The Annual Worst NBA Contracts Draft With Joe House and Wosny Lambre

Summary of The Annual Worst NBA Contracts Draft With Joe House and Wosny Lambre

by The Ringer

1h 45m•March 17, 2026
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Overview of The Annual Worst NBA Contracts Draft With Joe House and Wosny Lambre

This episode of The Ringer’s Bill Simmons Podcast reunites Bill Simmons with Joe House and Wosny Lambre for their annual “Worst NBA Contracts” draft. The show opens with a long conversation about the current NBA landscape — Victor Wembanyama’s breakout, MVP races, playoff matchups, the Lakers’ resurgence, and league business (expansion/media deals) — then moves into a pick-by-pick mock draft where the hosts name the most onerous, overpriced, or underperforming player contracts heading into 2026.

Main topics covered

  • Observations from recent games: Wembanyama’s defensive/overall impact, Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander’s MVP case, and the Spurs’ surprising maturity.
  • Playoff previews and subplots: East vs. West intrigue (Detroit, Celtics, Knicks, OKC, Lakers), matchup questions, and which teams may underperform in postseason play.
  • NBA business notes: league expansion discussions, media-rights windfall, and how the apron, tax rules and front‑office decisions shape contracts and trades.
  • The main event: the Worst Contracts Draft — each host picks multiple players and explains why those deals are egregious.

The "Worst Contracts" Draft — Top selections (15 most-discussed)

Below are the most-discussed / featured contracts the hosts highlighted, with the contract context they cited and a one-line rationale for why each made the list.

  1. Joel Embiid — 4-year extension (~$243.5M total remaining)

    • Why: Elite when healthy but chronically injured; long, expensive commitment for a player with frequent ramp-ups and missed time.

  2. Paul George — ~$110M remaining (player option years included)

    • Why: Big money for a veteran who’s repeatedly been unavailable (injuries/suspensions); role-player production relative to pay.

  3. Jaren Jackson Jr. — 5 years, ~$240M

    • Why: Massive extension for a player who’s an elite defender but limited offensively (rebounding and positional issues), making the price/term contentious.

  4. Zach LaVine — ~2 years, $96.5M remaining

    • Why: High pay for a prolific scorer who has almost no playoff track record (only 4 career playoff games) and defensive/impact questions.

  5. Jakob Poeltl — 5 years, ~$123M

    • Why: Big multi-year extension for a center who rarely plays heavy minutes and has had frequent health/availability issues.

  6. Myles Turner — 4 years, ~$109M

    • Why: Lengthy deal for a guy whose rim defense has trended down and who’s aging into a less impactful interior presence.

  7. Domantas Sabonis — ~$45M+ next year, then ~$48M

    • Why: Strong offensive/board skillset, but the hosts argued his role and defensive fit make his upcoming salaries hard to justify for some teams.

  8. Ja Morant — ~2 years, ~$87M remaining

    • Why: Talent and star upside but availability/behavior concerns, declining finishing/shot creation efficiency, and limited trade market after incidents.

  9. Keegan Murray — 6 years, ~$151M

    • Why: Large rookie-extension payout for a role-wing who, so far, projects as a steady rotation player rather than a cornerstone.

  10. Patrick Williams — 4 years, ~$72M

    • Why: Stagnant production and value far below salary; Bulls’ front-office decisions around him drew criticism.

  11. Dejounte Murray — ~2 years, $63.5M remaining

    • Why: Big money for a guard who’s struggled to consistently defend/shoot since injuries and hasn’t hit the hoped-for long-term ceiling.

  12. Mikal Bridges — multi-year deal (roughly mid‑30s per year)

    • Why: Excellent role player and two-way contributor, but the trade price (and picks given up) amplifies the opportunity-cost critique.

  13. Dyson Daniels — 4 years, ~$100M (extension)

    • Why: Young, long-term extension for a prospect whose offense (shooting, finishing) remains a major question — one-sided upside.

  14. Christian Braun — 5 years, ~$125M

    • Why: Came with a high extension that hasn’t matched his on-court production and has limited offensive upside outside of role minutes.

  15. Anthony Davis — 3 years, ~$175M remaining

    • Why: Great impact when available, but chronic injuries and long absences make this a risky heavy-dollar commitment.

(Other names repeatedly discussed: Kyrie Irving, De’Aaron Fox, Kyle Kuzma, Jarrett Allen, Karl‑Anthony Towns, Dorian Finney‑Smith, Jordan Poole, Jalen Green, De’Andre Hunter, Jonathan Isaac, Jon/Jeremy Grant — often as near-misses or honorable mentions.)

Notable debates and themes

  • Injury risk of big-money centers: The group repeatedly warned about paying huge long-term sums for bigs with durability questions (Embiid, AD, Turner, Poeltl).
  • Term vs. talent: Several players (Jaren Jackson Jr., Keegan Murray, Christian Braun, Dyson Daniels) triggered the question: “Is the term (years) the real problem more than the annual amount?”
  • Opportunity cost of trades/extensions: The Sixers’ moves (Embiid extension + Paul George & trades) and the Knicks’ miked-up attempt to “go all-in” with picks/bridges drew scrutiny for long-term consequences.
  • Apron/tax rules changing the landscape: Hosts noted the new apron environment has reduced the number of truly bad-looking contracts vs. past years, but it makes every big commitment more consequential.
  • Player availability and off-court issues (Ja Morant, Kyrie) — both availability and reputational risk depress trade value and complicate team plans.

Key quotes / quick takeaways

  • Victor Wembanyama (Wemby) has been "the most impactful player" many have seen live this season, especially on defense — his games changed how guests viewed Spurs’ postseason upside.
  • “We’re happy for the money these players make, but we’re judging them as assets.” — repeated framing for the draft.
  • The hosts repeatedly argued the difference between “expensive but worth it if you’re a top-3 team” vs. “crippling for a borderline playoff team.”

What to watch next season (actions & watchlist)

  • Players who could climb off this list: Jaren Jackson Jr., Ja Morant, Anthony Davis — health and fit will decide whether their deals ultimately look fair or disastrous.
  • Roster/GM decisions to track: Sixers’ asset management, Knicks’ pick capital usage, teams trying to flip or absorb hefty contracts before extension kicks in.
  • System effects: How apron/tax rules change trades/extension timing and whether fewer "classic bad long-term maxes" show up next offseason.
  • Playoff matchups: Spurs vs. OKC, Celtics’ depth/“dragon” bench tactical advantage, Lakers’ defense/LeBron’s role — these will influence contract narratives.

Final note

This episode blends a lively preview of the league’s current competitive and business state with the hosts’ favorite offseason ritual: grading contracts as assets. The draft highlights that while the apron and modern salary structures have reduced the absolute number of egregious deals, there are still plenty of long-term commitments that could haunt teams — especially when injuries, fit, or diminishing skills enter the equation. If you want a concise list of “contracts to circle as potential trade/debacle stories” for 2026, start with Embiid, Paul George, Jaren Jackson Jr., Anthony Davis, and the slew of long-term center deals.