With the NBA 2023 Free Agency negotiations window opening almost a week ago, nearly every team tried to make the most of it in the very first hours, not hesitating to make moves in preparation for the next season.
However, some of these movements may have been somewhat of an impulsive decision by the respective front offices, as they offered superstar-level contracts, re-signs, and extensions to players who have yet to reach that status in practice. Who were the most overpaid so far? Let us list them.
Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies. Five-year, $207M extension*
Memphis is going all-in with the max rookie extension for Bane. Do not get us wrong, he is an incredibly versatile player with a high chance to become an all-star on his team, and he absolutely surpassed initial expectations of him when drafted in the 2020 class.
However, it is safe to say this deal is a bit of an overpay on the Grizzlies’ end, being the HIGHEST CONTRACT IN FRANCHISE HISTORY. All in all, this might be an understandable deal given the state of this season’s open market, and the controversies surrounding Ja Morant.
Fred VanVleet, Houston Rockets. Three-year, $130M signing
Arguably the most discussed move in the free agency window so far. VanVleet, a one-time all-star, and 2019 NBA Champion, can bring a lot of experience to the Rockets’ young core.
Nevertheless, he has not really proved himself as the go-to option for a contender team, as he has struggled with offensive efficiency throughout his career. Hopefully, this is the boost he needed to increase his confidence on the court and become a team leader.
Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards. Four-year, $102M re-sign
The Wizards played it safe with this movement. Kuzma has been a reliable, solid player so far with them, averaging 21.2 Points, 7.2 Rebounds, and 3.7 Assists per game this last season.
Despite his massive improvement compared to his previous years, the question of whether or not he can become the face of the team is still present, mainly due to his inconsistency offensively. Overall, we expect him to continue improving this upcoming season, just as he has shown over the past.
Dillon Brooks, Houston Rockets. Four-year, $80M sign-and-trade
The former Memphis Grizzlies guard-forward had an extremely underwhelming performance in last season’s playoffs, which ultimately cost their team a first-round exit. On the offensive side, his impact is practically non-existent and can become a disadvantage whenever he is on that side of the court.
However, he can provide great value defensively, an aspect the Rockets desperately need to tackle. Even then, the overpay with his contract is still substantial.
This article is not to diminish their effort and accomplishments throughout their careers, as every single one of these four players is definitely capable of bringing good things to their team’s table.
Their contracts are higher than they have performed so far, but that is most likely going to change in this upcoming season, we wish the best for them. What other movements would you like to see in this NBA Free Agency?
*Adjustable to the league’s cap.
Text sources: nba.com, espn.com
