Money for nothing

Sports is littered with players failing to live up to their contracts. Here are six of the most infamous — in addition to Ben Simmons — in recent New York sports history:

Jed Lowrie Having signed to a two-year deal for $20 million before the 2019 season, the utility man recorded a total of eight plate appearances with the Mets during his entire tenure thanks to various injuries. Prior to joining the Mets, Lowrie played in 157 games with the A’s in 2018 while producing an .801 OPS.

Antonio McDyess The Knicks invested big into the athletic power forward, acquiring him from the Nuggets in a June 2002 trade that involved moving their lottery pick (which became Nene Hilario) and Marcus Camby. McDyess fractured his kneecap in preseason, missed the year and played in only 18 games in 2003-04 before the Knicks compounded the failed trade by dealing him to the Suns in an even worse trade — for Stephon Marbury. McDyess earned $12.6 million in his first season at the Garden, then $13.5 million in Year 2, which he split between the Knicks and Suns.

Carl Pavano Signed to a four-year $40 million deal before 2005, the righty — who would eventually be dubbed “American Idle” by The Post’s George A. King III — appeared in just 26 games in pinstripes, going 9-8 with a 5.00 ERA. Pavano suffered from shoulder, back, elbow and buttocks problems, including breaking two ribs in a car accident that he did not reveal to the Yankees. He also needed Tommy John surgery.

Jacoby Ellsbury The Yankees handed over a whopping $153 million contract to the speedy and powerful center fielder after 2013, and over his seven years in The Bronx, Ellsbury was productive in his first season, delivering a 3.6 WAR. He produced just a total of 6.3 WAR over the next three seasons, though, then did not play in EITHER of the next two years due to injury before being released.

Jason Bay Bay’s tenure with the Mets after signing a four-year deal for $66 million was a mess in terms of both health and productivity. Coming off a 2009 Red Sox campaign in which he slammed 36 homers, drove in 119 runs and posted a .921 OPS, Bay proceeded to deliver three-season Mets TOTALS of 26 homers, 124 RBIs and a .687 OPS while averaging just 96 games.

Aaron Rodgers This one we’ll see about. In Year 1 with the Jets, the ballyhooed addition was injured four snaps into the season and despite a furious comeback attempt, missed the season. Rodgers was paid $36.8 million last season. He remains the starting quarterback heading into next season.