Ranking the 10 worst contracts in NBA history

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CLEVELAND, OH – FEBRUARY 23: Joakim Noah #55 of the Memphis Grizzlies celebrates after scoring during the second half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Quicken Loans Arena on February 23, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Grizzlies 112-107. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

7. Joakim Noah (4 years, $72 million)

By the time the New York Knicks signed Joakim Noah to a four-year, $72 million deal, he had been in the league for nine seasons, and he’d seen his points per game dip to the mid-single digits. Pretty much all commentators thought this was far too high a price to pay for a player clearly on the decline, but the Knicks proceeded anyway.

This two-time All-Star and once Defensive Player of the Year was certainly a solid player at one point in his career. But over the course of this deal, Noah played a total of 95 games — two of those seasons he played fewer than 10 games. And over the final three years of the contract, Noah only started a single game, averaging fewer than 20 minutes per game during that stretch.

Sometimes contracts feel like teams are paying for a player who used to exist, and that the money is meant to compensate for past performance. Aaron Rodgers’ current deal with the Green Bay Packers is a prime example. But Joakim Noah is certainly not an Aaron Rodgers-caliber player, and even his best self probably didn’t deserve this deal.

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