Sometimes in the NBA, teams talk themselves into a guy. One good playoff run, a hot streak in March, or a couple of flashy dunks—suddenly, a solid sixth man is handed the keys to the franchise.
These are the teams that confused momentum for superstardom. They took a role player, gave him the bag, the spotlight, and the responsibility, and then acted shocked when it didn’t work out.
19. Washington Wizards and Otto Porter Jr.
He shot threes, played defense, and did the little things—until Washington paid him like a top scoring option. Suddenly, all those little things didn’t feel so big anymore.
18. Charlotte Hornets and Terry Rozier
“Scary Terry” had one good playoff run in Boston, and the Hornets decided he was the guy. They handed him a massive deal and watched him put up empty stats on a treadmill team.
17. Portland Trail Blazers and Evan Turner
Turner was a glue guy in Boston who thrived in small bursts. Portland paid him like a primary ball handler and quickly learned he wasn’t built for the spotlight.
16. Detroit Pistons and Josh Smith
Detroit gave him star money, but then realized he couldn’t shoot. This is a classic case of mistaking athleticism for elite production.
15. Orlando Magic and Jeff Green
Orlando thought they were getting the best version of Jeff Green. Instead, they got another episode of the Jeff Green mystery box.
14. Phoenix Suns and Trevor Ariza
He was great in Houston as a 3-and-D wing with stars around him. Phoenix signed him, thinking he’d anchor the team—he didn’t last a full season.
13. New York Knicks and Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Knicks let him walk, then brought him back for way more money like he’d suddenly become an All-Star. Turns out he was still the same streaky scorer.
12. Sacramento Kings and Harrison Barnes
Golden State Barnes was fine because he was the fourth option. Sacramento gave him top billing and watched the offense stall.
11. Memphis Grizzlies and Chandler Parsons
They gave him a max deal off a few good years in Houston and Dallas. What followed was a brutal run of injuries and underwhelming production.
10. Minnesota Timberwolves and Andrew Wiggins
They bet the house on Wiggins developing into a two-way star. He gave them flashy dunks, but not much else until he left town.
9. Cleveland Cavaliers and Larry Hughes
The Cavs wanted a co-star for LeBron and thought Hughes was the answer. He wasn’t, and they were left with a pricey contract and minimal help.
8. Los Angeles Lakers and Luol Deng
Deng had a great run in Chicago, but that was years earlier. The Lakers gave him a massive contract that aged poorly almost immediately.
7. Atlanta Hawks and Kent Bazemore
Atlanta fell in love with his hustle and defensive energy and paid him like a budding star. That contract looked rough real fast.
6. Brooklyn Nets and DeShawn Stevenson
He was a role player with significant moments in Dallas. Brooklyn gave him a bigger role and got well, not much.
5. Indiana Pacers and Jeremy Lamb
He looked solid in Charlotte, so Indiana decided he was ready for a bigger stage. Instead, he faded into the background like a guy never meant to lead.
4. Milwaukee Bucks and John Salmons
He had a hot stretch at the right time, and Milwaukee rewarded him with a big deal. That stretch never returned.
3. Chicago Bulls and Ben Wallace
He was a defensive monster in Detroit, but Chicago paid him, thinking he could be their anchor, too. Different system, different result.
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2. Dallas Mavericks and Delonte West
Dallas hoped he’d be a stabilizing backcourt force. He brought more chaos than consistency.
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1. New Orleans Pelicans and Eric Gordon
Early in his career, he showed flashes of brilliance, and New Orleans went all-in. However, injuries and inconsistency made it clear he wasn’t the guy to build around.
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