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New York Knicks: The haunting sight of 2016 free agency

ByRob Wolkenbrod|
GREENSBURGH, NY - JULY 08: Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, and Brandon Jennings and President Phil Jackson of the New York Knicks attend a press conference at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility on July 8, 2016 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
GREENSBURGH, NY - JULY 08: Courtney Lee, Joakim Noah, and Brandon Jennings and President Phil Jackson of the New York Knicks attend a press conference at the Madison Square Garden Training Facility on July 8, 2016 in Greenburgh, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

The New York Knicks were already bitten by 2016 free agency. In 2019, teams continue to face its ramifications.

In 2016, NBA teams, including the New York Knicks, took advantage of a $24 million spike in the salary cap. Eye-opening contracts were handed to players that did not possess the “superstar” title, as organization paid premium prices for those, not in the upper-tier of the league.

Two and a half years later, 2016 free agency haunts a fraction of the NBA.

Of course, let’s start with Joakim Noah, who signed a four-year, $72 million under then-president of basketball operations, Phil Jackson. The veteran center only played 29 games in 2015-16 and faced a myriad of injuries, but he received a top-of-the-market payment that seemed head-scratching at the time.

Two years later, after more injuries, a suspension and a team-imposed exile, Noah’s contract was waived and stretched. His deal will still impact the salary cap through 2021-22.

The damage was not limited to the Knicks, though. The Memphis Grizzlies presented Parsons a four-year, $94 million deal. After 73 games, a laundry list of injuries and just 7.0 points on 40.2 percent shooting, the two sides parted ways over the weekend, per ESPN.

The effects of this 2016 class remain strong, as teams face the ramifications of bloated salaries for players that don’t produce at an elite level. How do some of those contracts stand now?

  • Courtney Lee, New York Knicks: For two years, this signing seemed fine. He shot proficiently from behind the arc and provided a quality veteran piece at four years, $50 million. Not bad, until the Knicks revamped their front office and placed an eye on 2019 free agency’s star-studded class. Lee’s $12.75 million takes away from their flexibility, and after a two-month neck injury, they may be stuck with the veteran guard.
  • Jeremy Lin, Brooklyn Nets: Lin signed a three-year, $36 million deal with Brooklyn in 2016. Due to injury, he only played in 36 games across two seasons, before a 2018 trade that sent him to the Atlanta Hawks.
  • Ryan Anderson, Houston Rockets: The Rockets struggled to sign Clint Capela to a five-year, $90 million contract last summer. Though in 2016, they gave Anderson four years, $80 million. He played in 138 games across two seasons, but averaged just 11.6 points on 42.3 percent shooting. Houston sent him to the Phoenix Suns in August, but only appeared in 15 games through Jan. 7.
  • Luol Deng, Los Angeles Lakers: Four years, $72 million for Deng was as head-scratching as Noah’s, if not more. He played just 57 games for the Lakers, including just one in 2017-18. The team waived and stretched Deng in September, only to sign with the Minnesota Timberwolves and play just four games since.
  • Timofey Mozgov, Los Angeles Lakers: That same summer, off a championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Mozgov received four years, $64 million from the Lakers. He played just 54 games, before a trade to the Brooklyn Nets in 2017. Followed by one more deal back to Mitch Kupchak in Charlotte, Mozgov has not played in 2018-19 while taking $16 million and $16.7 million in 2019-20.
  • Miles Plumlee, Milwaukee Bucks: A career backup, Plumlee received four years, $52 million from Milwaukee. Just 32 games into 2016-17, they cut their losses and sent the Duke product to Charlotte who traded him to Atlanta. Since signing this deal, he has 3.6 points and 3.1 rebounds in 118 games.
  • Solomon Hill, New Orleans Pelicans: After averaging just 4.2 points and 2.8 rebounds in 2015-16, the Pelicans handed Hill four years, $48 million. He proceeded to average just 5.9 points on 37.7 percent shooting.
  • Bismack Biyombo, Orlando Magic: Playing over his head in the postseason, Biyombo cashed in on four years, $72 million with the Magic. He missed just one game in two years, but mostly came off the bench and never averaged more than six points and seven rebounds. Orlando sent him to Charlotte, where he has played just 10 games since.
  • Allen Crabbe, Portland Trail Blazers: The Nets handed Crabbe a monster four-year, $75 million offer sheet in restricted free agency. The Blazers matched it, but while averaging just over 10 points while making $18 million, they sent him to Brooklyn just one year later.
  • Ian Mahinmi, Washington Wizards: Even with Marcin Gortat, the Wizards signed Mahinmi to a four-year, $64 million deal. He’s still in Washington, but has started just six games over 129 appearances, with averages of 4.9 points and 4.2 rebounds.

2016 free agency still haunts to this day. The New York Knicks have those contracts all over their payroll, which will stay that way into the next decade.