The Top Ten Overpaid NBA Players For 2010-2011

One of the interesting things about sports, and why they are so interesting to us as fans, is the element of unpredictability.  However, it's also one of the reasons why long-term contracts are so undesirable for all but the most productive and healthy of players.  Anything can happen, from injury, to off the court issues, to a simple decline in a players ability to perform efficiently and consistently.  The term "expiring contract" has become more and more important in discussions of trades and free agency recently because it usually signifies that a player with a burdensome contract, who is either under-performing or injured, is about ready to come off the books.   This list is not specifically about expiring contracts, but is meant to list the ten players that, in my view, will be the most overpaid for their services, or in some cases the lack thereof, in this upcoming NBA season.  This includes players who are perpetually injured, out of shape, or simply  making more money than they probably should be.

10. Hedo Turkoglu - $10,215,850

Hedo Turkoglu is one the most productive players on this list, and chances are the move to Phoenix this next year (and playing with Steve Nash) could help him approach or even exceed his career highs in points and rebounds per game.  But as we saw last season, if things don't his way, don't expect Hedo to stand by his teammates and his team.  He is a good all around player and play maker, but not a good teammate, and at 31 years old, isn't worth the $10 million that Phoenix will be paying him.  We saw how he behaved when his team couldn't make the playoffs last year, and this year the situation likely won't be much different in a deep conference where some good teams will be left out at the end of the season.  One wonders how Portland would be feeling about this all right now if he'd actually taken them up on their offer...

9. DeSagana Diop - $6,478,600

He's probably the least known name on this list, which is another reason why he's here.  Paying $6.5 million to someone so unknown probably isn't the best thing for a fringe playoff team  that can use all the help it can get.  One could argue that his own teammate Erick Dampier is more deserving to be here, but since his contract isn't guaranteed for this upcoming season, it's not likely he'll actually receive the full $13 million he is owed.  DeSagana Diop can't get much playing time, even on a team with no dominant big man, which means things aren't likely to improve this season.  Really though, for a guy who's never averaged more than 3 ppg, I'm not sure why he's making this much.

8. Kenyon Martin - $16,545,454

Kenyon Martin is a former no.1 pick, and a quality player who can score and is very good defensively, when healthy of course.  Unfortunately for him and for Denver fans, his health has been a recurring problem for him, and this season doesn't project to be very different.  He is still an important part of his team but the lack of salary cap flexibility due to how much he is owed limited the teams ability to go out and acquire more talent to build around Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups.  It wouldn't be a complete surprise to see him traded before this years deadline because Denver could use the cap relief.

7. Jose Calderon - $9,000,000

This might seem kind of harsh for a player who is maybe only slightly past his prime, and who may still be his team's starting point guard next season.  The reason Calderon is here on this list is because he could very well end up being Toronto's backup next season, and $9 million is a lot of money to be paying for a backup point guard on a non-playoff team, which the Raptors clearly are without Chris Bosh.  His weak offensive stats look even worse when compared to his terrible defense.  Another reason why Calderon is here is because his large contract was a contributing factor that made it relatively impossible for the Raptors to sign any real significant free agents (not that they would have; see slide no.1) and have any chance at keeping Chris Bosh around this summer.  

6. Dan Gadzuric - $7,248,325

Here's an example of a player who is getting paid, no so much for his talent or his upside, but because he is big.  That's really all there is to it.  Dan Gadzuric has never averaged more than about 7 ppg and 8 rpg, which happened six seasons ago.  This last year both averages were under 3, and he averaged less than 10 minutes a contest.  I'm not quite sure how he earned such a hefty paycheck, but he will basically be getting paid $7 million to be a bench player (at best) for a bad team that has no shot at making the playoffs.  Of course, Golden State's roster is full of players who are overpaid and/or injury prone, so in that sense he may fit right in.

5. Mike Dunleavy - $10,561,984

The salary isn't bad for the caliber of player that Mike Dunleavy was, let's say, two or three years ago.   The problem is, knee injuries have kept him from being nearly as productive as he used to be, and it's hard to say if he'll ever regain his former level of production.  He did manage to play in 3/4 of his team's games last season, but averaged less than 10 ppg and really wasn't very helpful on the defensive end, either.  Plus, with the continued emergence of All Star forward Danny Granger, he has become expendable for the Pacers.  But nobody wants to take on a $10 million obligation to a 30 year old with knee issues who is already on the decline of his career.  Once his salary comes off the books, it will bring with it much needed salary cap space to help the Pacers rebuild.

4. Elton Brand - $15,959,099

It's amazing how quickly the perception of a particular player or contract is able to change.  A couple years ago, when Philly stole Elton Brand away from the Clippers in free agency, it was viewed as a major success that would vault them into the elite teams of the Eastern Conference.  Since that time, Brand has suffered major injuries and his team has fallen into the Lottery.  Even though he was relatively healthy last season, playing in all but six games and averaging over 30 minutes a game, his 13 ppg and 6 rpg are nowhere near what should be expected of someone getting paid nearly 16 million this season.  The 76ers have plenty of talent, and potential to win games, but it all seems mismatched and that starts with Brand.  Maybe having a new coach will help, but if his team is going to make the playoffs anytime soon, Elton Brand needs to step up.

3. Michael Redd - $18,300,000

What could your team do with an extra $18 million?  That's how much Michael Redd will be making from the Milwaukee Bucks this year, and though it's really not his fault, injury issues will likely keep him from playing much, if at all, this season.  The Bucks are built to move on and play competitively without him, but it will be interesting to see if they are able to move his contract for another player that could push them that much closer to the elite teams of the Easter Conference.  To me it seems more likely that they will instead let his salary come off the books at the end of the year and use the extra cap space to help pay for the free agency acquisitions of this summer.  Clearly, Michael Redd is not the same player he once was, and his bad knees are likely to prevent him from ever returning to form as an incredibly dynamic shooter that he once was.  

2. Peja Stojakovic - $14,256,000

Some of the players on this list, such as Peja, are here not only because they are under-performing given the massive size of their contract, but also because of the overall negative impact that is having on the team.  In this case, the bad contract of Peja Stojackovic could be a reason why Chris Paul ends up leaving New Orleans.  Paul isn't happy with the team's lack of progress on the free agent front in recent seasons, and whatever moves they have made have only seemed to make things worse.  The recent acquisition of Trevor Ariza is a positive step, but not a difference maker, and the contract of Stojackovic is one reason why progress will continue to be hindered.  Unless he makes a dramatic return to form this season, which is unlikely given his age (33) and history of injury problems, his bloated contract will continue to limit the Hornet's ability to build a deep supporting cast around Chris Paul.

1. Eddy Curry - $11,276,863

This picture isn't how New York fans will remember Curry, who has become the poster-child for bad long-term contracts in recent seasons, especially with the emphasis the Knicks placed on trying to move Curry in order to free cap space before free agency this summer.  That turned out not to matter, but the fact that Curry is still essentially useless to his team has not changed.  His main role this season will be as trade bait in trying to bring back some talent in exchange for cap relief at the trade deadline.  He will be paid eleven million this season to sit on the bench due to conditioning problems and a seeming lack of desire to resolve them.  He should enjoy  his last big payday, because it's not likely he'll be back in the league after this season.