NBA: Eric Gordon and 9 Overvalued Players Who Don't Deserve Max Deals

Time and time again, NBA teams find themselves with the difficult decision of whether to offer one of their top players a max deal or to let that player take his talents to another team.

It's not an easy decision for NBA teams to make, but all too often they end up making a bad decision and paying a player way too much for the production he brings to the court in return.

In the past, players like Joe Johnson and Amar'e Stoudemire received max deals that they didn't deserve and it looks like Eric Gordon and Roy Hibbert are going to follow in their footsteps.

Ahead is a list of overvalued players, including current players who signed max contracts before this offseason, who aren't deserving of max deals. 

Brook Lopez, C, Brooklyn Nets: Four/Five Years, $58/$78 Million

2010-'11 Per-Game Stats: 20.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.5 blocks, 49.2 FG percentage, 78.7 FT percentage

Y! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Nets and Brook Lopez are ironing out a four- or five-year deal, worth $58 and $78 million respectively.

It's safe to say that the Nets made this contract offer in light of the possibility of landing Dwight Howard in a blockbuster trade falling apart.

I agree with signing Lopez to a long-term deal, but the Nets certainly overpaid for the talents of a player who spent the majority of the 2011-'12 season on the bench.

Signing Lopez to a max deal is a desperation move for the Nets, who needed to have a big man to bolster their frontcourt heading into the 2012-'13 season.

Here's hoping that Lopez will be able to stay healthy. If he doesn't, he'll have a lifetime spot on the long list of players who didn't deserve their max deals. 

Amar'e Stoudemire, PF, New York Knicks: Five Years, $100 Million

2011-'12 Per-Game Stats: 17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.0 blocks, 48.3 FG percentage, 76.5 FT percentage 

When the New York Knicks signed Amar'e Stoudemire to a max deal two years ago, they didn't think they'd be getting a player whose career would start to decline, but that's exactly what has happened.

While Stoudemire isn't a terrible player, he certainly hasn't helped the Knicks become any better of a team, especially since they landed Carmelo Anthony.

Stoudemire's inability to be a legitimate defender in the NBA is finally starting to catch up with him and it's holding back his potential impact on the Knicks roster. This past season, Stoudemire's inability to lead a young roster was put on display throughout the early parts of the season and also when he lost a fight with a fire extinguisher after a playoff loss to the Miami Heat.

Stoudemire is a valuable player in the NBA, but he's not worth the mass amount of money the Knicks have invested in him. 

Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana Pacers: Four Years, $58 Million

2011-'12 Per-Game Stats: 12.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.0 blocks, 49.7 FG percentage, 71.1 FT percentage

The Portland Trail Blazers have reportedly retracted their intention to complete the signing of Hibbert to a four-year, $58 million offer sheet that the Pacers then would have three days to match—as reported by ESPN's own Ric Bucher.

That's the best move the Trail Blazers have made since they passed on Michael Jordan in the 1984 NBA draft.

The question now is whether the Pacers intend to sign Hibbert to a max contract. The answer to that question is that they absolutely shouldn't, because of where he's at right now in his career. He isn't worth the kind of money the Pacers will have to invest in him.

Sure, Hibbert was a an All-Star this past season, but if a single All-Star appearance warranted a max contract, then we'd have quite a few more in the NBA. The Pacers need to hold off on inking Hibbert to a massive contract.

Joe Johnson, SG, Brooklyn Nets: Six Years, $119 Million

2011-'12 Per-Game Stats: 18.8 points, 3.9 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 0.8 steals, 45.4 FG percentage, 38.8 3P percentage, 84.9 FT percentage

When the Atlanta Hawks signed Joe Johnson to a five-year, $119 million deal, after the 2009-'10 season, they became the proud owners of one of the worst contracts in the entire NBA.

The most shocking part about Johnson's absurd contract was that it came after an underwhelming performance in the 2010 playoffs, when he averaged just 12.9 points per game when they were swept by the Orlando Magic.

Johnson certainly didn't deserve the kind of money he received then and he hasn't earned it anymore in the two seasons since signing the contract. If Johnson was a more complete player, or a lock-down defender, his contract would have made more sense. Unfortunately, he's neither of those things. 

Hopefully Johnson can find his groove in Brooklyn and help the Nets become a relevant team in the Eastern Conference, because if he doesn't he'll go down as one of the most overpaid players in the history of the NBA.

It's time for Johnson to finally start to earn the mass amounts of money he's being paid. 

Eric Gordon, SG, New Orleans Hornets: Four Years, $58 Million

2010-'11 Per-Game Stats: 22.3 points, 4.4 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 45.0 FG percentage, 36.4 3P percentage, 82.5 FT percentage

Eric Gordon is certainly a hot commodity in the NBA this offseason and, while he's a very athletic and exciting player, he doesn't deserve to earn the max dollars he'll get paid this offseason.

ESPN's own Ric Bucher is reporting that the Hornets are planning on matching the four-year, $58 million max-contract offer the Phoenix Suns have offered Gordon.

Bringing back "veteran" talent to a young Hornets' team makes sense, but the money they will have to pay him is way too much—especially when you consider he's coming off a 2011-'12 season where he only played in nine games due to a knee injury. 

It's not that Gordon isn't capable of being a player who deserves a max contract. He's a more athletic version of Joe Johnson, and that means he's just not complete enough of a player to warrant a massive contract.

If Gordon can develop, specifically on the defensive side of the ball, he'll be more deserving of a max contract, but until that happens he'll have a place on this list. 

Rudy Gay, SF, Memphis Grizzlies: Five Years, $82 Million

2011-'12 Per-Game Stats: 19.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 45.5 FG percentage, 31.2 3P percentage, 79.1 FT percentage

Rudy Gay has been a consistent player with the Memphis Grizzlies, but there's no doubt that the Grizzlies are overpaying for the production they are getting out of him.

After signing Gay to a max deal after the 2009-'10 season, his production has plateaued and he hasn't helped the Grizzlies contend for a Western Conference title.

It's not that Gay is a bad player; he's just not deserving of a maximum contract, especially on a team that perennially underachieves and needs to add talent at the shooting guard position.

The main issue with Gay's max contract is that it plays a large part in the Grizzlies' ability to go out and pursue other free agents who could make their team better and more competitive in the West.

Blake Griffin, PF, L.A. Clippers: Five Years, $95 Million

2011-'12 Per-Game Stats: 20.7 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.7 blocks, 54.9 FG percentage, 52.1 FT percentage

Blake Griffin has reportedly agreed with the L.A. Clippers on a five-year extension worth upwards of $95 million—as reported by ESPNLosAngeles.com.

It's not that Griffin isn't completely deserving of a max deal; it's more so the timing of this extension.

Griffin had two years left on his original contract, including a qualifying offer year at the end of the 2012-'13 season. It's almost like the Clippers panicked, thinking of what could happen during next year's offseason and decided to offer Griffin a major contract a year-too-early.

Griffin has had a few minor/major health issues throughout his NBA career, and while he's a productive player, it's interesting that the Clippers have placed so much future money in him at this point.

Let's hope that Griffin continues to perform at the level he has and stays healthy, because if he doesn't, his recent massive contract extension will turn into a very stupid move for the Clippers.  

Jrue Holiday, PG, Philadelphia 76ers: Potential Max Deal After 2012-'13 Season

2011-'12 Per-Game Stats: 13.5 points, 4.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals, 43.2 FG percentage, 38.0 3P percentage, 78.3 FT percentage

If Jrue Holiday's production is deserving of a max contract, there are quite a few players who've been missing out on their max deals over the past few seasons.

Y! Sports' Marc Spears reported that Jrue Holiday is seeking a max contract extension from the Philadelphia 76ers. I'm hoping that Holiday was just joking, because the thought of him getting a max contract is absolutely hilarious.

Don't get me wrong, Holiday is a a solid player, but his production isn't even close to the level of a player deserving of a max contract. If Holiday truly does want a max contract, he needs to drastically increase his production and his efficiency at the point.

There won't be any teams interested in signing Holiday to a max contract at the end of the 2012-'13 season, so Holiday is going to have to either let go of the thought of getting a major payday in the NBA or actually stepping up his game to the point where he's deserving of a max offer. 

James Harden, SG, OKC Thunder: Potential Max Deal After 2012-'13 Season

2011-'12 Per-Game Stats: 16.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.0 steals, 49.1 FG percentage, 39.0 3P percentage, 84.6 FT percentage

At the end of next season, James Harden will be a restricted free agent in the qualifying year of his contract with the Thunder. He'll undoubtedly be a highly-sought-after free agent, but the question is whether he's worth a max contract.

At this point in his career, especially after a disappointing performance in the 2012 NBA Finals, he's not worth a max contract, especially if the Thunder are planning on continuing to keep him coming off the bench.

Harden had a great 2011-'12 season, but he still needs another year or two to prove that he's ready to be a legitimate starter in the NBA. Signing him to a two- or three-year deal worth less money than a max contract would make more sense at the end of next season, but I'm sure that's not going to happen.