Best, worst contracts from the first weekend of NBA free agency

With the first weekend of NBA free agency behind us, it's time to weigh in on the best and worst contracts that were inked.

WORST | Fred VanVleet's three-year, $130 million deal with Houston: While the Rockets, who entered free agency with the most cap space in the Association, blew through their funds on numerous questionable signings, none was worse than VanVleet's historic contract. 

Houston GM Rafael Stone wanted to add experience for his young core as the group has yet to produce promising results. The VanVleet acquisition accomplishes that goal, though it's odd given that the Rockets just selected point guard Amen Thompson fourth overall. Perhaps the Rockets feel that having Thompson off the bench is best for his development, though this doesn't seem like the best course of action.

Even so, tying up $43.3 million annually for a poor shooter for a team he might not fit on feels like a wasted opportunity. The former champion shot a measly 39.3% from the field and 34.2% from deep last season and now plays alongside fellow inefficient scorers like Dillon Brooks and Jabari Smith Jr. 

BEST | Yuta Watanabe's estimated one-year, $2.3 million deal with Phoenix: After trading for Bradley Beal last month, many wondered how the Suns planned to fill out a competent bench that could be relied upon in the playoffs. Surprisingly, Phoenix landed some notable reserves that should help make a deep postseason push, among which Watanabe stands out as the best-value signing. 

Last season, Watanabe knocked down 44.4% of his threes across a career-high 58 games for the Nets. His strong rapport with Suns star Kevin Durant must've played a part in Phoenix's interest and likely led to the Japanese-born forward accepting a team-friendly contract.

With Watanabe being a career 39% three-point shooter, it's reasonable to believe 2022-23 wasn't an outlier. If he comes close to that mark next season, it won't be shocking to hear him touted as one of the most underrated signings this offseason. 

WORST | Jerami Grant's five-year, $160 million deal with Portland: As if the contract the Blazers committed to Grant wasn't egregious enough, the rationale behind the decision was arguably worse. Portland hoped the signing could help mend its relationship with point guard Damian Lillard, but by now, we know the seven-time All-Star has finally requested a trade from the franchise. 

Grant isn't a terrible player by any means, having averaged 20.7 points over the last three seasons, but he's also not a viable second option on a contending team. To put Grant's contract in perspective, the average annual salary for his new deal is higher than those of Devin Booker and Jamal Murray.

Now that Scoot Henderson is the lead man in Portland, having a veteran to lean on like Grant will help him in the early stages of his career. Still, that's not what the Blazers had in mind for when they re-signed Grant. 

BEST | Taurean Prince's one-year, $4.5 million deal with the Lakers: Rather than gutting the remaining roster and draft capital to pursue a third star, the Lakers were fiscally responsible in their approach to free agency, making several intelligent signings. Center Jaxson Hayes' contract is worthy of consideration here, but it's difficult to argue against Prince's deal and the versatility he'll provide Los Angeles as the selection. 

The 29-year-old averaged 9.1 points for Minnesota last season while shooting 46.7% from the field and a respectable 38.1% from three-point range. At 6-foot-7, Prince has the length to be an effective multi-positional defender capable of serving alongside LeBron James or as the all-time scoring leader's backup.  

WORST | Max Strus's four-year, $63 million deal with Cleveland: The Cavaliers had the right idea to target shooters during free agency as they shot 32.7% from three-point range in the playoffs; however, they signed the wrong players. Although Georges Niang's three-year, $26 million contract could age well, it's hard to imagine Strus' deal living up to its price tag.

Strus, a key role player for the Miami Heat over the last two seasons, was acquired in a three-team sign-and-trade deal. The Cavaliers sent Cedi Osman and Lamar Stevens to the San Antonio Spurs and a second-round pick to the Heat. San Antonio also received a second-rounder in the deal via Miami.

Despite posting a few solid performances in the 2023 playoffs, Strus was largely inconsistent and was a no-show in the NBA Finals, where he shot 18.8% from beyond the arc. For a player that can be so erratic and offers nothing defensively, Strus's contract is more than just an overpay.