Contract-Year NBA Players Who Will Over-Perform in 2012-13

As the old saying goes, "you don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate." For NBA players their best negotiation usually takes place on the court in the final year of a contract. Unfortunately for GM's and owners a lot of these guys never live up to the contracts once they get them, but we're not here to talk about that. 

There are a litany of players who are entering into a contract year in 2012-13. Some will be lucky if they ever get another deal (Luke Walton), others are well past their max-deal prime (Corey Maggette) and even fewer will break the bank regardless of how their season goes (Dwight Howard).

However, there are a few players that will rise to new heights this season to ensure that they get paid and in some cases repair their reputations. 

Hit the next button to see who will ball out of control in the 2012-13 season

5. Jeff Teague

In his first year as a full-time starter Marcus' big brother doubled his PPG and APG averages making Hawks fans think he may be the point guard they've been asking for since the team failed to draft Chris Paul.

Teague's fight or flight mechanism will surely be tested this fall when newly acquired Devin Harris vies for his job. JT's shown a lot of toughness on a soft as cotton team during clutch moments and this will be no different. He may not keep his job but he'll play his best ball ever while trying to. 

4. Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom is returning to the scene of his greatest success but this time he'll be in the red, white and blue and not the vaunted purple and gold. Chris Paul is going to tolerate Odom sleepwalking through games and pouting like he did in Dallas so I fully expect Odom to take advantage of his minutes as a Clipper.

The Clips are stacked but there isn't a team in the league that couldn't use Odom when he's at his best. On the flip side, this is possibly Odom's last shot to prove that he is still an upper echelon player. 

3. Jrue Holiday

All the talk about the new look 76ers might center on Andrew Bynum, but this team is going nowhere without a healthy dose of Jrue "Da Damaja" Holiday. Word is he wants a max contract. I don't think he has max level talent but he has earned a healthy raise, especially considering his PPG output off of the bench.

With Lou Williams and Iguodala gone to Atlanta and Denver respectively, Holiday has no choice but to expand his offensive game. He's essentially a score first guard and he's going to have to score a lot more this season to get that contract and get the 76ers back to the playoffs. 

2. Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson is one of the most slept-on big men in the NBA. He has never made All-NBA 1st, 2nd or 3rd team, despite the fact that you can pencil him in for a double-double every night. Since he's played for a horrible Timberwolves team and a scrappy but not spectacular Jazz squad over the last five seasons, most people have no idea how good he is. 

Jefferson was admittedly used to being the best guy on a bad team. Last season he was able to get that monkey off his back and lead Utah to the playoffs. Don't expect him to turn back now. Despite getting swept by the Spurs, Big Al played well and now that he's sniffed the postseason, expect him to play harder than ever. 

1. Dwight Howard

Dwight "Chocolate Shoulders" Howard complained and manipulated his way out of Orlando and though he didn't quite make it to Brooklyn, he landed in a much better situation in Los Angeles. The question is, now that he is no longer the first option (or second depending on who you ask), will he step his game up to a championship level?

Howard and the Lakers are not giving any indication that he will be ready for opening night, but a herniated disk should not stop Superman part deux from beasting on the Western Conference nonetheless.