NBA Free Agents 2011: 5 Worst Players Who Will Still Get Signed

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The NBA lockout has and will affect everything in the NBA, including free agency.

Much as we saw in the NFL, there will be a free agent frenzy the minute the lockout ends. Teams will be in such a hurry to get what they need before it’s gone that they will overpay and overvalue middle-of-the-road to bottom-line free agents. While this actually happens every year with a few guys, this year’s lockout will make it worse.

Here are the five worst players who will definitely still get signed.

1. Kwame Brown, C

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To be fair, it isn’t Brown’s fault that he was chosen No. 1 overall in the 2001 draft. The blame for that goes to the man who was his boss again this past season: Michael Jordan.

Jordan acquired Brown again this past season, despite Brown being a complete bust for the past decade. He did average around eight points and seven rebounds last season, but that’s unimpressive considering he was nearly playing starters' minutes.

Plus, the fact that he was a No. 1 overall draft pick makes anything he does underwhelming.

Invariably, someone will give Brown another chance. Some team that needs help inside and is desperate will spend the money.

2. Chris Douglas-Roberts, SF

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Maybe you’re like me. Anytime I read that name, I immediately think of the college player who played for Memphis in the national championship in 2008.

I even remember him being drafted by New Jersey. After that, it’s all a blank.

CDR has done basically nothing in the league and actually rode the bench last season for Milwaukee. That being said, he’s one of those guys who has always shown potential and he’ll get another job based on that.

3. Sebastian Telfair, PG

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Sebastian Telfair is a guy who most people would say is just fine. And he is. But when signing free agents, NBA teams want difference makers, and Telfair isn’t one.

He’s played on five teams in seven years, each of which has ended up trading him for something better (Minnesota actually got him back again).

In the end, he’ll be signed because a team with a point guard deficiency will get desperate, and he’ll come in and play just “fine.” And the next year, he’ll probably play for someone else.

2. Kyrylo Fesenko, C

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Fesenko is a big man. At 7’1”, he is a young big man with potential.

Potential is usually a good word. It means that eventually a player will be worth the risk that you took on him.

It can also be a bad word that tricks teams into signing players who never pan out. I think you can discern which definition applies to Fesenko by his appearance in this article.

1. Yi Jianlian, PF

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Another high draft who has been disappointing, Yi Jianlian is a 7' power forward who many thought would be the next Yao Ming.

Yi was not. Too soft to play down low, yet too big to play outside, Yi has never settled into a niche in the NBA. He has shown talent but has been unable to capitalize on that talent and become a player worthy of a sixth overall draft pick.

Just like the rest of these guys, he'll get a job and continue to disappoint.