It’s tough for teams to find bargains in NBA free agency. These five players are going to get oversized contracts before the start of next season.
Only a select number of NBA franchises can effectively build their rosters through free agency. Destinations like Los Angeles and Miami can attract max-level stars who can outperform their massive contracts. Every other team in the Association is forced to choose between overpaying for high-end talent or shopping the bargain basement for clever deals.
The lack of cap space available throughout the league this offseason will prevent most teams from making massive mistakes in free agency. A few big-name players are still going to get overpaid due to the scarcity of available talent on the open market. The following five players are going to get more money than they’re worth in the coming weeks.
5. Goran Dragic
Dragic played some of his best basketball for the Heat during their memorable run to the NBA Finals. A foot injury stopped him from finishing his season off with a great performance against the Lakers, but his postseason work drastically raised his stock heading into free agency.
As it stands, Dragic is arguably the second-best point guard available this offseason behind Fred VanVleet. Any team that elects to offer him a contract needs to be very careful about its length. Few point guards maintain their effectiveness as they enter their mid-30s. The fact that Dragic is already 34-years-old should scare off savvy front offices.
The Heat can’t afford to let Dragic get away though. If he departs in free agency they’ll be largely powerless to ink a competent replacement. Miami also wants to keep their cap space open next summer for a potential run at signing Giannis Antetekuonmpo or another max-level free agent.
That’s why the odds favor Dragic getting a lucrative one-year deal to stay in South Florida. Don’t be surprised if he gets close to $20 million to spurn multi-year offers at the full mid-level exception from other teams. That type of one-year deal won’t hurt the Heat for the long haul, but it’s going to be a massive overpay based on what Dragic will produce for them on the floor.