9 Players who are still on the payroll of NBA teams even after being out of the league

#3 Deron Williams

Deron Williams was believed to be the face of the Brooklyn Nets when they signed him back in 2012.

Deron Williams was believed to be the face of the Brooklyn Nets when they signed him back in 2012. A 5-year, $98.7 million deal was offered to him, which seemed appropriate seeing he averaged 21 points in the first season. However, it was all downhill from there on thanks to the ankle injuries. He suffered from ankle injuries on both the legs and was not the same player as he was when he started.

The Nets and Williams came to a buyout agreement in 2015, which promised him $27.5 million over the next five seasons. This season will give him the last shift of that payment.

---

#2 Luol Deng

The Los Angeles Lakers offered 31-year-old, Luol Deng a 4-year, $72 million deal in 2016.

In 2016, the Lakers were desperate and without Kobe Bryant. During this time, they made one of the worst of their trade moves. They offered 31-year-old Luol Deng a 4-year, $72 million deal- which was brain-buster for almost everybody in the organization.

What happened next?

They hardly played Deng in the next two seasons and eventually waived him in 2018, and have to pay him $5 million each year till 2022.