DeMar DeRozan, Hassan Whiteside and Mike Conley will certainly have something to prove after signing some massive contracts as free agents this summer. However, all three players are coming off strong years that put them in line for those deals and there isn’t any real reason to expect them to suffer a drop off this coming season. On the other hand, there is another smaller group of NBA free agents that signed for big money this offseason despite not having the same high level of expectations. Those players will have the most to prove as they try to live up to their massive contracts this coming season. Here is a look at the five NBA free agents with the most to prove in 2016-17.
C: Dwight Howard, Atlanta Hawks
3 Years, $75 Million
Howard never lived up to expectations during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets and there is no doubt that back injuries and off-court fodder played a role in the negativity surrounding his time at both stops. Now, after being one of the key unrestricted free agents, he is now headed home to Atlanta where he was a high school state champion and a prep-to-pro legend. Without a doubt, he has a lot to prove.
Howard can still produce like an All-Star but he needs to stay healthy and be put in a position to succeed by the Hawks. That means plenty of post-up touches and pick-and-rolls on offense with Howard also filling a major need as a shot blocker at the defensive end of the floor. At 30-years-old, Howard is still young enough to expect a couple more seasons out of him at a high level and Atlanta will need him to perform at a high level in order to contend in the Eastern Conference.
C: Joakim Noah, New York Knicks
4 Years, $72 Million
The Knicks decided to take on some massive contracts this offseason and that included a four-year, $72 million with Noah. There is no doubt that Noah has shown he can be a top-flight defender in the NBA but he is 32-years-old and he is coming off a season in which he played just 29 games for the Chicago Bulls. Noah has worked hard this offseason to get his body ready for the coming year but he is no longer in his prime and it won’t be easy for him to live up to the money he will be paid over the next four years.
C: Timofey Mozgov, Los Angeles Lakers
4 Years, $64 Million
The four-year, $72 million deal Mozgov received from the Lakers is considered the gold standard for terrible contracts handed out this offseason and for good reason. Mozgov is coming off a postseason in which he averaged just 5.8 minutes per game for the Cleveland Cavaliers but the Lakers obviously feel that he can still have a tremendous impact as a 7’1’’, 275-pound big man. There is no doubt that Mozgov will never be able to live up to the mega deal he signed this offseason but he certainly will have a lot to prove as all eyes will be on him in Los Angeles this season.
SG: Tyler Johnson, Miami Heat
4 Years, $50 Million
Johnson’s four-year, $50-million deal isn’t exactly terrible in comparison with the other contracts that have been handed out this offseason but when you consider the legend he will replace he will certainly have a lot to prove. Johnson will take over as Miami’s primary shooting guard now that Wade has moved on and that will mean big shoes to fill. Johnson is still just 24-years-old and he appears to have a bright future in the NBA but the pressure will be on him as the replacement for the greatest player in franchise history this season.
SG: Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards
5 Years, $128 Million
Beal undoubtedly has the talent to be one of the better shooting guards in the Eastern Conference but he needs to prove he can stay healthy first and find a way to mesh with point guard John Wall. Beal has been pegged as a potential max-contract player for a long time but he hasn’t taken that next step as a star. A five-year, $128 million deal should be motivation to further his development and the Wizards are banking on him coming through as the star player they are paying him to be in 2016-17.
