The 20 worst free agent signings in NBA history

#4. Ben Wallace: 4 years, $60 million

It might be surprising to see four-time Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace’s name on the list, but he deserves to be. After bouncing around the NBA, Wallace found a home in Detroit and became the defensive anchor of the Bad Boy Pistons II. He helped the team make six consecutive Eastern Conference Finals, and two NBA Finals, and win a championship in 2004. Wallace also became the first undrafted player to make an All-Star team.

Despite all that success with the Pistons, they opted to let him leave in free agency in 2006, which proved to be a wise decision. The Bulls signed Wallace to a 4-year, $60 million deal, and it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t the same player anymore. His trademark hair beginning to turn grey certainly didn’t help instill confidence either. He lasted just one season with the Bulls before being traded to the Cavaliers in a deal that included Hughes.

He played two seasons there before being traded to the Pistons, where he played out his contract and later finished his career. Over those four seasons, Wallace posted averages of 5.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks. Compare that to the 8 points, 13.2 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game during his first stint with the Pistons, and it’s clear the Bulls and Cavaliers got the raw end of the deal.

Paying a low-end starting center $15 million now is bad, but it was downright insane back then. The salary cap was between $55 and 58 million, meaning he was making as much as 25% of the cap, which would be the equivalent of $30 million now. Great player, terrible contract.