The Sacramento Kings paid $300,000 to former NBA player Nerlens Noel this past season, despite Noel not playing a single minute in a Kings jersey. After signing with Sacramento in late July last summer, the Kings cut Noel before the regular season tipped off.
Between Mark Williams' back injury and an early season concussion suffered by Nick Richards, quality play at the five has been hard to come by in Charlotte.
Part of what makes the NBA, or any pro sports league, so compelling to watch is the narratives, especially those centered on rivalries. Throughout the decades, the NBA has fostered a number of rivalries, some long-lasting and others short but sweet.
The Detroit Pistons are coming close to making the worst kind of history possible. After their 25th consecutive loss, they're now one loss away from tying the longest single-season losing streak.
If the Pistons do have a championship future, it sure feels like it's a long way away. This is despite the fact that general manager Troy Weaver has put together a roster featuring 11 former first-round picks.