Hoops Habit
Fansided

NBA free agency: Each team’s worst signing in franchise history

By Josh Cornelissen

Eddy Curry, New York Knicks, Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Eddy Curry, New York Knicks, Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 31
Next
Larry Hughes, Cleveland Cavaliers
Larry Hughes, Cleveland Cavaliers. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Worst free agent signing in Cleveland Cavaliers history: Larry Hughes

5 years, $70 million

In 2005, the Cleveland Cavaliers were viewing the upward trajectory ahead of them. After two seasons, LeBron James looked like the real deal and was already a star in the league. The team wanted to make a move to starting contending.

In 2005 NBA free agency, the Cavaliers made a run at free agents Ray Allen and Michael Redd, both of whom said no. The Cavaliers were determined to add a backcourt player, however, so they landed on another player: Larry Hughes.

The 2-guard had already bounced around to a few NBA teams during his career, although he had established himself as a player able to “fill-it-up” at stops with the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards. Based on his play the Cavaliers forked over tons of cash, to the tune of five years and $70 million.

Hughes was never downright awful while in Cleveland, but he did not help the team maximize James. His lack of a jumpshot hurt the spacing around James. When he had the ball in his hands, he was almost always going to shoot it rather than pass it. The contract was already a huge overpay, but the injury issues he developed made it even worse.