NBA Free Agents 2011: 5 Players That Would Do More Harm Than Good

While free agency is typically an exciting time with teams making high profile signings or finally acquiring a missing piece, like a shooter for instance, it can also become the perfect opportunity for a blunder. 

In many cases, players available on the market become so enticing that often, teams end up making rash decisions, adding either unnecessary salary or unwanted stress.

However, despite what players, coaches, or even analysts say, it's inevitable that there will be teams this offseason, once league activity can resume, that will make a bad decision or at least one that's not quite right.

It often becomes a case for teams on the cusp of either making the playoffs or advancing in the later rounds to make a signing with the hopes of furthering their chances.

Add to that teams signing big name role players or former All-Stars in desperate attempts to hold onto their best player and the room for error grows even more.

That being said, once the lockout ends and a new collective bargaining agreement is decided, we can expect at least a few gaffes in free agent signings.

So whether its a high profile scorer who plays little defense or a former number one overall pick unable to live up to his potential, in the NBA, all that glitters is not gold. 

Here are five players who would end up doing more harm than good to a possible suitor. 

J.R. Smith

A good athlete and a great shooter, J.R. Smith has become one of the most polarizing players in the league, mainly due to his behavioral issues. 

Solid all around, Smith is a guaranteed 13 points, four rebounds, two assists and a steal per game. 

His three point percentage has always been above average and recently in the playoffs, this percentage has been its highest.

However, Smith's biggest flaw overshadows his exploits on court and despite all his talents, Smith is a troublemaker. 

Often criticized for poor decisions on court and reckless behavior, Nuggets Head Coach George Karl even reached his breaking point with Smith, benching him during the 2006-2007 playoffs after a particularly disappointing performance. 

Since then, Smith's behavior on court with the Nuggets has improved slightly, but its understandable why team's view him as a liability. 

At 25 years of age, youth is becoming less of an excuse for his behavior, especially after his reckless driving incident and his verbal criticisms of players and coaches alike. 

On court, bad shot selection and poor judgement got him benched and made him seem more untouchable to potential suitors. 

Granted, Smith has since improved, coming off the bench more productive and less of a hindrance, but it still seems difficult to justify signing a player is potentially a walking 10-game suspension when there are better well-behaved options available. 

Jamal Crawford

The 2010 Sixth Man of the Year Award winner, Jamal Crawford is one of the most talented scorers available in free agency and unfortunately that's all he is. 

A great scoring presence off the bench and one of the better shooters in the league, Crawford has made a real splash in Atlanta since his arrival in 2009 as part of the Hawks' playoff run as a top seeded team. 

That season, Crawford won the award and established himself as a premier scorer off the bench and another shooter, besides Joe Johnson, who could come through in the clutch. 

However, while Crawford has shown a knack for offense and 50 point games throughout his career, as of late, his defense has been suspect. 

He may have averaged a steal per game during his time with the New York Knicks, however with the Golden State Warriors and now the Hawks, his defense is not apparent. 

While Golden State and Atlanta do run offenses geared more towards offense, he's definitely not been the most active defensively and his slight build only adds to his difficulty getting through screens or against more physical guards. 

In Atlanta, he thrives mainly due to the offensive minded system the team plays as well as the group of scorers they've assembled, somewhere he can easily find a role. 

On a team like the Chicago Bulls, his former squad, where they are in need of a scorer at the shooting guard position, his questionable defense would clash with their defense first style of play. 

His ability to carry a scoring load and make big shots down the stretch make him valuable, but the sharp price of shaky defense, especially against active guards, makes him double edged sword.  

J.J. Barea

While other players on this list could do harm with their behavior or style of play, Dallas Mavericks guard J.J. Barea has the potential to do damage in the salary department. 

At 27 years old and in his fifth year in the league, Barea has now made a big splash in the league after his fantastic performance in the playoffs which helped lead the Mavericks to the 2011 NBA Championship.

During the second round of the playoffs, Barea played arguably the best performance of his career, tearing apart the defending champion Los Angeles Lakers, making a name for himself on a roster full of notable veterans and former All-Stars.

As Barea made added contributions during the finals, it was his play during the second round that has made him such a hot commodity for teams this offseason.

However, the issue with Barea lies in his contract.

With more than a few teams keeping their eyes on him, the possibility for Barea to be signed for more than he's worth is plausible. 

Barea showed a talent for splitting defenses and driving into the lane mainly due to his relatively short height, by NBA standards, at barely six feet tall.

On a team loaded with offense, Barea was able to distinguish himself as a capable scorer, but on another team, would he have the same sort of success?

Its hard to say, but on a team with less options offensively, it would likely be no. 

Already undersized, but speedy nonetheless, Barea garnered praise from Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson, who compared him to Chris Paul. 

Unlike Paul though, Barea, while a capable point guard, is not even close to Paul's skill set and while his ability to penetrate may be somewhat comparable, the amount of offense surrounding each of them isn't.

With a team like the Mavericks spreading the floor, it seems more likely that Barea was freed up due to the risk of leaving players like Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry open.

Also due to his size, its hard not to see him becoming a liability on offense and defense, getting overpowered by larger and stronger players, especially now that he's stood out so much.

Barea is a team player, but the biggest mistake would be to overpay for him like he's a star player.  

Tracy McGrady

At 32 years of age, Tracy McGrady it seems is well past his prime. 

The former seven time All-Star has not been the same since he underwent surgery on his left knee and shoulder back in 2008 during his time with the Houston Rockets. 

Since then, he's gone on to play for the New York Knicks and as of recently the Detroit Pistons, however, he's had difficulty returning to his old form during his glory days and has really become a shadow of his former self. 

"T-Mac" was once an offensive threat in every sense of the word, capable of scoring at will in a variety of ways. 

However, the T-Mac now, is seemingly on his last legs, despite a February 28, 2010 showing with the Knicks where he recorded 26 points, four rebounds and five assists and has only shown hints of his former greatness. 

Averaging eight points and almost four rebounds and assists per game, McGrady has since been relegated to a position as a role player after being accustomed to a role as a starter for so many years. 

Before signing with the Pistons, the Chicago Bulls even entertained the notion of signing McGrady, but passed when he stated a preference of a starting role. 

It seems as though there is nothing harder for a former star to accept his decline, but with rivals like Kobe Bryant still going strong, its understandable. 

For McGrady though, its easy to get enticed by the offer of a comeback or a return to former glory, but its highly unlikely, which is why buying into the notion of his old self isn't worth it. 

Greg Oden

Selected first overall by the Portland Trailblazers in the 2007 NBA Draft, Greg Oden had all the potential to become a franchise center, however, he also had the potential to be prone to injury. 

Despite being selected first, Oden underwent microfracture surgery in his knee and thus missed what would have been his entire 2007-2008 rookie season.

Off to a start in his 2008-2009 season, Oden experienced a scattered series of injuries before finally undergoing microfracture surgery on his left knee, missing the entirety of the 2010-2011 season as well. 

While it could very well be to early to label Greg Oden a bust, it seems as though his career is heading in that direction. 

Oden was a defensive powerhouse during his years at Ohio State, and it was thought that his dominance under the rim would transfer well to the NBA. 

However, as is the curse with all big men, the seven-footer's knees were a big liability, especially to the Trailblazers, who were robbed short of Hall of Fame center Bill Walton's potential back in the late 1970's.

The big question with Oden lies in his recovery and his ability to play post-surgery and through injury.

If he were to be acquired in free agency, at least teams know the risk. Oden could either flourish and become the monster center he was expected to be or end up as just another player set back due to injury.