NBA Free Agency 2012: 10 Players Who Have Destroyed Their Market Value

With the NBA playoffs just around the corner, the league is also inching closer to this summer's free- agent frenzy. For some players set to hit the open market, this isn't good news.

There are organizations willing to take risks on unproven talents, but it's an entirely different story for talents that didn't live up to expectations.

Many players with an established place in the food chain seemed headed for a massive payday. As we near the end of the lockout-truncated season, some of those players will find themselves facing a much cooler market than anticipated.

Greg Oden, C

The Blazers somewhat unexpectedly picked up the option on Greg Oden's contract prior to the start of the season, giving the center yet another opportunity to embark on a comeback.

However, a third microfracture knee surgery later, Oden is left wondering what it will take to make him part of a team once again.

For his career, Oden has only appeared in 82 games and averaged 9.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.4 blocks.

Oden's numbers are not indicative of a player without talent, but one who is incredibly raw. Should he make another comeback attempt, he'll still be incredibly raw.

There was a sense of optimism entering the season. Oden was supposed to actually get back on track and be of value to Portland. It was also a chance for him to attract interest for his upcoming free agency.

After what has transpired, though, it seems unlikely Oden can ever recover from the wreckage that is now his market value.

Shannon Brown, SG, Phoenix Suns

Last summer, Shannon Brown stepped out of Kobe Bryant's shadow to join the Suns in what was supposed to be the move that bolstered his reputation.

Nearly a year later, though, Brown's impact hasn't reached new levels of potency.

The 26-year-old is averaging 9.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game. He has gained less than three minutes of playing time since leaving Los Angeles and his stock at the charity stripe has plummeted.

While with the Lakers, Brown had excuses. Bryant received the majority of the touches and playing time, and there was no prolific point guard to feed Brown the ball.

The shooting guard now plays alongside Steve Nash, though—the most unselfish man in the NBA—and there is no Hall of Fame-bound shooting guard standing in his way. Yet he has been unable to further his reputation.

Last summer, Brown was a wealth of unknown potential, and that was intriguing. This year, teams will know exactly what they're getting: a marginal role player who they can pass on without losing sleep.

Jonny Flynn, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

To be honest, Jonny Flynn has not found himself in the best situations over the past two years.

To be even more honest, he hasn't done a whole lot to turn it around either.

Flynn is averaging 3.4 points and three assists per game in limited action this season. He has the tools to be an effective floor general, but has been unable to establish any sort of rhythm. 

Flynn's inability to hit the three consistently and stay interested on defense has also hindered his potential.

Almost three years into his NBA career, Flynn was supposed to be a starter, or at least on the radar of a club that wanted him to be.

This summer, he'll find out that's not the case.

Anthony Randolph, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves

After disappointing stints with both the Warriors and Knicks, the Timberwolves presented an opportunity for Anthony Randolph to redeem himself. 

However, the 22-year-old has been unable to earn a steady role in Minnesota's rotation.

Randolph's averages of 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game only begin to tell the tale of wasted potential. He's battled commitment issues his whole career and to date, he has failed to inject any level of explosiveness into his game.

The power forward doesn't fare well on the glass and his lack of anticipation on the defensive end makes him an easy target to exploit.

In only his fourth season, Randolph is making a name for himself as one of the softer forwards in the game.

And not the passable, Keith Van Horn-type soft, but the kind of flimsy athlete that's liable to be a non-factor altogether.

Nick Young, SG, Los Angeles Clippers

Nick Young didn't land the fat contract some had him pegged for last summer, but the hope was he would get it this summer.

That's become unlikely.

Young has still been unable to establish himself as anything more than a scorer. His 15.6 points per game will be a valued commodity, but his 39.4 percent shooting will not.

The shooting guard's numbers have also declined since joining the Clippers. He remains noncommittal on the defensive end and appears to be averse to rebounding.

This time last year, Young was averaging 17.4 points per contest and shooting over 40 percent from the field, but there was some serious doubt as to whether he could develop into more of a complete player.

And this year, it's the same story—just with less production.

Spencer Hawes, C, Philadelphia 76ers

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Spencer Hawes no longer has a minutes limitation. However, his production since returning from an Achilles injury has not been as encouraging as the Sixers would like.

Since his return, Hawes is averaging 8.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per game.

Those aren't unsightly numbers, but when combined with a murky bill of health and a fondness for foul trouble, they're not worth a large contract.

There will always be a market for 23-year-old centers that stand 7'1", but after the season Hawes has had, a substantial payday is not as likely as once perceived.

Kenyon Martin, PF, Clippers

Remember when Kenyon Martin was upset the Nuggets didn't save the money they used on Al Harrington to re-sign him? Well, the power forward is currently validating Denver's train of thought.

Martin is averaging just 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds since joining the Clippers. He is shooting a career-low 42.3 percent from the field and 36.7 percent from the free-throw line.

Los Angeles' hope was that Martin would inject some athleticism and low-post aggressiveness the lineup.

However, he has failed to live up to expectations.

Come free agency, the offer sheets will, once again, fail to meet Martin's oversized expectations.

Grant Hill, SF, Phoenix Suns

For the first time in over a decade, injuries didn't haunt Grant Hill's playing days. Then he suffered a torn medial meniscus.

While Hill assures the Suns that he will be back this season (via The Arizona Republic), it's hard to imagine any interested teams ponying up considerable cash to sign an extremely fragile 39-year-old this summer.

Before having surgery, Hill was averaging 10.7 points and 3.6 rebounds per game. He was shooting 45.1 percent from the field and re-establishing himself as a perimeter stopper on defense.

Hill was never going to receive a lucrative contract after this season, but the market would have shown interest in the role player he has become.

After his latest setback, though, that's simply not going to happen.

Raymond Felton, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

Raymond Felton has been undervalued his entire career, until this season.

Despite putting up star-caliber numbers during multiple campaigns, Felton has become a journeyman. He shined with the Bobcats, Knicks and even the Nuggets, but his time in Portland has been a different story.

Felton is averaging a career-low 10.7 points per game on a career-worst 39 percent shooting from the field. His defense has been lackluster and he has been out of control with the ball in his hands at times, especially down the stretch.

As if that weren't enough, the point guard has developed a penchant for arguing his case with referees. Far too often, he will fail to get back on defense because he engages in a heated debated with an official.

The Felton we have seen this season is not the productive workhorse we have watched for nearly seven years.

You better believe that diminishes his value substantially this summer.

Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Hornets

After spending most of the season on the sidelines with a knee injury, Eric Gordon is set to return to action on Wednesday against the Nuggets (via The Times-Picayune). And he has some work to do.

Prior to his knee injury, Gordon averaged 21.0 points and 5.0 rebounds in two games for the Hornets. His upside had never been more prevalent and he appeared to be developing into the type of player a team can build around.

Despite being only 23, the shooting guard is now tasked with proving those statements are still valid.

Gordon, a restricted free agent at the end of the year, was supposed to be headed toward a lucrative payday. Now he must show he can come back strong from close to a season-ending injury.

Regardless of how well Gordon plays from here on out, though, the durability of his knee will remain in question and teams are less likely to hand out an enormous payday.

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