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The shape of the league is vastly different today than it was when 2021 NBA free agency began. The NBA is busier than ever and as many as 80 different players have signed with new teams and several more have re-signed with their current ones.
The LA Lakers have been the highlight of free agency as LeBron James and co. assemble the NBA's next superteam. However, while teams like the Lakers and Chicago Bulls have made great signings, many teams have gone in the opposite direction.
Who have been the worst signings in NBA free agency?
The Portland Trail Blazers have arguably had the worst NBA free agency in the league. They have a generational player in Damian Lillard but refuse to surround him with talent.
So far they have added players like Tony Snell, Cody Zeller and Ben McLemore while losing players the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Enes Kanter and Zach Collins. Naturally, every offseason has bad contracts and so without further ado, let's take a look at the worst signings in NBA free agency so far.
#1 Jarrett Allen
It makes little sense for the Cleveland Cavaliers to invest $100 million for five years on Jarrett Allen when they have just drafted a generational talent in Evan Mobley. The 'twin-towers' strategy won't work out in modern NBA rotations, and will eventually find himself coming off the bench for Mobley.
For Jarrett Allen to earn $20 million a year, the situation with his team isn't ideal. It isn't far-fetched to think that the Cavaliers might eventually trade him when they realize he doesn't fit the lineup with Mobley.
The ideal rim-running non-shooting big men don't get nine-figure salaries in the NBA anymore (except Rudy Gobert). The Cavaliers would struggle to find spacing with Allen and Mobley both on the floor.
Not to mention that Isaac Okoro, the 5th pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, isn't a shooter either. Jarrett Allen was a restricted free agent who wasn't going to receive a $100M+ type deal anywhere else.
#2 Evan Fournier
The New York Knicks are paying Evan Fournier $78 million thinking he might bring a change to the team but there is little evidence to show that he will.
He averaged 19.7 points per game during his time on a hapless Orlando Magic team but when he started playing for a good team like the Boston Celtics, his averages came down to 13 points per game.
Several analysts have chalked it up to the "Knicks will always be the Knicks" suggesting they followed their pattern of aggresively overpaying for a player who wouldn't impact the championship picture.
Fournier certainly adds shooting to the team but he doesn't make the New York Knicks Eastern Conference favorites. The Milwaukee Bucks, Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers are NBA powerhouses while the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics and Atlanta Hawks will all be better teams next season.
The New York Knicks will be too late before they can exercise their team option on his deal as they are headed for arguably another mediocre season.
#3 Zach Collins
Zach Collins' new NBA contract is one of the strangest deals so far. The San Antonio Spurs are essentially overpaying for a player that the Portland Trail Blazers hoped he would become.
The Spurs are also committing $22 million in the hope that Collins remains healthy. He has had at least four separate surgeries in the last two years and has played just 11 games in that span. Collins has a career average of 5.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 steals and 0.7 blocks per game on a rudimentary 44/32/72 shooting split.
With the kind of averages he posts and his constant battle with injuries, it is hard to understand what the Spurs expect from Zach Collins. The Portland Trail Blazers didn't even extend the 22-year-old a $7 million qualifying offer despite the fact that they can't sign a replacement.
#4 Cody Zeller
For a team chasing championships with Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers signing Cody Zeller doesn't make sense. He never lived up to what the Hornets expected him to become when they drafted him as the 4th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
After eight seasons with the Charlotte Hornets, he has career averages of 8.7 points, 6.0 rebounds. 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.7 blocks. Those are decent numbers for a backup center on a championship squad but not a starting one.
Cody Zeller signed a veteran's minimum contract with the Trail Blazers which is worth $2.3 million for a player in his 9th season.
#5 Duncan Robinson
Duncan Robinson is a three-point specialist who is great at his craft and he gives the Miami Heat much-needed spacing and shooting.
However, it is hard to wrap your head around the fact that the Pat Riley and the Heat are throwing $90 million on a 27-year-old shooter with just two full NBA seasons worth of experience. He has an NBA career average of 12.3 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 0.5 steals and 0.2 blocks.
Although it isn't much, Robinson's shooting clip from beyond the arc fell from 44% in the 2019-20 NBA season to 40% last season. He cannot get his own shot and doesn't play good defense.
The $90 million deal is the highest for an undrafted player in NBA history. Although Robinson deserves every penny coming his way, the Heat aren't going to get much in return for that kind of coin.
Also Read: NBA Free Agency Rumors: LA Lakers exploring the possibility of signing Isaiah Thomas
Guess the Lakers players!
