Los Angeles Lakers: Luol Deng and the worst contracts in franchise history

3. Kobe Bryant: Two years, $48.5 million (2014-16)

The first Bryant contract we already discussed was a crutch. This one, the final NBA contract ever inked by Kobe, was a dagger to the heart of the Lakers.

Those last two seasons with No. 24 were awful for Los Angeles. The fact that they were paying Bryant more than $24 million during each of those seasons severely limited their ability to construct a quality roster. Kobe playing in only 101 games during that stretch didn’t help the Lakers’ cause either.

Much of Bryant’s final two years in Los Angeles was spent nursing injuries. So while the future Hall-of-Famer was either playing hobbled or watching from the bench, bumbling backups like Robert Sacre, Ryan Kelly and Anthony Brown were starting games. Yes, it was that bad. There’s a reason why so many “fans” disappeared during those dark days.

Still, that deal afforded us some great memories. Who could forget Bryant’s final NBA game, watching the offense evolve into a one-man show that saw him end his career with a 60-point performance? Sure, it took 50 shots to get there, but it was fun to watch nonetheless.

Again, I want to clarify that paying Bryant big money wasn’t the worst idea, at least when considering his talent and legacy. However, when you realize that they signed him to this deal following his Achilles tear, it makes it all the more understandable that the front office was restructured not long after.