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5. Miles Bridges, Hornets
Stats: 19.5 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 3.8 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.7 SPG, 2.0 TOPG, 43.1 FG%, 30.2 3PT%, 32.1 MPG, 38 games played
Bridges has regressed in the first year of his new deal. His numbers across the board are down for a Hornets team in the Eastern Conference’s gutter. With each passing year, it seems more like his hot-shooting 2021. Bridges was 40-percent that year and has never been above 35-percent in any of his other five seasons. He’s down to 30.2-percent this year. For being a superb athlete, it’s disappointing that Bridges is arguably the least impactful defender on a team that employs LaMelo Ball. And, it’s not like he’s being asked to sit in the corner and spot-up. Bridges’ has a usage rate higher than multiple NBA All-Stars including Kyrie Irving, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Alperen Sengun.
4. Immanuel Quickley, Raptors
Stats: 15.3 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.5 SPG, 2.0 TOPG, 42.2 FG%, 37.2 3PT%, 26.9 MPG, 16 games played
Eyebrows were raised when the Raptors inked Immanuel Quickley to a massive multi-year deal in the offseason. Quickley started all 38 games after being traded to Toronto midseason last year. He was a key reserve for the Knicks for three-plus years before that. Injuries have derailed his first year as a full-time starter. The results when he’s been on the floor have been mixed. The Raptors recently traded for Brandon Ingram and inked him to a new deal. They have multiple high-value contracts, but the roster as a whole doesn’t mesh at all.
3. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Magic
Stats: 8.7 PPG, 2.1 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.5 BPG, 1.5 SPG, 0.8 TOPG, 41.0 FG%, 30.9 3PT%, 30.3 MPG, 53 games played
One of the most heralded signings during the offseason, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is not off to a good start with his new team. The two-time NBA Champion was expected to add shooting, defense, and veteran leadership to the upstart Magic. He hasn’t provided any of those attributes at a high level thus far.
On a team that desperately needs shooting, Caldwell-Pope is currently sporting a career-low mark from behind the arc (30.9-percent). He hasn’t scored in double-digits since Jan. 21. The Magic have a better defensive rating when Caldwell-Pope is off the court. In Orlando’s last game before the All-Star break, Caldwell-Pope was ejected in the first half after shooting 1-for-5 (0-for-4 from three).
2. Patrick Williams, Bulls
Stats: 9.1 PPG, 4.0 RPG, 2.0 APG, 0.6 BPG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 TOPG, 37.5 FG%, 35.1 3PT%, 26.2 MPG, 45 games played
The Bulls placed a bet on Patrick Williams’ development in the offseason. The No. 4 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, Williams showed early signs of being a solid 3-and-D player. He’s often compared to Kawhi Leonard based on his physical dimensions. Williams was also a far better shooter than Leonard during the early parts of their career. That’s really where the comparisons stop.
Williams has been terrible for the Bulls this year. On the surface, his 35-percent mark from three doesn’t look bad. But, don’t let that fool you. Williams has been one of the worst shooters in the NBA this year. His true-shooting percentage ranks 307th out of 321 qualified players (at least 10 games played and 15+ MPG). He’s never been a truly impactful defender or rebounder.
HC Billy Donovan removed him from the starting lineup two weeks ago after a dreadful performance against the 76ers (1-for-9, 2 points). It doesn’t seem like Williams is going to figure it out this year.
1. Paul George, 76ers
Stats: 16.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 4.4 APG, 0.5 BPG, 1.8 SPG, 2.6 TOPG, 42.6 FG%, 36.3 3PT%, 32.1 MPG, 35 games played
In terms of awful contracts handed out last summer, there’s George’s mega deal and then there’s everybody else. George is enduring his worst season in over a decade just months after inking a max contract worth over $200 million.
George’s scoring is down, his shooting numbers are down, and it seems like he puts up an absolute dud at least once a week. Heading into the All-Star break, George registered one of the worst games of his career. In a loss to the Brooklyn Nets, George scored 2 points on 1-for-7 shooting. It was the fifth straight loss for a 76ers team that is 20-34 and outside of the playoff picture.
He’s barely outplaying former Sixer Tobias Harris (13.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 46.0 FG%, 32.5 3PT%, 0.8 BPG, 0.9 SPG, 1.1 TOPG) whose deal with the Pistons is worth less than one-quarter (2 years, $52 million) of the one George signed.
The worst part of it all is that the Sixers have no outs. George is under contract for at least the next three years and has a player option for 2028 worth $56 million. George will be 37 at that time, making it unlikely he’d ever decline the option. It’s quickly become clear why the Clippers were so willing to let Paul George walk in free agency. He’s not the same player he once was.
