The Most Overpaid Players in the NBA Today

With the economy as bad as it is, it got me thinking about where money is where it shouldn't be, and I immediately began thinking about athlete's salaries.

Since I probably like the NBA out of all the sports currently in progress, I decided to take a closer look at some of the athletes that have most robbed their franchises in these times of need.

I mean, although I am a teenager, I put in an honest day's work. Shouldn't I make $111 million dollars too?

(Players are not presented in any particular order.)

Baron Davis

Salary:
Five years - $65 million

Stats:
PPG-15.3
RPG-3.8
APG-8.1

The sun was shining for Baron until the unfortunate day that he signed with the Clippers. From leading the Golden State Warriors to the second round of the playoffs, Baron is now struggling with a team that, like him, can't turn itself around.

Expecting to join Elton Brand, who is now instead with the 76ers, all of Davis's numbers are down compared to previous seasons. He shouldn't expect to be traded anytime soon either with a contract as big as his.

Elton Brand

Salary:
Five years - $80 million deal

Stats:
PPG-13.8
RPG-8.8
APG-1.3

From 20 points and 10 rebounds last year to 13.8 points and 8.8 rebounds this year, plus a season-ending shoulder injury, life has just been trouble for Big E ever since he moved to Philly.

Even before this season went to the trash, Brand had a lot of trouble fitting into the 76ers' schemes. Let's hope that it doesn't stay that way.

Wally Szczerbiak

Salary:
$13.75 million for 2008 season

Stats:
PPG-7.0
RPG-3.1
APG-1.0

Although he was drafted sixth-overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1999, Wally certainly doesn't play like it. In an economy like this, it isn't really fair that he makes about $24,000 for every point he scores in the NBA.

I wish I got paid that much for playing for about three boards and an assist per game.

Ben Wallace

Salary:
$14.5 million for 2008 season

Stats:
PPG-3.0
RPG-6.60
APG-0.8

Wow. $14.5 million for a center that only gets about six boards and less than an assist a game.

Ben Wallace hasn't really produced much ever since he left Detroit (I'm a Bulls Fan). With about three points per game, he definitely isn't worth the big bucks.

Darko Milicic

Salary:
$7 million for 2008 season

Stats:
PPG-5.9
RPG-4.6
APG-0.5

It's quite sad really. Originially the second-overall pick in the 2003 draft, over players like Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosch, and Carmello Anthony, Darko Milicic is now a part of the bench of the Memphis Grizzlies.

After all of that and less than six points a game, how does he still manage to put down that much cash?

Raef LaFrentz

Salary:
$12.7 million

Stats:
PPG-0.0
RPG-0.0
APG-0.0

To put it in lamens terms, Raef gets paid $12.7 million dollars for doing jack-diddly squat. Sadly, he hasn't played a game this entire season due to injury. Although he was the third-overall pick by the Denver Nuggets in 1998, he has only played 66 games ever since he came to Portland approximately three seasons ago in 2006.

Malik Rose

Salary:
$7.6 million for 2008

Stats:
PPG-3.2
RPG-2.6
APG-1.0

Don't get me wrong, all NBA players are great—but Malik has the worst stats of this group and still manages to make $7.6 million a year.

After playing great for the Spurs and helping them win an NBA title in both 1999 and 2003, Rose was traded to the Knicks and just hasn't been the same.

Now on the Thunder, one of the worst teams in the NBA, Rose is still hoping to make a rebound.

Gilbert Arenas

Salary:
Six years - $111 million

Stats:
PPG-13
RPG-0.5
APG-10

Although I haven't ranked anyone else on this list, Gilbert Arenas definitely is on top. He's on top of everyone's list. Having played only 15 games in approximately the last two seasons, he has received the most money per game in the entire NBA—about $2.5 million!

I understand that Arenas has been injured, but he has been making money for not working at all. After looking at Agent Zero's situation, I think there should definitely be a rule in which players' salaries are limited if they are not on the court playing due to injury.