In 2015-16 Kobe had the highest salary in the league at $25 million.
He put up 17.5/4/3 with the 4th highest usage rate that year playing around 28 MPG. Shooting splits of 36/28/83 for the 7th lowest TS% in the league. Meanwhile, the lakers finished bottom of the West with a 17-65 record.
Looking at advanced metrics: 2nd worst plus minus per game, 4th worst defensive box plus minus, 7th lowest win shares and 2nd lowest WS/48 (both negative) and all of which are the worst among Lakers players that year.
I understand he was injured and it was a farewell tour but purely from a production relative to salary perspective is this the worst season by a player ever or would it still be better than e.g a star being injured all year or refusing to play but making the max.
He was a net negative asset even if he was playing because his contract was given to him before injuries derailed his game. Houston would’ve had to give up assets to send him to another team. Houston also was targeting a high draft pick, so they had no incentive to pay someone else to eat his contract when they could do it themselves for free.
Truth. The only possibility of a team wanting him is the classic “team looking for a huge expiring contract so they can have max contract salary space for a free agent next off-season”.