The 10 Worst Players in the NBA Right Now

Oct 12, 2018; Memphis, TN, USA; Memphis Grizzlies head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons (25) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports

Team: Timberwolves

2018-19 Stats: 5.7 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 0.5 BPG

Salary: $15 million

After showing continued improvement over his first three years in Minnesota, Dieng played his way into the Timberwolves’ starting lineup during the second half of the 2015-16 season and peaked with his best numbers in 2016-17—just in time to land a new four-year contract for a whopping $64 million. And yet, it’s funny how he hasn’t been the same player since. The former first-round draft pick out of Louisville in 2013 has quickly declined, returning to a reserve role behind Karl-Anthony Towns and Taj Gibson. At 5.7 points and 4.1 rebounds a game, Dieng should enjoy what he’s making now because we doubt that he’ll see that kind of money again from another team.

Team: Hawks

2018-19 Stats: 4.4 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 0.2 BPG

Salary: $12.5 million

Ah, another Duke prospect who hasn’t panned out in the NBA. The older brother of Nuggets forward Mason Plumlee has yet to average more than five points and five rebounds over his nine-year career, but fortunately for him, he plays for a Hawks team that’s one of the worst in the NBA. Plumlee only sees the floor 9.6 minutes per game, so it’s not surprising that his numbers are what they are. Of course, when you’re paying someone $12.5 million a year, you’d like to think that you could get a little more out of them than 4.4 points and 2.2 rebounds, particularly from a guy recruited and schooled by Coach K.

Team: Bulls

2018-19 Stats: 3.1 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 0.1 BPG

Salary: $8.5 million

Felício isn’t quite as overpaid as many of the other names on this list, but he’s still pulling in $8.5 million this season. In fact, the 6’10” Brazilian is having his worst year yet after a career-best 5.6 points in 2017-18. He’ll be under contract through 2020-21 thanks to a four-year, $32 million deal, so the front office should have plenty of time to regret the mistake it made on a guy who went undrafted and has spent a good portion of time in the G League. There’s a reason after all why Chicago is one of the three worst teams in the East and will be a contender for the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft.

Team: Magic

2018-19 Stats: Has not played this season

Salary: $16 million

When Mozgov inked a four-year, $64 million contract with the Lakers during the 2016 offseason, things were looking up for the Russian big man after winning a ring with the Cavaliers (thanks, LeBron) despite averaging only 6.3 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. But Mozgov would never develop like the team’s former front office of Jim Buss and Mitch Kupchak had hoped—no wonder they’re no longer in charge—and after one season with the Lake Show, found himself traded to Brooklyn. Since then, he has been shipped to Orlando, where he has yet to play due to injury. At this point, we’re not sure if Mozgov will ever see the court again, but for a cool $16 million, he’s living the good life.

Team: Wizards

2018-19 Stats: 4.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 0.5 BPG

Salary: $16 million

The Spurs have had a long history of drafting well under general manager R. C. Buford, but Mahinmi certainly isn’t one that they’ll remember fondly after selecting him with the 28th overall pick in 2005. The Frenchman has managed to bounce around the league, with the Wizards marking his fourth NBA team in 11 seasons, but his minutes have shrunk ever since he had a breakout year with the Pacers in 2015-16. Now with Washington after agreeing to a $64 million deal in 2016, Mahinmi battled injuries before playing in 77 games last season. But even when he’s healthy like he has been, the 32-year-old center hasn’t exactly made an impact since arriving in the nation’s capital.

Team: Timberwolves

2018-19 Stats: 6.6 PPG, 0.5 APG, 2.9 RPG

Salary: $2.4 million

For much of his 10-year stint in Chicago, Deng was known not only as a go-to scorer, but also as one of the league’s best lockdown defenders. And while the two-time All-Star continued to be productive on both ends of the floor during subsequent stops in Cleveland and Miami, it wasn’t until he landed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Lakers in 2016 that things started to go downhill. That season, Deng was benched to give L.A.’s young core, specifically rookie Brandon Ingram, more playing time, and things only got worse in 2017-18 with the former Duke standout playing in just one game before he was bought out in September. Nine days later, he signed with Minnesota, but so far, his time with the underachieving Timberwolves hasn’t been all that successful at 6.6 points and 2.9 rebounds per game.  

Team: Hornets

2018-19 Stats: 4.5 PPG, 4.9 RPG, 1.1 BPG

Salary: $17 million

Taken seventh overall in the 2011 NBA Draft, Biyombo is one of those players who has seemingly been living off his draft stock for the last eight seasons. The undersized Congolese center has never averaged more than six points and eight rebounds, yet he somehow managed to procure a four-year, $72 million deal with the Magic in 2016. Don’t ask us how because his numbers have only declined since. Returning to the team he got his start with thanks to a three-way trade last summer, Biyombo has been putting up some downright pedestrian numbers for the Hornets this season. Nonetheless, you got to be impressed by a guy who only plays 15.3 minutes a game and makes $17 million a year. That’s practically highway robbery, even by NBA standards.

Team: Grizzlies

2018-19 Stats: 5.1 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 0.6 BPG

Salary: $1.7 million

It’s hard to believe that it was only five years ago when Noah was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year after serving as a key component of Tom Thibodeau’s teams in Chicago. At his best, the two-time NCAA champion was recording 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game—pretty good for a guy who has always been more known for his defense than his offense (just look at how he shoots). But it wasn’t until he signed a four-year, $72 million deal in 2016 with his hometown Knicks, which many fans chalk up to be the curse of Phil Jackson, that his NBA career took a turn for the worse. After spending time in the G League and getting into a heated exchange with then-Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek, he appeared in only seven games last season before being released by New York prior to 2018-19, with the franchise forced to eat the remaining $37.8 million left on his contract. Now relegated to the bench on a lowly Memphis squad, the 33-year-old has been contributing meagerly for the veteran’s minimum since December.

Team: Heat

2018-19 Stats: 3.7 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 0.1 BPG

Salary: $20.4 million

Anderson just joined his sixth NBA team in 11 seasons, but no one could have expected him to fall this fast. And to think that the sharpshooter was named the league’s Most Improved Player in 2012. Point blank, Anderson’s game this year has been anything but sharp. He’s scoring a pitiful 3.7 points per game in 18.5 minutes, and his 3-point shooting is down to a dreadful 20 percent. Considering he used to shoot nearly double that from beyond the arc, something has seriously gone wrong with his stroke. Plus, no team wants to take on that awful $80 million contract the Rockets handed him in 2016. That’s why after acquiring Anderson prior to the 2018-19 season, the Suns shipped him to Miami last week right before the trade deadline. Because with $41.6 million still owed to him through next season, this is one has-been no team wants on its roster.

Team: Grizzlies

2018-19 Stats: 5.7 PPG, 0.7 APG, 1.3 RPG

Salary: $24 million

Boy oh boy, did this guy win the lottery. Earning $24.1 million this season, Parsons is by far the worst player in the league when you consider his overall value and how much cap space he’s eating up for the Grizzlies. Since his days in Houston and Dallas, his scoring output has been cut in more than half, with the former second-round draft pick down to 5.7 points per game and barely even one rebound (don’t even ask about assists). Next year he’s owed more than $25 million before he comes off the books. Until 2020-21, you can bet on Memphis sucking with this financial albatross on the roster.