30 NBA Starters Who Are Headed for the Bench Next Season

During each NBA offseason, there's quite a bit of roster turnover. Players sign with new teams, rookies are added to squads, trades are made and players, like these 30, move from a starting role to a spot on the pine next to the coach. 

So, who will those 30 be? 

Some of them are too old, others were merely serving as replacements for injured starters and some still just never deserved the starting spot in the first place. 

Read on to find out who they are.  

Ray Allen

Team: Boston Celtics

Position: SG

Age: 36

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 14.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.4 assists

Starts: 42 in 46 games

Ray Allen's decrepit ankles give him a built-in excuse for his awful play during the 2012 NBA playoffs, but I still can't shake the feeling that we're seeing the beginning of the end for this future Hall of Famer. 

The shooting guard is an unrestricted free agent and will likely either re-sign with the Celtics to back up Avery Bradley, once the young defensive stud is fully healthy, or sign on as a backup with a new squad. 

D.J. Augustin

Team: Charlotte Bobcats

Position: PG

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.1 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists

Starts: 46 in 48 games

Although D.J. Augustin was one of the few not-quite-bright-but-a-little-more-than-dark spots on the Charlotte Bobcats last season during their record-breaking year of futility, it's clear that the 24-year-old point guard is not the future of the position. 

Kemba Walker is going to take over Augustin's role as the starting floor general, forcing Augustin either to the bench or another team. 

Marco Belinelli

Team: New Orleans

Position: SG

Age: 26

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Starts: 55 in 66 games

Although Marco Belinelli was at least decent as Eric Gordon's replacement once the prize in the Chris Paul trade was injured, he's most assuredly not going to hold onto the spot next year. 

As long as Gordon chooses to re-sign with the New Orleans Hornets as a restricted free agent, he's going to be the starting shooting guard. 

Raja Bell

Team: Utah Jazz

Position: SG

Age: 35

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 6.4 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.1 assists

Stats: 33 in 34 games

Raja Bell may very well be the worst starting guard in all of the NBA. That's not an exaggeration whatsoever. 

If Alec Burks and Gordon Hayward aren't starting at the 2 and 3 next season, then something is wrong with the Utah Jazz. 

Trevor Booker

Team: Trevor Booker

Position: PF

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 8.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists

Starts: 32 in 50 games

Trevor Booker was a nice surprise for the Washington Wizards thanks to his solid contributions in the frontcourt. However, the Wiz have a younger, better power forward waiting in the wings. 

Jan Vesely was injured at the start of his rookie season and never got a chance to get into a good rhythm, but expect that to change during his second season stateside. He should start as many games as possible and live up to his reputation as the European Blake Griffin. 

Ronnie Brewer

Team: Chicago Bulls

Position: SG

Age: 27

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 6.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Starts: 43 in 66 games

Ronnie Brewer was able to start quite a few games at shooting guard for the injury-plagued Chicago Bulls while Rip Hamilton recovered from his various ailments. 

Next season, expect either Hamilton or an incoming rookie like Doron Lamb to hog all the starts as Brewer leads a strong second unit from the bench. 

Marcus Camby

Team: Houston Rockets

Position: C

Age: 38

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 3.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists

Starts: 40 in 40 games 

Now an unrestricted free agent nearing 40 years of age, Marcus Camby can't possibly continue to start for NBA teams. Can he? 

Camby still has elite defensive skills and he's a solid rebounder, but his offensive limitations severely limit the team he's playing for. If he wants to continue to play in the NBA, he'll have to accept a role as a rotation member who comes off the bench. 

Jordan Crawford

Team: Washington Wizards

Position: SG

Age: 23

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 14.7 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists

Starts: 32 in 64 games

This is more wishful thinking because Jordan Crawford just isn't any good. 

How do you improve your field goal percentage during each of your first three seasons and still peak at just 40 percent? That's pathetic. 

Carlos Delfino

Team: Milwaukee Bucks

Position: SF

Age: 29

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 9.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists

Starts: 53 in 54 games

Now an unrestricted free agent, it's hard to imagine Carlos Delfino finding a role as a starter on a new team, or remaining as such on the Milwaukee Bucks. 

Delfino only produced a PER of 11.72 and struggled to consistently score in double-figures. 

Landry Fields

Team: New York Knicks

Position: SG

Age: 23

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 8.8 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists

Starts: 62 in 66 games

Landry Fields is a restricted free agent who the New York Knicks would like to bring back. However, they're not going to be looking to retain his services as a starting shooting guard. 

Iman Shumpert is the future at the position and should earn the starting role as soon as he's fully healthy. 

Grant Hill

Team: Phoenix Suns

Position: SF

Age: 39

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 10.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists

Starts: 46 in 49 games

Grant Hill is going to be 40 years old during the 2012-2013 NBA season, and as an unrestricted free agent, it's going to be tough for him to find a new starting role after serving as such with the Phoenix Suns. 

The small forward still possesses a versatile skill set, but it's on the decline and he's best served using his energy off the bench.

Antawn Jamison

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: PF

Age: 35

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 17.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists

Starts: 65 in 65 games

Antawn Jamison is another unrestricted free agent who is quickly aging and entering the declining portion of his career. 

His range will still exist and Jamison can score in bulk, but he's going to have to do so off the bench as a younger, sprier power forward earns the starting job. 

Amir Johnson

Team: Toronto Raptors

Position: PF

Age: 25

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 7.1 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists

Starts: 43 in 64 games

Once given an opportunity, Amir Johnson didn't produce too poorly for the Toronto Raptors. However, 7.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game won't be enough for the young power forward to hold off the European infusion. 

Jonas Valanciunas, a lottery pick last year, is coming to the NBA and should quickly earn the starting spot with his terrific defensive skills. 

James Johnson

Team: Toronto Raptors

Position: SF

Age: 25

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 9.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists

Starts: 40 in 62 games

It's not good to be named Johnson if you're on the Toronto Raptors. 

James Johnson's inclusion in this article is solely due to my belief that the Raptors will select Jeremy Lamb in the draft and play Lamb and DeMar DeRozan at the 2 and 3, though not necessarily in that order. 

Chris Kaman

Team: New Orleans Hornets

Position: C

Age: 30

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 13.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists

Starts: 33 in 47 games

Enter Anthony Davis. 

Exit Chris Kaman. 

Jason Kidd

Team: Dallas Mavericks

Position: PG

Age: 39

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 6.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, 5.5 assists

Starts: 48 in 48 games

I think we're going to see a repeat of what happened to Derek Fisher here. After starting and remaining unproductive for the Los Angeles Lakers, Fisher ended up as a backup guard on the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Now an unrestricted free agent, expect for something similar to happen to Jason Kidd. 

Corey Maggette

Team: Charlotte Bobcats

Position: SF

Age: 32

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 15.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists

Starts: 28 in 32 games

Corey Maggette may have scored 15 points per game during the 2011-2012 season, but that's more a testament to the absolute futility of the Charlotte Bobcats during their run of awfulness. 

Once Michael Kidd-Gilchrist joins the team and pushes Maggettte to the bench, we won't be seeing the same level of scoring. 

Jason Maxiell

Team: Detroit Pistons

Position: PF

Age: 29

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 6.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists

Starts: 42 in 65 games

We're sticking with the theme of lottery picks coming in and displacing more established players, not that Jason Maxiell is particularly established. 

Here, the prospect du jour is Jared Sullinger, who should immediately come in and form a potent frontcourt duo with Greg Monroe as he immediately contends for Rookie of the Year. 

Jodie Meeks

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Position: SG

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 8.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.8 assists

Starts: 50 in 66 games

Jodie Meeks is a restricted free agent and in a difficult situation if he wants to maintain his role as a starting shooting guard. 

He hasn't shown enough to jump into that same role with a new team, while Evan Turner has displayed enough skill during the second half of the season and the postseason run to boost himself into the starting lineup. 

Darko Milicic

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Position: C

Age: 26

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 4.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.6 assists

Starts: 23 in 29 games

Once Nikola Pekovic is fully healthy, the starting center job for the Minnesota Timberwolves is his to lose. 

As for the primary reason why, well, it's mostly because he's not named Darko Milicic. 

Timofey Mozgov

Team: Denver Nuggets

Position: C

Age: 25

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 5.4 points, 4.1 rebounds, 0.5 assists

Starts: 35 in 44 games

The Denver Nuggets should try to avoid letting JaVale McGee escape in restricted free agency, as he has significantly more potential than Timofey Mozgov, who is still most famous for getting dunked on magnificently by Blake Griffin. 

McGee may be a head case, but the Nuggets seem to have straightened him out for now. 

Zaza Pachulia

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Position: C

Age: 28

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 7.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists

Starts: 44 in 58 games

Do you really think that Zaza Pachulia will continue to start once Al Horford, a bona fide All-Star, is fully healthy at the start of the 2012-2013 NBA season?

Anthony Parker

Team: Cleveland Cavaliers

Position: SG

Age: 36

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 7.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists

Starts: 51 in 51 games

Anthony Parker was only the starting shooting guard on the Cleveland Cavaliers because the team didn't have any inspiring options to throw out alongside Kyrie Irving in the backcourt.

Now that Parker is an unrestricted free agent, he won't find another starting role unless an incompetent general manager sees his last name and gets confused. 

Luke Ridnour

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Position: PG/SG

Age: 31

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 12.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.8 assists

Starts: 53 in 53 games

Luke Ridnour began the season as the starting point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, but that didn't last long once the team realized just how good Ricky Rubio could be. So Ridnour continued to start, but instead played as a severely undersized shooting guard. 

Minnesota should attempt to add a true shooting guard in either the draft or free agency and Rubio is almost assuredly going to start, pushing Ridnour into a relief role.

John Salmons

Team: Sacramento Kings

Position: SG

Age: 32

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats:  7.5 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists

Starts: 32 in 46 games

The Sacramento Kings are in rebuilding mode and have way too many young guards to justify running out John Salmons as a starting shooting guard. 

After all, Isaiah Thomas, Tyreke Evans, Marcus Thornton and Jimmer Fredette all need time on the court. 

Ramon Sessions

Team: Los Angeles Lakers

Position: PG

Age: 26

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 6.2 assists

Starts: 19 in 23 games

This one is just a hunch. 

As good as Ramon Sessions was during the regular season for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Lakers fans are a fickle bunch and will spend all offseason calling for his head after his terrible performance during the short-lived postseason run. 

Whether they do so through a trade or free agency, I wouldn't bet on Sessions beginning the season as the starting point guard. 

Marreese Speights

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Position: PF/C

Age: 24

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 8.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 0.8 assists

Starts: 54 in 60 games

Now a restricted free agent, Marreese Speights should be brought back to the Memphis Grizzlies, just as a backup big man instead of a starter. 

The young power forward was nudged into a starting role once Zach Randolph was injured. However, he has no hope of starting during the 2012-2013 season once Z-Bo and Marc Gasol are back in the lineup. 

Marvin Williams

Team: Atlanta Hawks

Position: SF

Age: 25

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists

Starts: 37 in 57 games

As an Atlanta Hawks fan, I just really hope that by putting Marvin Williams here, it will come true. 

Shelden Williams

Team: New Jersey Nets

Position: PF

Age: 28

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 4.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 0.6 assists

Starts: 35 in 58 games

Speaking of players named Williams with ties to the Atlanta Hawks, Shelden Williams is an unrestricted free agent and won't find a similar situation to the one he was in with the New Jersey Nets. 

Williams barely belongs in the NBA, much less as a starting power forward. 

Dorell Wright

Team: Golden State Warriors

Position: SF

Age: 26

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 10.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.5 assists

Starts: 61 in 61 games

Dorell Wright seemed like he had broken out after the 2010-2011 season, but last year he proved that it was merely a year-long fluke. The Golden State Warriors have solid options at point guard, shooting guard, power forward and center, just not at small forward. 

I fully expect them to draft Harrison Barnes if he's still available and the sweet-shooting small forward is ready enough for the next level that he would quickly take over Wright's job.