Fansided

Ranking the NBA’s biggest deadweight contracts

By Dylan Hughes

Former Chicago Bull and New York Knicks center Joakim Noah, middle, stays on the bench December 9, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images)
Former Chicago Bull and New York Knicks center Joakim Noah, middle, stays on the bench December 9, 2017, at the United Center in Chicago. (Erin Hooley/Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
CHICAGO, USA – APRIL 7: Omer Asik of Chicago Bulls in action during the NBA game between Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States on April 7, 2018. (Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, USA – APRIL 7: Omer Asik of Chicago Bulls in action during the NBA game between Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois, United States on April 7, 2018. (Photo by Bilgin S. Sasmaz/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) /

3. Omer Asik

New Orleans handing Omer Asik a five-year, $58 million deal in 2015 was one of the worst things I’ve seen in the NBA. I was happy for Asik, of course. Get your money. But, Pelicans? What happened there?

Asik played just 182 total minutes last season, splitting his time with the Pelicans and Bulls. He scored 22 points. He made about $10.6 million.

It gets worse. He still has two years left on his deal and will make a little bit over $23 million in that time.

For a rebuilding team like Chicago, Asik’s contract doesn’t kill them. It does take up value cap space, but they did receive a first round draft pick from New Orleans to take Asik back (and send out Nikola Mirotic). They selected Chandler Hutchinson with that pick, who has some upside to start for them at small forward.

There is no reason for Chicago to hurt themselves long-term by stretching Asik’s deal now. But if something comes up next summer and they choose to stretch him then, they could open up about $7 million in space.

Home/NBA