NBA free agency: 30 worst free agent signings in NBA history
Hedo Turkoglu. 19. player. 81. . Toronto Raptors. 5 Years, $53 Million
Worst free agency signings in NBA history: 19. Hedo Turkoglu, Toronto Raptors
Hedo Turkoglu had quite the run in the NBA during his 15-year career, playing with five different teams. His stint with the Toronto Raptors was a rather short one though, as one of those short-lived stories in free agent history.
A run to the 2009 NBA Finals with the Orlando Magic turned into a huge payday in the free agent market for Turkoglu. He made a move as part of a sign-and-trade deal that would pay him $53 million across five seasons in Toronto.
His time in Orlando yielded positive returns, especially during the 2008-09 NBA season, as he put up 16.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game and shooting 35.6 percent from 3-point range.
The Turkish native was coming off back-to-back seasons of success, including the NBA’s Most Improved Player award after the 2007-08 campaign after raising his numbers to career-high status with 19.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest and a few playoff runs in Orlando. The Raptors saw an opportunity to cash in and secured him in a sign-and-trade deal.
Turkoglu went 40-42 in his first year with the Raptors and lasted just a total of 74 games before the team decided to move in a different direction. His averages dropped 11.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, though he still managed to shoot 37.4 percent behind the arc.
After trading Chris Bosh to the Miami Heat on July 10, 2010, four days later, they moved Turkoglu to the Phoenix Suns for Leandro Barbosa and Dwayne Jones.