We’ve now determined the Best and Worst free agent signings from “2010: The Summer of the Free Agent”. Now we turn our attention to what all the hubbub a year ago was all about – the superstars. Which players lived up to their superstar billing last year and which ones failed to deliver?
Only players earning at least $10 million this past season are included on the list, and any “sign and trades” are still considered a free agent signing for our purposes. And remember – the average free agent last season cost his team $1.1 million per win share earned. To see the math behind the rankings, click here.
10) (tied) Rudy Gay – Memphis
Salary: $13.6 million
Weighted Win Share total: 5.5
Cost/Win: $2.47 million
We already piled on Rudy Gay in our Worst Free Agent signing article, so no need to pour more salt in his wounds here.
10) (tied) Joe Johnson – Atlanta
Salary: $16.3 million
Weighted Win Share total: 6.6
Cost/Win: $2.47 million
See Gay, Rudy.
8) Amar’e Stoudemire – New York
Salary: $16.5 million
Weighted Win Share total: 7.6
Cost/Win: $2.17 million
Here’s an example of the dangers of giving a max contract to a non-franchise player. For all the hype surrounding the “rebirth” of the Knicks last offseason, the signing of Amar’e Stoudemire ended up being a costly one for them. STAT ended up having his worst statistical full season (Win Share wise) since his second year in the league (03/04) and the team still didn’t win any playoff games, even with another high priced star, Carmelo Anthony, added to the mix (Melo cost about $1.77 million/win last season).
7) David Lee – Golden State
Salary: $10.8 million
Weighted Win Share total: 6.0
Cost/Win: $1.8 million
Golden State gave superstar money to a guy who really isn’t a superstar, David Lee. While Lee is a nice player, he really isn’t worth an $80 million contract. And he pretty much proved it this season, having a subpar year by his standards. Like we said, a nice player, just not for the accompanying price tag.
6) Carlos Boozer – Chicago
Salary: $14.4 million
Weighted Win Share total: 11.0
Cost/Win: $1.31 million
Carlos Boozer pretty much delivered for the Bulls what was expected of him. And if not for the fact that he missed 23 games due to injury this season, he would have ended up on this list of signings higher up the rankings.
5) Chris Bosh
Salary: $14.5 million
Weighted Win Share total: 20.7
Cost/Win: $0.7 million
For all the introspection and self doubt Chris Bosh displayed this last season, he delivered on the court for the Heat. A very good signing and well worth his weight in millions.
4) Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas
Salary: $17.3 million
Weighted Win Share total: 25.5
Cost/Win: $0.68 million
Champion. NBA Finals MVP. Do we really have to say anything else about this signing?
3) Ray Allen – Boston
Salary: $10 million
Weighted Win Share total: 16.8
Cost/Win: $0.6 million
Ray Allen gave the Celtics a home town discount, cutting his yearly salary almost in half. Then he gave them the best shooting season of his career, and was even deadlier in the playoffs.
2) Dwyane Wade – Miami
Salary: $14.2 million
Weighted Win Share total: 27.6
Cost/Win: $0.51 million
Dwyane Wade signed for less than the maximum amount so that the Heat could pack the roster with more talent. A signing coup for the Heat.
1) LeBron James – Miami
Salary: $14.5 million
Weighted Win Share total: 30.8
Cost/Win: $0.47 million
LeBron’s got a big enough ego, so we aren’t going to compliment him anymore than we already did in the Best Free Agent signing article.
