NBA's 10 Best Bench Warmers: Who is Riding the Pine in 2009

Every season in the NBA a new crop of bench warmers joins the world of the under-worked, and grossly over-paid!

The dressed, but will never play, guys lost in their coach’s doghouse and the suit styling millionaires the coach won’t even risk getting into the game by accident.

Many of these (un)lucky employees of NBA teams have very familiar names, and some might even surprise at just how far they have fallen in so short a time. But some are just lucky veterans that are still collecting on contracts that extended longer than their ability to play.

For the start of the 2009-10 season, please welcome the Top 10 NBA bench-warmers.

May some of them find the opportunity to be useful before the season ends.

N0. 1 – Mark Blount, Minnesota

The return of nine-year pro Mark Blount to Minnesota was probably not the best thing that has happened to his career.

Only three seasons ago, Mark Blount was playing over 30 minutes a night and scoring 12 points plus collecting six rebounds for the T-wolves, but his agent seeing little opportunity for Mark to play for them now asked for a trade.

The team said sure, and by the way, don’t bother coming to camp either. Minnesota agreed to waive Blount if no trade deal could be found.

So maybe Mark isn’t exactly riding the pine. But with just under $8 million remaining on his deal this season, Mark isn’t suffering financially as he watches the games on TV.

No. 2 – DeSagana Diop, Charlotte

The eight-year veteran center for the Charlotte Bobcats has found his way into only two games this season for a total of five minutes, with only a turnover to blemish a perfect stat line of zeros.

Diop even had trouble cracking the preseason lineup. But averaging just one point per game could do that.

But with four years and $20 million left on his contract, the Bobcats have to be looking for something big man who can’t score can do. Don’t they?

No. 3 – Matt Carroll, Dallas

Once a promising shooting guard, this six-year pro has found his career sliding towards obscurity. Fortunately for Carroll, he is signed to a long-term deal that has four years and $16.4 million left on it.

Relegated to mop-up duties, Carroll has gotten into half of Dallas’ games this season and played a total of 18 minutes.

A very expensive 12th man.

No. 4 – Adam Morrison, LA Lakers

Oh how the mighty have fallen. The once sure-fire high lottery pick Adam Morrison isn’t expect to see much time with the Lakers this season.

The third overall pick in 2006 now finds himself buried behind veteran players on a very deep Lakers team that has little time to develop prospects.

So far this season, Morrison has gotten into about half the Lakers games for an average of six minutes each time. It will be tough for Morrison to get much more than mop-up duties unless the Lakers run into serious injury concerns.

Adam Morrison will just have to take comfort in his $5.25 million salary.

No. 5 – Brian Cook, Houston

The once promising career of six-year pro Brian Cook seems to have hit some bumps over the past couple of years.

This year in injury ridden Houston, Cook has only managed to get into half the games for a grand total of eight minutes played. His best performance being a 0-2 with a rebound and a turnover in three minutes against the Grizzlies.

With only one year and $3.5 million on his contract, Houston can afford to keep Cook as insurance. But that isn’t doing much to help keep Cook in the NBA after this season.

No. 6 – Kurt Thomas, Milwaukee

This well-known 37-year-old, 14-year veteran may finally be running out of steam. Initially considered a starter during the preseason, Kurt Thomas’ most recent games have been DNP-CD.

So far this season, Thomas has played in just three games for a total of 24 minutes.

With $3.8 million left on his contract, Thomas may not be going anywhere. But at 37, his career may finally be over.

No. 7 – Devon George, Golden State

This 32-year-old, 10 year pro was coming off knee surgery from last season when he was included in the four team deal that saw Hedo Turkoglu go to Toronto, and Shawn Marion head to Dallas.

Toronto then traded him to Golden State for Marco Belinelli in a move that could only be described as Golden State dumping a contract. Say thank you to Nellie Raptors!

Not surprisingly George is now listed as out indefinitely with a knee injury by Golden State, so he may never get to actually “warm” the bench. More likely he’ll just stare longingly it at.

George will be collecting his $1.6 million contract this season. If he never plays for the Warriors, no one will be surprised.

No. 8 – Juan Howard, Portland

Juan Howard, the 15-year NBA veteran whose professional career really ended about two seasons ago, signed a one-year veteran’s minimum deal with Portland in the off-season.

Potentially brought in to provide veteran leadership, there was never really much room for Howard on Portland’s roster barring injury.

Howard did contribute limited minutes in two games this season. But for the most part, he has been a DNP-CD.

At 36-years of age, Howard is not going to take minutes from any of the much younger Trailblazer big men.

No. 9 – Lindsay Hunter, Chicago

The 39-year-old Lindsay Hunter is entering his 17th NBA season.

A true veteran back-up point guard, one would have to consider Hunter more like an assistance coach to Chicago’s sophomore guard Derrick Rose than a back-up player.

The veteran minimum contract of $1.3 million may not seem like a lot in NBA terms, but it is a lot for an assistant coach.

Hunter has played seven minutes in one game so far this season. He is not expected to play many more as he collects that nice retirement gift from the Bulls.

(Toronto Raptor fans may remember a similar situation with Darrick Martin a couple of seasons ago)

No. 10 – Chucky Atkins, Detroit

This 35-year-old, 10 year pro was activated by the Pistons following Richard Hamilton’s injury, but he was never supposed to see much floor time.

Not to worry, in Hamilton’s absence Chucky has only played a total of eight minutes.

In all fairness, Atkins hasn’t played a lot of meaningful minutes in his last three NBA seasons, and with only an NBA minimum veteran’s salary, he isn’t that expensive any more.

Are there more?

By no means is this list all-inclusive. There are way more than 10 NBA players who are mostly just collecting a check.

But the list does try to exclude players missing time solely due to injury, or because they are rookies.

But no one collecting a check in the NBA should feel slighted by a lack of playing time. Things can change and the money is really, really good!

Please feel free to suggest your own favorites. One thing is for sure, there are more!

Are there more?

By no means is this list all-inclusive. There are way more than 10 NBA players who are mostly just collecting a cheque.

But the list does try to exclude players missing time solely due to injury or because they are rookies.

But no one collecting a cheque in the NBA should feel slighted by a lack of playing time. Things can change and the money is really, really good!

Please feel free to suggest your own favorites. One thing is for sure, there are more!