Biggest all-time busts and missteps of NBA free agency

Seattle was looking to take the next step after making it to the NBA Finals in 1996. All the Sonics needed was a center, so they thought. McIlvaine was signed from the Bullets after two seasons for a lucrative deal despite averaging just 2.3 points and 2.9 rebounds in 14.9 minutes per game. He spent only two seasons as a starter for the SuperSonics, averaging just 3.8 points and 18 minutes per game in his best season.

"Big Country" Bryant Reeves was awarded a huge contract after only two seasons in Vancouver, as the former Oklahoma State star looked like a budding NBA center. After averaging more than 16 points per game in his first year of the contract, Reeves went into decline. He was out of the league following the 2000-01 season.

Baker signed with Seattle after getting traded from the Bucks. While the move worked out for the SuperSonics in the first year, as Baker averaged 19.2 points and made an All-Star appearance, he played only 34 of 50 games in a shortened season the following year and couldn't keep up his early-career pace. He was traded to the Celtics in 2002.

A star early in his career with Orlando, Hardaway signed a lucrative deal in Phoenix to create an impressive backcourt with Jason Kidd. Injuries clouded the promise of the pairing, particularly for Hardaway, who played only four games in 2000-01 due to a knee injury, and he was never the same after that season.

LaFrentz averaged 13 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shocks during his first four NBA season before signing a $70 million contract with Dallas. He averaged only 9.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 2002-03 before getting traded to Boston the following year. His career ended unceremoniously in Portland following the 2007-08 season, spending time coming off the bench and battling injury over his final years.

Portland saw the potential in the former third overall pick, giving Miles a huge contract in 2004. Locker room controversy hung over his first season with the team, and Miles played only 40 games the following year before undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee. He missed two full seasons and played only 34 games in 2008-09 before his career ended.

Dampier had a career-high 12.3 points and 12 rebounds in 2003-04 before being sent to Dallas from the Warriors in a sign-and-trade. He averaged only 9.2 points and 8.5 rebounds in his first season with the Mavs before his stats started to plummet. Over six years in Dallas, Dampier averaged just 6.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game.

James cashed in with the Knicks after a strong playoff showing with Seattle in 2005. He served as a bench player in his first two seasons in New York, averaging just 7.9 minutes over 86 games. He suffered through injury the next two years with the Knicks, playing a total of four games.

Curry was traded from Chicago to New York and awarded a $60 million contract by the Knicks. His production was up and down during his first three years of the deal, though the team and fans weren't exactly thrilled with Curry's rebounding and defense. He played only 10 games over the next two seasons in New York due to weight and knee issues and didn't play at all during 2010-11.

Hughes averaged 22 points and a league-leading 2.9 steals per game in 2004-05 before signing in Cleveland to join LeBron James in 2005. Injuries plagued his Cavs career, which lasted two-plus years, and Hughes averaged only 14.3 points per game with the team.

Simmons had a breakout year with the Clippers in 2004-05, winning the Most Improved Player Award. He signed with the Bucks in the offseason and continued to perform relatively well in 2005-06 before an ankle injury sidelined him for all of the following season. Simmons served as mostly a bench player for the rest of his career, including one more season in Milwaukee in which he averaged just 7.6 points per game.

An elite defensive player and four-time All-Star in Detroit, Wallace signed a huge contract age 32 in Chicago. He suffered through knee issues and failed to last two full seasons in Chicago.

The Knicks signed Jeffries away from Washington after he emerged as a starter for the Wizards. Jeffries suffered a wrist injury in his first season and was eventually relegated to part-time duty. The price tag was hefty for a player who averaged just 4.3 points per game in three-plus seasons with the Knicks.

Lewis was a key contributor for the Magic early in his contract after being moved in a sign-and-trade from Seattle, but his play quickly declined after two seasons. Averaging only 12.2 points per game for the Magic in early 2010-11, he was traded to Washington for Gilbert Arenas. Lewis hasn't played since 2013-14.

Despite playing only eight games in his final season with the Clippers, Philadelphia handed Brand a huge five-year contract. He hurt his shoulder in his first season with the 76ers and averaged only 13.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in four seasons before getting waived.

Charlotte locked up its former second overall pick with a huge contract after four seasons in the NBA. His play declined in his first season of the deal, averaging 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds, before getting traded to New Orleans for Tyson Chandler.

Detroit made headlines in the 2009 offseason by signing Gordon and Charlie Villanueva. Neither move worked out. Gordon worked off the bench as a sixth man but never played more than 62 games in a season over his three years in Detroit. After averaging 18.5 points per game over his first five years in Chicago, Gordon's average dropped to just 12.4 points as his three-point percentage dwindled.

Turkoglu lasted only one year in Toronto after an off-court incident in which he was seen at a night club after missing a game with a stomach virus. The relationship between team and player soured, resulting in a trade to Phoenix after only one year. Turkoglu also declined on the court, averaging only 11.3 points per game after averaging 16.8 points in 2008-09 with Orlando.

Stoudemire looked like a good fit in New York, reuniting with former head coach Mike D'Antoni and having arguably the best year of his career in his first season with the team. His play declined the following year in a lockout-shortened season before injuries hindered the rest of his career.

Smith didn't even last two seasons with Detroit, as he was waived in December of his second season and picked up by Houston. He played only one more season in the NBA.

Stephenson finished second in the NBA Most Improved Player voting in 2014 and was rewarded with a nice deal in Charlotte. He had an injury-plagued 2014-15 season with the Hornets, serving mostly off the bench. Stephenson was traded to the Clippers after only one season.

Dallas would probably like a do-over on this move, especially as the Mavericks find themselves in rebuilding mode. Matthews has averaged only 12.9 points in three seasons with the Mavs.

Parsons left Dallas to sign a huge deal in Memphis, only to tear his meniscus in his left knee after having the same issue on his right knee in 2015-16. He played only 34 games in his first season with the Grizzlies, averaging 6.2 points per game, and followed up by averaging 7.9 points in just 36 games in the second year, starting just eight games. The knee issues don't create much optimism for the future of the deal.

L.A. curiously backed up the Brink's truck for Mozgov, making him the team's starting center. He averaged only 7.4 points and 4.9 rebounds per game before getting benched late in the year. Mozgov was traded to the Nets following the season, along with D'Angelo Russell.

Noah has been a whipping boy in the media in New York, though it's not as if his decline was unpredictable. He played only 29 games and averaged just 4.3 points in his final season with Chicago before going to the Knicks. A shoulder injury and 20-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy in the first year was followed by a falling out with the franchise in 2017-18.