Power Ranking the 25 Most Toxic Contracts in the NBA Today

Toxins come in many different forms, including dollar signs.

This holds true for the NBA especially, as the Association has become a breeding ground for the obnoxiously overpaid.

However, in a league where the most sought after talent usually goes to the highest bidder, some may call contractual toxins a necessary evil.

But at what point is it taken too far? Fat contracts may be a necessity to some extent, but how can a team justify a deal that not only burns a hole through their wallet, but hinders their present development and/or prevents them from effectively planning for the future?

They can't. No matter how reasonable or necessary a particular contract seems at the time of conception, there's no justifying it should the ramifications come full circle.

After all, hindsight is 20/20, and after staring down the barrel of overwhelming paychecks, there are more than a handful of deals that teams are bound to wish weren't signed on the dotted line.

*Note: Toxic contracts will refer to deals that have more than one year remaining; expiring pacts are too often used as valuable trade bait to be considered detrimental.

25. Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $21.7 million

2012-13 Salary: $6,764,045

You want to like this deal, you really do, but you can't.

Tayshaun Prince used to be a premier scorer and defender, but he's not anymore.

The small forward can still spot-up and hit the three, and cause problems for slower opposing wings, but he's on the decline.

Prince will be 35 in the last year of his deal, which is worth nearly $8 million, and that's simply too much for an aging swingman with a deteriorating physique.

Especially for a Pistons team that needs to get younger and more athletic moving forward.

24. Gerald Wallace, Brooklyn Nets

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Four years, $40 million

2012-13 Salary: $9,682,435

Gerald Wallace's contributions have always been undervalued, but his latest contract is quite the opposite.

The Nets needed to ensure they had the necessary talent present to pique Deron Williams' interest, but dropping $40 million on a 30-year-old athlete whose numbers have steadily depreciated over the last three seasons is ludicrous.

To call Wallace's contract untradeable is a stretch—Joe Johnson has taught us that much—but he'll be 34 in the last year of this deal, and there are only a handful of players worth more than $10 million at that age.

And Wallace isn't one of them.

23. Anderson Varejao, Cleveland Cavaliers

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $27.3 million

2012-13 Salary: $8.4 million

People have made Anderson Varejao out to be something he's not—a star.

Though the power forward is a proven defender, he lacks consistency on both ends of the floor, often becoming a non-factor on offense.

While he averaged a double-double last season, he appeared in just 25 games and has seen the light of just 56 over the past two seasons.

A capable big man is hard to find, but Varejao is a little less capable, and a little more representational of perpetual potential.

And that's hardly worth nearly $30 million over the next three years, even if the Cavaliers have a "get out early" card to play with a team option in 2014.

22. DeAndre Jordan

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $33 million

2012-13 Salary: $10,532,977

I'm not sold on DeAndre Jordan as a viable piece to a title contender, and you shouldn't be either.

Though the monstrous center is known as a stalwart on defense, he's a disaster on offense, with a free-throw percentage that would only make Dwight Howard proud.

Not only that, but Jordan also finds himself off the floor during crunch time; he's never averaged more than 27 minutes per game for his career.

While there may always be a home for a contract like this—he is nearly 7-feet tall—it severely hampers the Clippers' ability to go out and bring in a more polished talent.

You know, one that they'd want to see out on the floor when it counts most.

21. George Hill, Indiana Pacers

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Five years, $40 million

2012-13 Salary: $8 million

Two-way combo guards can prove vital to any team's championship cause, just not at an undeserved pay rate.

George Hill is a perennial backup with below average playmaking abilities who will be expected to start as a floor general in Indiana. That's not playing to your overpaid player's strengths.

I'm not denying the versatile impact Hill will have; he can score in a variety of ways and his end-to-end defense is exquisite. But his $8 million per year salary is borderline despicable.

So, while Hill has proven consistent, he's consistently average, rendering his latest deal one that would prove hard to move to any team adverse to handsomely rewarding mediocrity.

Simply put, paying star-caliber salaries to role players is not an embraceable concept.

20. Joakim Noah, Chicago Bulls

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Four years, $50.5 million

2012-13 Salary: $11,050,000

Joakim Noah is considered a star in many circles, but not this one.

Noah is an intelligent defender, but he's severely limited on the offensive end and has proven to be both foul and injury prone.

In the short run, though, his contract seems reasonable. After all, he's a center, and centers make bank in the NBA. Yet, if his offensive cold streak and injuries continue down the road, his contract becomes near immovable, if it isn't already.

And while big men are routinely overpaid, Noah is slated to make over $14 million in the last year of his deal, an excessive amount for someone with this limited of an impact if I ever saw one.

I like Noah; his intensity on the defensive end is superior and his execution on that end of the floor is admirable. But it's not dominant.

And as a center who operates within the confines of his numerous limitations and who's due more than $50 million over the next four years, neither is he.

19. Drew Gooden, Milwaukee Bucks

Years Remaining/Contract Value: $20.1 million

2012-13 Salary: $6,680,000

At first glance, Drew Gooden's stat sheet renders him a solid contributor. But stat sheets can be misleading.

Gooden posted a PER of 18.88 last year, but it came in limited action. His rebounding totals also seem impressive, but are the direct result of Milwaukee's failure to put any other true inside presences on the court.

That said, even I will admit that Gooden embraces whatever role that his thrown his way. He's a hustle player, who may not pass out of double teams much, but is willing to do the dirty work.

But that doesn't justify him being owed more than $20 million over the next three years.

18. Jason Richardson, Philadelphia 76ers

Remaining Years/Contract Value: Three years, $18.6 million

2012-13 Salary: $5,799,625

Jason Richardson is a shell of his former athletic self.

The shooting guard no longer has the bodily ability to attack the rim and has been reduced to jacking up ill-advised jumpers; he shot a career worst 40.8 percent from the field last season.

Instant offense is no longer a term that can be associated with Richardson either. He's never been overly efficient, but his penchant for putting up gaudy point totals has evaporated.

More than anything, Richardson is a bit role player, with a lengthy contract that pays him far too much money.

Trust me when I say that if it didn't mean landing Andrew Bynum, the Sixers never would have agreed to take on his overly regrettable contract.

17. Landry Fields, Toronto Raptors

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $20 million

2012-2013 Salary: $5,000,000

Now, we're at the point where things get good—I mean really toxic.

Upon first glance Landry Fields' contract may not look like much, but any deal that is expensive enough to scare the Knicks away from matching is a toxic one.

Though Fields can make a sound two-way impact—he's a very self-aware defender who can score in a variety of ways on the offensive end—he has a tendency to disappear down the stretch. He looked lost in New York the minute Carmelo Anthony showed up and the ball stopped moving, and he never fully recovered.

While the Raptors only signed Fields in an attempt to stonewall the Knicks in their pursuit of Steve Nash, they failed; Nash isn't a Knick, but he's not a Raptor either.

And now they're left with an overly compensated and uncertain talent, who at this point, is near untradeable.

16. Jason Thompson, Sacramento Kings

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Five years, $30.2 million

2012-13 Salary: $5,250,000

Jason Thompson still has so much left to prove, so logically, the only thing the Kings could do was throw him $30 million more over the next half-decade.

The foul-prone center is incredibly athletic, but he lacks consistency on both ends of the floor. And while he's extremely active in almost all areas of the game, it reaches the point of being out of control.

This is one of those deals that doesn't seem so bad in the beginning, yet when you factor in the risk involved, it has the potential to go bust almost immediately.

And—just some food for thought—why, if you're the Kings, do you invest $30 million in a center when you're attempting to groom the low-post tandem of DeMarcus Cousins and Thomas Robinson?

15. Hedo Turkoglu, Orlando Magic

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Two years, $23.8 million

2012-13 Salary: $11,815,850

The Magic are a mess, helped along by the insanely dense contract of Hedo Turkoglu.

That said, compared to others to come, this one could be a lot worse, as Orlando will only be forced to endure its adverse financial effects for another two seasons—not to mention it becomes a trade asset next summer.

But while the Magic may get a little more bang for their buck from Turkoglu without Howard in the offensive picture, he, at 33, is now the highest paid player on the team. Yeah, he can shoot, but he can't do much else.

Hence why this is easily one of the worst contracts in the league.

14. Charlie Villanueva, Detroit Pistons

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Two years, $16.6 million

2012-13 Salary: $8,060,000

Charlie Villanueva isn't exceptionally good at anything on the basketball court; there is hardly one talent-related aspect in which he stands out.

And yet, somehow, he's owed more than $16 million over the next two years.

All this for a guy who has been known to have a bad attitude, poor work ethic and is the quintessential example of a risky pact gone awry.

So, hope as the Pistons will, Villanueva isn't going to be opting out of his contract after this season; he would be a fool to do so.

Here's to another two years of being plagued by a poisonous contract and equally detrimental personality.

13. Ben Gordon, Charlotte Bobcats

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Two years, $25.6 million

2012-13 Salary: $12,400,000

Remember when Ben Gordon was considered the next great scorer of our time?

Don't feel bad, it was years ago.

Gordon has crashed and burned ever since signing with the Pistons in 2009. The life of said contract paid him nearly $60 million, and unfortunately for the Bobcats, there's still about half that owed to him over the next two seasons.

There's no denying that Gordon can score, but he's proven wildly inconsistent and incapable of playing extensive, meaningful minutes over the past three years.

And to top it off, Gordon is no distributor or even somewhat of a leader, which means now that if he can't find ways to score, then he's essentially a non-factor.

That's not exactly worth his going rate of over $12 million a year, is it?

12. Mike Miller, Miami Heat

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $18.6 million

2012-13 Salary: $5,800,000

Mike Miller, your three-point heroics in Game 5 of the NBA Finals will never be forgotten, but neither will your absurd paychecks.

Though the once sharp-shooting Miller is still a threat from long range, he is hardly the consistent weapon he used to be. His back is shot, his knees are fragile and he forces the Heat to play a man down on defense.

The shooting guard has been such a hindrance to Miami's success that he probably needed that improbable Game 5 performance to save himself from being amnestied.

Paying Miller more than $18 million over the next three years makes little sense, and his fall from grace is so far gone that there is unlikely to be another team waiting to take him off the Heat's hands.

Luckily for the Heat, they're talented enough to overshadow his shortcomings. I'm not so sure Micky Arison's wallet feels the same way, though.

11. Amir Johnson, Toronto Raptors

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $19.5 million

2012-13 Salary: $6,000,000

Landry Fields' contract is toxic enough for the Raptors, but at least his ceiling remains uncertain. Toronto already knows what it has in Amir Johnson, and that knowledge cannot be comforting.

While the 6'9" Johnson excels in transition and can be found battling on the defensive end, he's sloppy. His footwork is shoddy, he's prone to foul trouble and puts the ball on the floor way too much for someone with poor ball-handling abilities.

Johnson is also undersized for a power forward, so he's hardly valued for merely his presence.

Subsequently, he is of little value to the Raptors moving forward, yet won't be going anywhere for at least two years because his contract is that horrendous.

10. Richard Jefferson, Golden State Warriors

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Two years, $21.2 million

2012-13 Salary: $10,164,000

Richard Jefferson's claim to fame was marked by superior athleticism and rim-rocking abilities. And the absence of such attributes has fueled his continuous demise.

Though the small forward only has two years remaining on his deal, that $21 million eats up an enormous part of Golden State's cap space, and seems even more expensive when it's a near certainty he doesn't figure into the Warriors' rotation next season.

While his veteran leadership may be of some value, his underwhelming defense and erratic offense have no place in an up-and-coming Dubs lineup.

Think of Jefferson as a slightly older, faster deteriorating, more obscenely expensive version of Jason Richardson.

9. Kendrick Perkins, Oklahoma City Thunder

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $25.4 million

2012-13 Salary: $7,800,531

Kendrick Perkins' greatest asset was his reputation as a Dwight Howard-stopper.

Thanks to Bleacher Report's own Zach Harper, though, we know he doesn't even have that to fall back on anymore.

Though Perkins' 6'10", 270-pound frame should be of some value, he doesn't exactly carry it well. He's foul-prone, has underwhelming low post sets on the offensive end and courtesy of questionable conditioning, has never averaged 30 or more minutes per game.

To make matters worse, Perkins is one of the worst fits within the Thunder's run-and-gun system, a reality that has diminished his ability to make a positive impact considerably.

As a result, public spats with LeBron James aside, in absolutely no certain terms is Perkins worth the $25 million remaining on his current deal.

8. John Salmons, Sacramento Kings

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $22.6 million

2012-13 Salary: $8,080,000

I don't doubt you'll drop your jaw when you find out John Salmons is the highest paid player on the Kings next season. I know I did.

The wildly inconsistent shooting guard had about a three-year stretch where he appeared to be on the brink of stardom, but then the money came, and his game went.

Salmons' jump shot, even after 10 years of NBA burn, remains incredibly raw, and he's far from a reliable defender.

And yet, he earns about as much as DeMarcus Cousins and Tyreke Evans do. Combined. Rookie deals or not, that's absurd.

So, while I've heard of—and nearly come to accept—grossly overpaying big men, I'll never quite understand the logic behind rewarding spotty effectiveness for an oversized shooting guard.

7. Emeka Okafor, Washington Wizards

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Two years, $28.1 million

2012-13 Salary: $13,543,250

If it hadn't meant ridding themselves of Rashard Lewis' disgusting contract, Emeka Okafor would not have landed in Washington; he was essentially the lesser of two evils.

Though the 6'10" center is still good for posting a handful of impressive outings, he's limited offensively and coming off a 2011-12 campaign in which he appeared in just 27 games.

And while Okafor brings a strong defensive presence into Washington's low post, he doesn't shy away from contact—in a bad way; his once admirable shot-blocking timing has steadily deteriorated over the past few years.

So, while Okafor stands to make a positive impact if healthy, he's far from worth nearly $30 million over the next two seasons, and almost certainly untradeable.

6. Andris Biedrins, Golden State Warrios

Remaining Years/Contract Value: Two years, $18 million

2012-13 Salary: $9,000,000

Don't worry Golden State, it's almost over.

Andris Biedrins—for all but two seasons of his eight-year career—has been more of a curse upon the Warriors than anything else.

And while fans and team personnel alike will find solace in knowing the end is near, it remains difficult to cope when he brings absolutely nothing but a 7-foot presence to the table.

Biedrins is not the shot-blocker he was once believed to be, his touch around the basket is not was it was supposed to be and his coordination is nowhere near the level it should be.

Two years may not seem like that long, especially considering he becomes valuable trade bait next season.

For a Warriors team that has been plagued by his presence and unruly contract for almost a decade, though, it seems more like a lifetime.

5. Tyrus Thomas, Charlotte Bobcats

Remaining Years/Contract Value: Three years, $26.1 million

2012-13 Salary: $8,000,000

Tyrus Thomas is as explosive of a player as there is, yet he hasn't even come close to broaching the lofty ceiling that was set for him six years ago.

The athletic power forward is not only a bona fide head case, but he's battled injuries the past four years and proven to be a two-way non-factor most of the time.

His role in Charlotte has diminished by the game, and he's approaching Eddy Curry status, not in the sense that he's overweight, but in the sense it's becoming increasingly clear there may be no hope for him to turn his career around.

And for a guy who's owed more $26 million over the next three years, that's not something the Bobcats want to hear. 

4. Carlos Boozer, Chicago Bulls

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $47.1 million

2012-13 Salary: $15,000,000

Carlos Boozer has been everything the Bulls hadn't hoped for. And more.

There was once a time—perhaps in the summer of 2010, when Chicago would have looked to Boozer to lead the team in Rose's absence, but not anymore. 

The once-dominant scorer who took pride out of bullying people on the glass has been shrinking right before our very eyes. He's no longer a given to average a double-double and his defense is as poor as ever.

Boozer, essentially, is now a wild card. A very expensive, defensively-challenged wild card, who has already played his way out of the favorable eye of many in Chicago.

3. Nene, Washington Wizards

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Four years, $52 million

2012-13 Salary: $13,000,000

Nene is an outstanding player...when he's healthy. And he hasn't been healthy for a while.

The center's plantar fasciitis has already flared up again this offseason, and given he's approaching 30 and has 10 years of professional wear and tear on his body, it's not looking good.

Denver experienced buyer's remorse almost immediately after signing Nene last summer, and while it was able to capitalize off his departure, Washington may not be so lucky. Not many teams will be keen on the idea of adding a player who eats up valuable cap space while providing a slew of question marks, even if he is a big man.

Nene is talented, there's no denying that, but one year into his deal it's already clear it's among the absolute worst in the league.

2. Amar'e Stoudemire, New York Knicks

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Three years, $65.1 million

2012-13 Salary: $19,948,799

There is not a doubt in my mind that Amar'e Stoudemire can still excel at the game of basketball.

I do, however, find myself struggling to come to grips with his bloated, uninsured contract.

While the Knicks may find solace in knowing they can blow it up and deal him off in two years, I personally don't. Not too much anyway.

Though I will never call the contract untradeable, it does have the potential to destroy New York's already slighted championship hopes.

Without a healthy, explosive Stoudemire, the Knicks don't stand a chance. And considering the type of contracts and talent they would be forced to take back in any potential trade agreed upon, dealing him doesn't present much hope either.

There's only one way this contract cannot be considered toxic, and that's if the Knicks win a championship with him in tow.

Just don't hold your breath.

1. Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets

Years Remaining/Contract Value: Four years, $89.3 million

2012-13: $19,752,645

Joe Johnson's contract, unlike Amar'e Stoudemire's, may be insured, but it's still worse.

Why? I'll give you about $90 million reasons why.

Johnson's deal came in 2010, before the new CBA. And, unlike Stoudemire, he re-signed with his incumbent team, affording him the luxury of a six-year deal. Now, here we are, two years later and he's owed almost $25 million more than Stoudemire, courtesy of that extra season.

I'm not saying the man can no longer score—because he can—but for that much money I'd like a defensive conscience and a willingness to keep the ball moving as well. Johnson doesn't provide that, though.

So, while the burden of his deal was a necessary evil for the Nets to keep Deron Williams, it is an evil nonetheless; it eats up an exorbitant amount of cap space for the foreseeable future and puts Brooklyn in a financial straight jacket.

But at least the most toxic of all deals was able to show there's no such thing as an immovable contract; that counts for something, I suppose.

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