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Long-term deals are always a risk for franchises, and in the modern-day NBA, many players prefer such long-term associations. These contracts become roadblocks for years to come if the player becomes redundant to the team in any way.
The most common end result of such cases are players being traded or waived. In case of the latter, several times, the package is divided into small installments over the next few years. So the player, even if not playing on the court, makes some moolah.
Let me take you through nine of such redundant players in the current system who are still making money out of their contracts.
#9 Larry Sanders
Larry Sanders made a roar in Milwaukee in 2012 before Giannis Antetokounmpo had even arrived. His campaign that year was quite successful as he averaged impressive numbers, becoming the part of some of the All-NBA rankings.
Milwaukee offered him a four-year, $44 million deal in haste, and that was the start of the decline. From getting involved in drug violations, fight scandals, and struggling with injuries, Larry's career was quite over, but not financially. Milwaukee Bucks decided to buy him out in 2015 and still owe him $1.9 million every year till 2022-23.
#8 Andrew Nicholson
Andrew Nicholson was the 19th pick of the 2012 NBA Draft by the Orlando Magic- where he spent his four years(never averaging double digits) from 2012 to 2015.
In 2016, the Washington Wizards offered Andrew a four-year, $26 million deal, which was not a small amount considering the kind of numbers he had with the Magic. He played 28 games, averaging 2.5 points a game with the Wizards, and they sent him to the Brooklyn Nets at the trade deadline.
The Nets used him for just ten games and traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers where he was waived off eventually. The Blazers now owe him $2.8 million every season till 2023-24.
#7 Monta Ellis
Monta Ellis is an example of a player who looked like a great prospect for the future but faded away with time. Ellis was offered a justified, four-year, $44 million deal by the Indiana Pacers in 2015. He was averaging nearly 20 points a game for the past eight seasons and the Pacers thought he still has got the fuel to be a great player besides Paul George and George Hill.
However, as a season passed by, his numbers started taking a toll. He averaged 13.8 points in his first season with the Pacers, which reduced to 8.5 points in the second one. His playing time decreased from there on, and Indiana had to let him go in 2017 - stretching his remaining $11.2 million till 2022.
#6 Matt Barnes
Matt Barnes was in the conclusion of his career back in 2016, when the Sacramento Kings gave him a 2-year, $12.5 million offer. The deal was a big surprise because Barnes was 35 years old and averaged career-low shooting percentages.
From there on, the Kings played him for 54 games and then waived him off, stretching his salary for the next few years.
He landed up with the Golden State Warriors after that, where he not only won a championship but announced his retirement as well. Having played his last game in 2017, the Kings still owe Barnes the final installment of $2.1 million this season.
#5 Joakim Noah
To be straight, the New York Knicks have made a lot of blunders in the history of their franchise. Offering Joakim Noah a $72 million, 4-year deal at the time when he was not looking like an elite player in the league is one of them.
His journey with the Knicks was not as they had expected. In the first season, he got involved in a drug suspension, and missed games due to injuries. In the next one, Noah played just seven games for the season.
As expected, he was later waived by the Knicks in 2018, and they have to pay him $19.3 million over the next three seasons.
#4 Josh Smith
The Detroit Pistons are not far behind when it comes to making blunders with contract signings. They got in Josh Smith- a 6'9" forward- in 2013 when they already had two other bigs in the name of Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe in the squad. Josh was a career 28.3% shooter from behind the arc, and in current formation, he was forced to take the three-point shots. His natural game was hampered and the two other bigs being dominant in the paint, forced Josh to play more on the perimeter.
They say "too many cooks spoil the broth" and rightly so. The things never worked for the Bucks, and they eventually had to waive off Josh. The Pistons have owed him $5.3 million every season till this one.
#3 Deron Williams
Deron Williams was believed to be the face of the Brooklyn Nets when they signed him back in 2012. A 5-year, $98.7 million deal was offered to him, which seemed appropriate seeing he averaged 21 points in the first season. However, it was all downhill from there on thanks to the ankle injuries. He suffered from ankle injuries on both the legs and was not the same player as he was when he started.
The Nets and Williams came to a buyout agreement in 2015, which promised him $27.5 million over the next five seasons. This season will give him the last shift of that payment.
#2 Luol Deng
In 2016, the Lakers were desperate and without Kobe Bryant. During this time, they made one of the worst of their trade moves. They offered 31-year-old Luol Deng a 4-year, $72 million deal- which was brain-buster for almost everybody in the organization.
What happened next?
They hardly played Deng in the next two seasons and eventually waived him in 2018, and have to pay him $5 million each year till 2022.
#1 Anderson Varejao
In 2009, Anderson Varejao was offered a 6-year, $50 million deal by the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, the return was not that good as they expected thanks to the streak of injuries.
From 2011 to 2013, Varejao suffered from a lot of injury problems, but he was still offered a 3-year deal by the Cavs in 2014, thanks to LeBron James- who calls him to be one of his favorite teammates.
However, his luck was not on his side anymore. He suffered a torn Achilles and missed the rest of that season. Even when he returned in the following season, he impressed no one, forcing the Cavs to trade him to the Portland Trail Blazers in a three-team trade. The Blazers immediately waived him and thus, stretched his salary ($1.9 million) till 2020-21 season.
He later had a one-year stint with the Golden State Warriors and was re-signed to waive off the next season. The playing time might have ended, but at least the money will keep coming till the next season.
