Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA: 15 Players Not Living Up To 2015 Summer Contracts

By Gerald Bourguet

Nov 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) and guard Brandon Knight (3) against the Sacramento Kings at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Kings 118-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 4, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) and guard Brandon Knight (3) against the Sacramento Kings at Talking Stick Resort Arena. The Suns defeated the Kings 118-97. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
10 of 16
Next
NBA
Jan 10, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Tristan Thompson (13) shoots a foul shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half at Wells Fargo Center. The Cleveland Cavaliers won 95-85. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Tristan Thompson

The Cleveland Cavaliers sit atop the Eastern Conference standings with a 32-12 record, they’ve overcome Kevin Love‘s summer rehab on his shoulder and Kyrie Irving missing the first month and a half of the season, and they’re the overwhelming favorites to represent the East in the 2016 NBA Finals. So what’s the problem?

Well, even with Tristan Thompson averaging a semi-respectable 7.8 points and 9.3 rebounds in 27.4 minutes per game, there’s no way in hell anyone is buying that that kind of production is worth the massive five-year, $82 million extension he received this summer. Simply put, Thompson got paid by having the same agent as LeBron James. There’s no other way around it.

Thompson is holding opponents to 3.7 percent worse shooting on shots inside of 10 feet, according to NBA.com, and the Cavs’ defense has been stellar since he was inserted into the starting lineup over Timofey Mozgov. But LeBron and the Cavs are in it to win titles, and Thompson is rendered virtually useless against the Warriors, one of the two teams Cleveland is likely to meet in the Finals. Add that to a massive overpay and this is still a major head-scratcher.

Next: No. 6