3 most questionable contracts of the NBA offseason

The NBA's rising salary cap shouldn't be an excuse for teams to blindly throw money at players, especially when a majority of the talent receiving those lavish contracts may never justify their hefty incomes.

Here's a look at three players who hit the jackpot in free agency, and the teams who may regret putting huge sums of money down on their future success.

SG Wesley Matthews

Contract: $70 million over four years with the Dallas Mavericks

2014-15 statistics: 60 games, 33.7 MP, 15.9 PTS, 44.8 FG%, 38.9 3P%, 3.7 REB, 2.3 AST, 1.3 STL, 1.4 TOV, 16.1 PER

Players returning from a ruptured Achilles tendon are never quite the same, with both on-court performance and future availability being greatly hindered.

It's going to take some time for Matthews to get his legs back underneath him, returning to the above-average 3-and-D machine he once was.

Then again, there's no guarantee he actually will, bringing into question the Mavericks' rationale behind offering a max deal to someone with legitimate health concerns who probably didn't warrant that kind of contract to begin with.

Matthews' original four-year, $57-million offer was already debatable. Dallas boosting it to $70 million following the DeAndre Jordan drama - and his subsequent re-signing with the Los Angeles Clippers - defies logic and comprehension.

C Omer Asik

Contract: $60 million over five years with the New Orleans Pelicans

2014-15 statistics: 76 games, 26.1 MP, 7.3 PTS, 51.7 FG%, 9.8 REB, 0.9 AST, 0.4 STL, 1.3 TOV, 15.5 PER

The Pelicans must have poor short-term memory, as they clearly forgot about Asik's dismal performance during their four-game postseason run before offering him $60 million.

The 7-foot Turkish center was a ghost when it mattered most, providing his team with next to nothing on both ends of the floor. Golden State figured that out quickly, throwing double-teams at Anthony Davis instead of giving Asik any attention.

With Alexis Ajinca being a more viable defensive option next to Davis in the frontcourt, why not roll with him at the 5 spot and just part ways with the regressing, one-dimensional Asik?

He's still a presence on the glass who improves the Pelicans' defense when he's in the game, but with new head coach Alvin Gentry perhaps looking to push the tempo, Asik could wind up being a seldom-used, overpaid bump on a log.

C Enes Kanter

Contract: $70 million over four years with the Oklahoma City Thunder

2014-15 statistics: 26 games (with OKC), 31.1 MP, 18.7 PTS, 56.6 FG%, 11 REB, 1.1 AST, 0.5 STL, 2 TOV, 24.9 PER

The Thunder were stuck between a rock and a hard place in terms of bringing back Kanter.

The long-term futures of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are up in the air, and after the team traded Reggie Jackson and a first-rounder to land Kanter, the team was essentially obligated to try to keep him around to justify the move.

It's a shame he's such a disaster defensively (ranked last among centers in defensive plus-minus at -3.87), as Kanter already possesses a highly developed offensive repertoire at only 23 years old.

How many looks will he get when Durant-Westbrook are healthy and actively competing, though? Kanter's 2014-15 numbers were slightly exaggerated with Durant and Serge Ibaka missing time near the end of the year, so a statistical dip is surely coming.

The Portland Trail Blazers' offer sheet forced OKC's hand. Game, set, and match to the division rivals.