NBA Free Agency 2020: 5 most overpaid players signed during this offseason

Gordon Hayward signed a shocking deal with the Charlotte Hornets.
Gordon Hayward signed a shocking deal with the Charlotte Hornets.

#3 Mason Plumlee

Denver Nuggets v San Antonio Spurs
Denver Nuggets v San Antonio Spurs

Mason Plumlee has been in the league since 2013 and is a good big man to have in your rotation. However, Plumlee is not versatile enough on defense, though he is a good rim protector. Offensively, he can finish around the basket, but he will likely be a role player at a high price. Still, he received a nice contract in NBA Free Agency 2020.

He averages eight points and six rebounds per game in his NBA career (532 appearances) and is a good physical presence to throw at some of the league's most dominant centers.

Still, the Detroit Pistons giving him $25 million for the next three years is a hugely overpaid deal, especially considering he was not among the NBA's best bench players last year. This is NBA Free Agency at its best: availability over ability.

Detroit will give $25 million to Plumlee for the next three years, while they lost Christian Wood to a three-year, $41 million deal from the Houston Rockets in NBA Free Agency 2020.


#2 Marcus Morris

The Clippers kept Morris on their squad.
The Clippers kept Morris on their squad.

Marcus Morris had a career year in the 2019-20 NBA season before entering NBA Free Agency 2020.

Morris averaged 19.6 points per game in 43 games for the New York Knicks while shooting 44% from the three-point line. After he was traded to the LA Clippers, his numbers went down, and his shooting from three was not good for the Clippers, as he shot 31% in 19 regular-season games for them.

In the NBA Playoffs, Morris shot well from the field. He averaged 11.8 points per game on 50/48/92 shooting splits in the postseason.

Despite having the worst Defensive Rating of his career in last year's regular-season (113), Morris signed a four-year, $64 million deal with the LA Clippers. The deal is shocking for a team that reportedly did not pursuit Montrezl Harrell in NBA Free Agency.

Still, maintaining Marcus Morris in their starting lineup is not a bad thing to do. Moreover, Serge Ibaka's addition to the LA Clippers' 2020-21 starting five was the priority for the NBA Free Agency 2020.


#1 Gordon Hayward

Hayward has assigned two huge contracts in a row.
Hayward has assigned two huge contracts in a row.

Although Gordon Hayward has been an All-Star in his NBA career and had a good final year for the Boston Celtics, his four-year, $120 million deal with the Charlotte Hornets was one of the most unexpected contracts of NBA Free Agency 2020.

Hayward had signed a four-year, $128 million with the Celtics in NBA Free Agency three years ago. That contract came to him during his prime, but his stint at Boston got off to a horrible start with a gruesome leg injury in his first game as a Celtic.

He has been injury-prone since he joined the Celtics. Hayward missed more than 140 games for Boston in the regular season as well as the NBA Playoffs.

Still, the Michael Jordan-owned Hornets gave Hayward a four-year, $120 million contract in NBA Free Agency.

Arguably, the Hornets need to offer such contracts to attract All-Star talent to their city. However, Hayward was an All-Star back in 2017, and he only averaged 13.9 points per game in his three years at Boston.

The forward averaged 17.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game last season while shooting 50% from the field and 38% from the three-point line, which was pretty good.

Nevertheless, NBA Free Agency is about availability, and the Hornets paid the 30-year-old Hayward to add him to the roster after his best year at Boston because they think it will help them succeed in their quest for the NBA playoffs.

Could Hayward's NBA Free agency signing help the team reach the NBA Playoffs? Probably, but it depends on his health. He has been a solid pro in the NBA but has been plagued by injuries in recent years.

Hayward will improve the team if he can stay healthy and return to his Utah form.


Also read: NBA Trade Rumors: New York Knicks' interest in Russell Westbrook waning as Houston Rockets look to run it back

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