2022 Per Minute Production Rank: #191/440

Coming off his worst season to date (albeit injury-shortened) - at 32 years old it is safe to say that Gordon's best years have likely passed.  Best case scenario is low-level starter type production from the Butler alum which - at about $31mil - is just simply not worth it for any team.

#3

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Tobias Harris

Contract: $38.5m/year - 2 years

Age: 30

2021/2022 Per Minute Production Rank: #118/440

Philly is approaching the business end of Harris' massive 5 year - $180mil back-loaded deal signed in 2019.  Harris will be about the 16th highest paid player next season and while he could bounce back with a decent season next year at age 30, the odds of him being top 20 and being worthy of the cap hit... let's just say the chances are extremely slim.

#2

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Julius Randle

Contract: $26.7m/year + incentives - 4 years

Age: 27

2021/2022 Per Minute Production Rank: #252/440

What can we say about the Knicks that hasn't already been said about the Mets and the Jets?  Randle had a great season in 2020-2021 and that's all the Knicks needed to see.  That was his only net-positive season you say?  Of his 7 seasons in the league to date only 1 has he performed well enough to be considered a starter in the league you say?  No worries - surely the Knicks top-tier coaching and culture will maximize his value.  In all seriousness - Randle's production this year, which was back to terrible, is much closer to the norm than the one good year New York is paying him off of.  This contract will haunt the Knicks.

#1

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Ben Simmons

Contract: $37.9m/year + incentives - 3 years

Age: 26

2021/2022 Per Minute Production Rank: Not Available

There is a reason it was so difficult for the 76ers to trade Simmons - and when the dust cleared Philly had given up Simmons, two very useable players in Drummond and Seth Curry, as well as 2 1st round draft picks.  They received a clearly declining James Harden and some spare change.  Now, at his age and with his talent Ben Simmons could very well make me eat my words with the ranking.  Still, he deserves the #1 spot after the last calendar year.  To recap, after Philly's playoff exit last year Mr. Simmons demanded a trade.  When that trade didn't happen, he claimed his back hurt and he was mentally unprepared to play.  Simmons didn't seem to keep his body in shape at all because - even after being traded at the deadline to a contender - he was not able to play in a single game.  The fact is: Simmons will be paid like a top 20 NBA player over the next 3 years.  Who knows how many games he will even play, or how many problems he will cause along the way.

Honorable Mentions:

Michael Porter Jr. - the 5-year $172mil max extension last offseason followed abruptly by major back surgery has Denver fans rightfully trembling.  Considering how much money is left on it, this contract is definitely up there with the other least desirables but - at 23 years old - we simply don't know how he'll look post-surgery.

Duncan Robinson - he's got 4 years and at $18.6 per year left on his record-breaking deal (for an undrafted player).  That's definitely not a massive chunk of the cap by any stretch, but it's not nothing and at 28 years old we are already seeing clear signs of decline.  Miami will likely have regrets.