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NBA free agency: Worst contracts of 2016

By Cody Williams

Jan 25, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) advances the ball as Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) advances the ball as Boston Celtics guard Evan Turner (11) defends during the first half at Verizon Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 29: Ian Mahinmi
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – APRIL 29: Ian Mahinmi /

5. Ian Mahinmi – Wizards (4 years, $64 million)

The contracts that we’ve seen handed out to centers in NBA free agency, particularly the ones that were agreed upon early after the negotiation period began, have almost wholly been absurd. Guys like Timofey Mozgov certainly come to mind. However, an even worst contract for a number of reasons at the same position is the Washington Wizards going out and landing veteran big man Ian Mahinmi to a four-year, $64 million contract.

Mahinmi unquestionably had the best season of his eight-year career last season with the Indiana Pacers as he started in all 71 games that he played. Moreover, he played a career-high 25.6 minutes per game and subsequently averaged a career-high 9.3 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. Given that he’s 29 years old, though, is it really going to get much better than that—if not worse—over the course of a four-year contract with the Wizards?

Paying the veteran center that much money essentially so that he’ll be a replacement in the rotation for Nene really makes almost zero sense for the Wizards. It’s too long of a deal to also be giving out that annual salary for a player with the limited upside of Mahinmi. It was a bad free agency period for the Wizards and this contract is one of the reasons at the forefront of that.

Next: No. 4 Allen Crabbe

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