A year ago, Deron Williams was the only unrestricted free agent to sign a maximum-salary deal, and his $98.77MM contract falls short of the $107.34MM pact inked by Chris Paul earlier this month. Still, even with Paul and Dwight Howard landing max deals this summer, the amount of $40MM+ contracts signed this time around is just six, compared to nine a year ago.
That number still figures to increase by at least one, if and when Nikola Pekovic finalizes a new contract with the Timberwolves. Even Brandon Jennings has a shot at a $40MM deal, though that's appearing less and less likely. Still, overall, it looks like we'll see slightly fewer massive free agent deals this year than last.
With 12 months of hindsight, it's easier to look back at last summer's $40MM+ signings and determine which ones look like bargains and which ones are potential albatrosses. Players like Brook Lopez and Roy Hibbert got off to solid starts in justifying their lucrative long-term deals, while JaVale McGee's and especially Gerald Wallace's big contracts look questionable.
Without the benefit of hindsight, it's a little harder to tell which deals will work out and which ones won't. But in today's poll, we're asking you to weigh in on which of this summer's six biggest contracts appears most ill-advised. A few factors to consider when placing your vote:
- Paul's contract with the Clippers includes a fifth-year early termination option.
- Howard's deal with the Rockets includes a fourth-year player option.
- Al Jefferson's contract with the Bobcats includes a third-year player option.
- All of the other deals are fully guaranteed.