Worst free agency signings in NBA history: 9. Eddy Curry, New York Knicks
Eddy Curry was part of the pre-one-and-done era back when it wasn’t a popular thing to go straight from high school to the NBA. Well before there was an age rule in place, Curry hit the NBA fresh out of Thornwood High School in Illinois.
He originally committed to play at DePaul University before deciding to declare for the 2001 NBA Draft. He was selected No. 4 overall in the 2001 NBA Draft by Chicago Bulls. After playing sparingly as a rookie, Curry emerged as a factor during his second year, producing 10.5 points and 4.4 rebounds per game through 81 appearances and leading the league in field goal percentage at 58.5 percent.
After his fourth season with the Bulls, Curry had a tense battle with the front office over the condition of his heart. Curry was traded during the 2005 NBA offseason as part of a sign-and-trade deal to the New York Knicks.
He signed a six-year, $60 million deal and it looked like things would work out for both sides. Curry averaged 13.6 points and 6.0 rebounds per game during his first season, though the Knicks won just 23 games. Curry had a career-high 19.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per contest during the 2006-07 NBA season in New York.
Curry regressed in his third season and with a change of coaching from Larry Brown to Isiah Thomas. He put up just 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game in 59 appearances. Then when Mike D’Antoni took over in 2008-09, Curry really lost his way, appearing in just three contests.
Curry appeared in just 10 games from 2008 to 2010 and was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves during the 2010-11 NBA season, who ended up buying out his contract. He would go on to play for the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks before retiring after the 2012-13 NBA season.