NBA LVP Race: 3 Most-Overvalued Players in the League

Often times, the prognosticator in us plays it safe by only predicting the actual awards that are handed out by sports leagues on a yearly basis—MVP, Coach of the Year, Rookie of the Year, etc.

But what we don’t realize—or perhaps don't care to point out—is that each of these prizes implies a negative counterpart, someone that represents the exact opposite of what each of the actual awards represent.

After forecasting the MVP candidates coming out of the NBA All-Star Break, I thought I would try to pinpoint the players (currently on NBA rosters), simply based on cost, production and future relevance, that are least valuable to their respective teams—the NBA LVP Award.

Note: I left out players that have lost significant time due to injury, because that would just be too easy. Yeah, I’m talking to you, Greg Oden.

3. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan will go down as one of the best power forwards in the history of the NBA, but it isn’t difficult to see that the four-time NBA Champion is running on fumes at this point in his career.

Currently averaging career-lows in minutes, field-goal percentage, offensive rebounds, total rebounds and blocked shots, and near-career-lows in points, assists and shots per game, it is apparent that the $21.3 million Duncan is earning this season is a product of his resume, and not an investment on future return.

The San Antonio Spurs, as a team, are still producing at a high level in the Western Conference. However, with a cast of players contributing up and down the roster—led by Tony Parker—Duncan’s greatest value at this point is perhaps best served as a mentor, similar to how he was ushered in by David Robinson.

2. Elton Brand

Once considered one of the top power forwards in the NBA, Elton Brand’s career was hit hard with the injury bug in the 2007-08 season, while with the Los Angeles Clippers. Since then, it had been a struggle for the Duke product to stay on the court until recently.

Last season, we saw Brand play a full season for the first time since 2006-07, but it was clear that he wasn’t the same virtual lock for a double-double that he was earlier in his career.

Now, having started 35 games for the Philadelphia 76ers this season—making a hefty $17 million—the fact that he has lost his step is becoming painfully obvious. And with the upstart 76ers trying to carve out a name for themselves in the top-heavy Eastern Conference, it is safe to say that money could have been spent better elsewhere.

1. Rashard Lewis

What would you think of a player that can’t stay on the court for the lowly Washington Wizards?

Then tell me what you would think of that player if you were told that he is making $22.1 million for his services this season? Rashard Lewis is indeed the outlaw Jesse James of the NBA.

The Orlando Magic considered Lewis one of the more versatile and talented players in the league and rewarded him with a max contract in the summer of 2007 to compliment centerpiece Dwight Howard. Since then, his production has dipped drastically, while also being seen as a poster child for the most daunting problems the NBA faced during the lockout.

Across the board, Lewis—now with the Washington Wizards—has allowed his production to hit levels that we haven’t seen since his second year in the league.

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