NBA Trade Speculation: One Player Each Team Would Love to Unload

The NBA lockout continues and no end appears to be in sight.

I'm going to lay all of my cards out on the table right now with this next statement: The reason the lockout is going on is because NBA commissioner David Stern is refusing to make the owners take responsibility for the mismanagement of their teams. 

The biggest case of mismanagement here is the owners hiring general managers, handing them a checkbook and basically saying, "Do what you can with our available money to make our team a winner." 

Sadly, this has resulted in multiple horrible contracts given to players who don't truly deserve them. Once it is realized that a mistake has been made, said contracts become extremely difficult to unload.

For example, Los Angeles Lakers center Andrew Bynum (pictured) was signed to a four-year extension worth $58 million prior to the 2008-2009 campaign. At that point, Bynum had only played one full season and was coming off a year in which he appeared in just 35 games. While the Lakers have won two championships since that contract, Bynum has not played a full season since and has gained a reputation for having an attitude problem.

Nothing against Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak, but that is just one of many bad deals NBA GM's have made over the duration of the most recent CBA. That said, here is one player that each team would love to unload in the near future. Some are All-Stars, some are reserves, but either way their teams' front office would rest easy if they were gone.

Atlanta Hawks: Marvin Williams

Some are probably wondering why forward Josh Smith doesn't occupy this slide.  Well, while he does have a heavy contract that the Hawks would love to be rid of, the fact remains that Smith is still one of the team's best players (if not THE best), and losing him could prove to be devastating.

Marvin Williams, on the other hand, is a different story.

Williams was the freshman sixth man for the North Carolina Tar Heels squad that won a national championship in 2005.  That year, he averaged 11.3 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting an astounding 43 percent from three-point range. Despite having just one year of experience under his belt and no experience starting, he declared himself eligible for the NBA draft and the Hawks took him with the second overall pick.

The 6'9" forward struggled his first season, averaging 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds off the bench.  He became a starter the next year and averaged 13.9 points and 5.8 rebounds the next three seasons.  Following the 2008-2009 season, team management rewarded him with a five-year deal worth $37.5 million.

Since then, Williams' stats have dropped.  Entering his third year of the contract, the 25-year-old has averaged just 10.2 points and managed to grab just under five rebounds per game.  He is due to make $7.5 million next season, and while his teammate Smith may be more expensive, his overall value keeps him on the team.

Williams, oppositely, is starting to look more and more like dead weight.

Boston Celtics: Jermaine O Neal

10 years ago, Jermaine O'Neal was a 22-year-old center for the Indiana Pacers who some were picking to be one of the next great big men. 

At first glance, they appeared to be right as O'Neal averaged over 20 points and 10 rebounds in consecutive seasons and also became one of the league's top shot blockers. Then, at the start of the 2004-2005 season, O'Neal was involved in the infamous brawl between fans and players at the Palace at Auburn Hills. 

He was suspended for 20 games, was injured upon coming back, and has not been the same since.

Since 2005, O'Neal's offensive production has not been the same.  He has not averaged 20 points per game since 2006 and has not averaged 10 rebounds since 2004. Prior to the start of the 2008-2009 season, the Pacers traded him to the Toronto Raptors, who traded him to the Miami Heat at the trade deadline.

Last offseason, the now 32-year-old O'Neal signed a two-year deal worth about $12 million to join the Boston Celtics. Given how the six-time All-Star averaged just 5.4 points and 3.7 rebounds in just 24 games last season, it's pretty obvious that this wasn't a smart contract.  While he performed well in the playoffs, O'Neal just isn't the same center he was 10 years ago.

He is due $6.2 million next season, and one must wonder whether or not Celtics GM Danny Ainge is stressing over what to do with this contract.  O'Neal can definitely still play, but the question remains as to how long he will last over the course of a full season.

Charlotte Bobcats: DeSagana Diop

In 2001, the Cleveland Cavaliers selected DeSagana Diop with the No. 8 pick.  At 7'0" and 280 pounds, one would think that the then 19-year-old was a dominant big man in the making. Boy, were we wrong.

In 10 NBA seasons, Diop has proven to be one of the biggest draft busts in NBA history. He has never been a regular starter nor has he ever averaged more than 18.6 minutes per game. For his career, he has averaged 2.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.

Yes, it can be argued that Diop has some prowess as a shot blocker and is a good big body to have in the middle, but he is not worth the money he is being paid.  He just finished the third year of what is a six-year deal worth $32 million that he originally signed with the Dallas Mavericks back in July 2008. Next season, he is owed $6.9 million.

With the Bobcats looking to get younger, Diop is 280 pounds of dead weight. The team just drafted two highly-touted prospects in Bismack Biyombo and Kemba Walker, and with Tyrus Thomas coming back, Diop becomes expendable.  Considering how new owner Michael Jordan wants his team to start contending sooner rather than later, look for Diop's name to be mentioned in some trade rumors.

Chicago Bulls: Keith Bogans

Last season, the Chicago Bulls looked the best they had since their last championship season.  They finished with the best record in the NBA, but lost to the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Finals. This was because they lacked a true starting shooting guard on the team.

The man who played that role all season was Keith Bogans, who started all 82 games but only averaged 17.8 minutes per game. In those minutes, he averaged 4.4 points, shooting a respectable 38 percent from the three-point arc. 

However, if the Bulls are serious about getting back to the NBA Finals, a replacement must be found.

While Bogans has been a solid three-point threat on occasion, he hasn't produced enough to justify being a starter in the NBA. For his career, he has averaged just 6.7 points per game.

Thus, teams in the market for a three-point threat off the bench could look to take a gamble on Bogans.  He is only making $1.7 million next season and it is his contract year.  That being said, he should be easy to move and whichever team acquires him wouldn't fret too badly if he underachieved.

Cleveland Cavaliers: Antawn Jamison

Antawn Jamison is not a bad player by any means. In a career spanning 13 seasons, he has career averages of 19.7 points and eight rebounds.  He has made two All-Star teams (2005 and 2008) and was the NBA Sixth Man of the Year in 2004.

Jamison signed a contract with the Washington Wizards after winning that award and became a regular starter. Two seasons ago, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers and fans hoped that he and LeBron James would lead the team to a championship. 

Instead, Jamison fell victim to a condition called "not getting the ball" and averaged just 15.8 points per game (down from the 22.2 he was averaging in Washington) in 25 games.  After LeBron departed for Miami last offseason, Jamison was expected to become the leader for the young Cavaliers. 

He averaged a solid 18 points per game as well as 6.7 rebounds, but only appeared in 56 games (38 starts) before breaking his finger and having season-ending surgery.  His team finished 19-63, the second worst record in the league.

With veteran Baron Davis now in town and rookie Kyrie Irving expected to bring that long-elusive title to Cleveland, Jamison becomes expendable.  He still has some gas left in the tank despite being 35-years-old, but the Cavs are looking to get younger.  With his $15 million salary and expiring contract, he just isn't worth it.

Dallas Mavericks: Corey Brewer

Last year was an interesting one for Corey Brewer.  He began it as a bench player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, was traded to the New York Knicks in the three-team deal that brought Carmelo Anthony to New York, was waived by the Knicks without ever playing a game for them, and then he signed a three-year deal with the Dallas Mavericks worth $8 million.

Brewer appeared in 13 games for the Mavs, averaging 11.4 minutes per game as he finished out the season by winning a championship ring.

Here's the kicker: Brewer did not play one minute in the NBA Finals against the Miami Heat.

I'm sorry, but the fact that this man is being paid $3 million next season while a game changer like J.J. Barea only made about $1.8 million last year is ridiculous.  Brewer, while showing flashes of potential, has not lived up to the hype expected of a seventh overall pick, so the fact that he was given that kind of money to sit on the bench is just plain wrong.

Denver Nuggets: Al Harrington

After averaging 18.9 points over two seasons with the New York Knicks, Al Harrington signed with the Denver Nuggets last offseason. The deal was worth $34 million over five years. 

Based on the talented forward's numbers last season, one can only wonder why he was even made such an offer.

Harrington only averaged 22.2 minutes per game last season as he averaged 10.5 points and 4.5 rebounds off the bench.  One would think that he would have gotten more playing time and upped his production following the Carmelo Anthony trade, but such was not the case.  In 73 games played last season, Harrington only started three.

That isn't to say that Harrington is a bad player. He is a talented shooter who can also rebound a little bit. Yet, with the $6.2 million he is due next season, combined with Denver's seeming commitment to get younger, it's just hard to tell what kind of role he'll have in the coming year.

Detroit Pistons: Richard Hamilton

Last season was one to forget for Richard Hamilton. 

After a falling out with then-coach John Kuester, he appeared in just 55 games (39 starts), averaging 14.1 points. That was his lowest average since his rookie campaign in 1999-2000.

Kuester is now gone and the much-easier-to-work-with Lawrence Frank is at the helm. However, the new ownership should consider trading the former Connecticut Husky. Not counting last year, Hamilton has missed games each of the last four seasons. He is due $12.5 million and probably wants a change of scenery.

At this point, if the Pistons do look to unload his contract, it all comes down to which team wants to gamble on Hamilton.  He turns 34 in February and has a reputation for being injury prone. Yet, if he still has that magic shooting touch, he could be a valuable asset to a team with a need in that area.

Golden State Warriors: Andris Biedrins

Back in 2007, Andris Biedrins had the looks of someone who could be a dominant big man in the NBA. In July 2008, the Warriors signed him to a six-year extension worth $54 million. The following season, he averaged 11.9 points and 11.2 rebounds, but only appeared in 62 games. 

This was the beginning of the end.

Biedrins has only appeared in a total of 92 games since the first year of this new deal and his numbers have been horrific. He has averaged five points and 7.5 rebounds over the last two seasons and has looked like a shell of his former self.

The sad part is that the Warriors are in a rebuilding mode right now and given the concerns over the Latvian center's durability, not to mention his $9 million salary, he has proven hard to move.  Still, if there is a taker out there, the Warriors' front office would jump at the opportunity to unload Biedrins now with having David Lee, Ekpe Udoh and Jeremy Tyler on the team.

Houston Rockets: Hasheem Thabeet

Two years ago, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Thabeet with the second pick in the draft. The 7'3" Tanzanian had averaged 13.6 points and 10.8 rebounds as well as 4.2 blocks in his junior season at Connecticut. Since that draft, team management has probably kicked itself multiple times.

To date, Thabeet has played in just 115 NBA games and has started only 13. He has averaged 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds in 10.9 minutes of play.  He has split most of his career between the NBA and the D-League.

Even worse, Thabeet is due $5.1 million next season. Considering how he is more likely to ride the bench than to actually get minutes in Houston, GM Daryl Morey would be better off either buying him out or finding a team crazy enough to actually take a chance on the former UConn phenom.

Indiana Pacers: James Posey

In 12 NBA seasons, James Posey has become the definition of a journeyman. He has spent time with the Denver Nuggets, Houston Rockets, Memphis Grizzlies, Miami Heat, Boston Celtics, New Orleans Hornets and most recently the Indiana Pacers. What Posey brings to the table is defense and clutch shooting, much like former San Antonio Spurs forward Bruce Bowen.

Herein lies the problem: Posey is essentially a role player coming off the bench and he is due nearly $7.6 million next season, the final year of a four-year, $25 million deal initially signed with the Hornets. 

This is kind of ridiculous considering how Posey only played in 49 games last season and averaged a career low 17.6 minutes per game. In terms of contributions, he averaged 4.9 points on less than average 33 percent shooting.

That isn't to say that Posey's skills aren't valuable. Defense and clutch bench shooting are necessary on any team. They just aren't worth Posey's salary, especially on a small market team like the Pacers.

Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Kaman

Let me just say that Chris Kaman is probably one of the most underrated centers in the NBA. 

He would get more respect, but has been slowed by injuries in four of his eight professional seasons. Last year, he was limited to just 32 games, only 15 of which he started due to the breakout year of Deandre Jordan.

While Kaman has been a staple of the franchise since being drafted sixth overall in 2003, it seems time for the Clippers to move in a new direction. The man is good, but will always be a liability because of his tendency to get hurt. The team should look to trade him and his $12.2 million salary (as well as expiring contract) to another team and focus all efforts on re-signing Jordan, who is a restricted free agent.

As I said, Kaman is not a bad player. His injury history just made him expendable in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Lakers: Luke Walton

Now, while Andrew Bynum may seem the obvious choice here, let's give the man credit. Despite his injury history and questionable attitude, he still manages to be an effective presence on the court when healthy. 

His teammate Luke Walton, on the other hand, is a different story.

Walton is one of those guys you remember from years past, but hear his name today and go, "He's still playing?" Well, let's dive into the saga.

The Lakers drafted Walton in the second round of the 2003 NBA draft and he rode the bench for three seasons before breaking out. In 2006-2007, he played in and started 60 games while averaging 11.4 points and 5.1 rebounds. Walton also made 38 percent of his three-pointers. At the end of the season, Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak signed him to a six-year deal worth $30 million.

At that point, Walton's wheels fell off.  He was out of the starting lineup the following season and his playing time gradually decreased to just nine minutes a game last year.  Over the past three seasons, he has averaged just three points per game and his three-point shooting has been abysmal.

He has two years left on his contract and is due nearly $5.7 million the coming season.  Given how he has barely played the past two seasons, Kupchak could be in for a long haul if he looks to deal Walton.

Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo

In his first two seasons, OJ Mayo looked as though he was on his way to becoming one of the best pure shooters in the NBA. He averaged 18.5 points per game as a rookie and 17.5 points the next season. 

Last year, everything changed.

After being late to a team shootaround and exhibiting a negative attitude, head coach Lionel Hollins took Mayo out of the starting lineup and made him a shooter off the bench. As a result, Mayo averaged just 11.3 points per game.

While I'm sure the Grizzlies would like to unload Mayo's $5.6 million salary, the want to get rid of him stems more from his attitude.  Besides the strained relationship with Hollins, Mayo also got into a fight on the team plane with teammate Tony Allen over money owed from a card game. Furthermore, in January, he tested positive for a banned substance and was suspended for 10 games.

Don't get me wrong, Mayo is not a bad player.  In fact, I think he's a great shooter.  However, with the Grizzlies on an emotional high from last year's playoff performance and looking to further improve upon it, Mayo and his bad attitude have become expendable.

Given how many teams are in need of a shooter, a buyer will surely be found.

Miami Heat: Zydrunas Ilgauskas

At one point in his career, Zydrunas Ilgauskas was one of the best offensive centers in the NBA. He could score in double figures on a nightly basis and do nearly the same in rebounding, and it was his pairing with LeBron James that made him a fairly well-known name amongst fans.  Last offseason, he opted to leave Cleveland and join James in Miami.

Sadly, the Ilgauskas that came to Miami was not the one that had won the Cleveland fans over years ago. The 7'3" Lithuanian averaged just five points and four rebounds last season. He played in 72 games, but only saw about 16 minutes per contest.  Even worse, Ilgauskas opted to exercise his $1.4 million option so that he could return next season.

The fact is that Ilgauskas is now 36-years-old and just can't keep up with anyone anymore. He was virtually a non-factor in the playoffs and there is nothing that suggests Miami would have won a title even if he had been active for the final two rounds of the postseason. Given the team's need for a young and tough center, Pat Riley would be smart to buy out Big Z.

Milwaukee Bucks: Shaun Livingston

Honestly, I don't know where to begin with Shaun Livingston.  The Los Angeles Clippers took him with the fourth pick in the 2001 draft and he just hasn't lived up to expectations.  His underwhelming career can partially be attributed to a serious knee injury he suffered in 2007 that caused him to miss the remainder of that season plus all of the next one, but even that can't justify his NBA life as a whole.

In six seasons, the 25-year-old has averaged a paltry 7.1 points and has made a horrendous 19 percent of his three-pointers.  Those numbers are unacceptable considering how the man is a guard.

Even worse, Livingston is making $3.5 million this coming season.  I don't know what the Bucks plan on doing with him but regardless of what it is, that is way too much money for a small market team like Milwaukee to be throwing away on a bust like Livingston.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley is a talented forward who has tremendous shooting ability to go with a big body capable of playing great defense. The problem is that Beasley basically refuses to play defense and has developed a reputation as a shooting forward. On top of that, he has exhibited an overly cocky attitude.

Combine that, his $6.26 million salary (the highest on the team), plus the fact that the Timberwolves just drafted a more versatile forward in Arizona's Derrick Williams, and Beasley becomes someone the Timberwolves just don't need down the stretch.

Seriously, now that GM David Kahn has managed to bring Ricky Rubio over from Spain, the rebuilding in Minnesota can finally happen. Pairing Rubio with Williams and Kevin Love could prove to be the saving grace for the Timberwolves, who have been the joke of the NBA the past few seasons. 

Once Beasley is unloaded and a more coachable shooter is brought in, then the glory days of the Garnett years could be back.

New Jersey Nets: Johan Petro

Last offseason, the New Jersey Nets pulled off a head-scratcher. GM Billy King and owner Mikhail Prokhorov signed French center Johan Petro to a three-year deal worth $10 million to be Brook Lopez's backup. Upon reading about this, my only thought was, "...Really????"

Considering how Petro is 7'0" and weighs 247 pounds, his NBA career has been disappointing. He has only averaged 15.6 minutes per game for his career and last year averaged 3.5 points and 2.7 boards in 77 games.

Last I checked, Prokhorov was committed to making his team a contender. If he wants to motivate big names like Chris Paul and Dwight Howard to come to the Nets, why is he signing mediocre guys like Petro for so much money?

It is bad contracts like Petro's that contributed to the lockout and if the Nets are serious about making the playoffs regularly, they will find a way to trade him.

New Orleans Hornets: David Andersen

I'll admit, it was tough to find a player on the Hornets that the team's higher-ups would love to unload.  For those unaware, the team is basically being run by the NBA right now as the search for a buyer continues and every player on the team being paid a high-ish salary is either about to become a free agent or is of some value to the team. 

That being said, David Andersen is the one who is the most expendable.

Simply put, Andersen played 7.7 minutes per game for the Hornets last year and averaged 2.7 points and 1.7 rebounds.  Does that sound like someone worth nearly $2.7 million next season?

In this case, the smartest thing team management could do is simply cut the man. He is very raw, and in terms of making a trade, he would be nothing more than a throw-in.

New York Knicks: Chauncey Billups

There is no doubt that Chauncey Billups is one of the best men to ever play in the NBA. 

He has played in five All-Star games, has a championship ring, and has a reputation for making clutch shots, particularly from behind the three-point line. This shooting prowess has earned him the nickname, "Mr. Big Shot."

Yet, Billups plays for the New York Knicks, coached by Mike D'Antoni and his "seven seconds or less" offensive approach. For those who followed D'Antoni when he was with the Phoenix Suns, this system requires three main components in the starting lineup: A dominating power forward, a clutch small forward, and a point guard who will pass as frequently as he shoots.

The Knicks have the first two pieces in Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, but are missing the last piece. 

Billups is a fine player with a shooting touch perfect for D'Antoni's system.  The problem is that unlike D'Antoni's Phoenix point guard in Steve Nash, Billups is not one to pass the ball frequently.  For his career, Billups has averaged just 5.6 assists per game compared to Nash's career mark of 8.5 per game.

Throw in the fact that Billups is due $14.2 million next season, along with the fact that he shot just 33 percent from long range as a Knick last season, and the pressure mounts for team management to deal the veteran point guard and bring in a younger one who is a better fit for the current system.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Cole Aldrich

I know it may seem a bit premature to put this label on him considering how last year was his rookie season, but trust me. 

Cole Aldrich has looked nothing like the shot blocking and rebounding machine he was with the Kansas Jayhawks.  The New Orleans Hornets drafted him with the No. 11 pick and immediately traded him to the Thunder. 

In his rookie season, Aldrich appeared in just 21 games and was assigned to the D-League three different times. I know there is always the chance that he could improve, but his NBA stats are so unbelievably bad that it's hard to believe that he will be of any value in the immediate future. 

He is due about $2.9 million next season and that may not seem like much, but look at how the Thunder did last season.

In just a few short years, the Thunder have gone from cellar-dwellers to playoff contenders. Last year, they made the Western Conference Finals and even though they lost to the eventual NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, they were easily the most well-rounded team in their conference. 

They accomplished all of that without their top draft pick in Aldrich, who averaged just one point and 1.9 rebounds for the season.

Considering how he is 6'11" and weighs 245 pounds, those stats are just unacceptable.

Orlando Magic: Gilbert Arenas

The past few years have been rough for Gilbert Arenas. In the summer of 2008, he inked a six-year, $111 million deal to remain with the Washington Wizards.  Since then, everything has gone downhill for him.

In the first year of the deal, he missed all but two games due to a multitude of injuries. The second, he appeared in 32 games and was averaging 22.6 points and 7.2 assists before getting into a fight over a gambling debt with teammate Javaris Crittenton and basically challenging him to a gun fight. He was suspended for the remainder of the season following this incident.

Last year, Arenas got off to another decent start, averaging 17.3 points and 5.6 assists for the Wizards before being traded to the Orlando Magic for Rashard Lewis. 

He was made a bench player in Orlando and struggled, averaging just eight points per game and shooting an abysmal 27 percent from three-point range.

I'll say this much: If the Magic want any hope of re-signing Dwight Howard after next season, GM Otis Smith needs to do one of two things. He needs to either trade Jameer Nelson and others before making Arenas the starting point man so that a potentially lethal 1-2 punch can be formed, or he needs to trade Arenas.

The man has three years remaining on his deal and is due $19.2 million next year. If that doesn't scream bad contract, I don't know what does.

Philadelphia 76ers: Marreese Speights

Considering how he was a first-round pick back in 2008, Marreese Speights certainly hasn't played like one. In his brief NBA career, he has averaged just 14.7 minutes per game to go with 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds.  He has good size at 6'10" and 255 pounds, but that's about it.

On top of that, Speights is due $2.7 million next season.  That may seem like standard pay for a mid-first-round pick, but he just isn't worth that much money.  Barring a complete turnaround, team management should look to deal him for draft picks.

Phoenix Suns: Josh Childress

After spending two seasons playing in Greece, Josh Childress returned to the NBA and signed a five-year, $33 million deal with the Suns. Given how he had made his name with the Atlanta Hawks as a shooter who could also grab a few rebounds, it seemed like a good contract at first blush.

Instead, Childress was a total bust for the Suns. He struggled to get playing time and averaged just 16.6 minutes per contest in 54 games. His scoring average was a career low five points per game and he managed just 2.9 rebounds, while his three-point percentage was an absolutely awful six percent.

Childress is due $6 million next season and at this point, the Suns simply must look to trade him.  There is the possibility of starting him at shooting guard, but the Western Conference is too competitive for such a risk.  That being said, trade options must be explored or the next four years are going to be very long, not to mention expensive.

Portland Trail Blazers: Marcus Camby

Despite being 37-years-old, Marcus Camby has shown that he can still play with the young guns.  Last season, he averaged 10.3 rebounds and 1.6 blocks a game. Yet, it is because Camby is 37 and turning 38 next season that the Blazers organization should look to deal him.

While he is a fine leader and still plays incredible defense, Camby is one of the biggest injury risks in the NBA.  Last year, he played in just 59 games and has played in over 70 games just four times in a 15-year career.  Considering how he is due $11.2 million next year, team management could probably trade him for draft picks and/or a project player.

Camby is a good defensive presence, but no longer has the strong impact he did five years ago.  Thus, with the Blazers back in contention for the first time in a long time, getting younger should be first priority.

Sacramento Kings: Francisco Garcia

Much like the Hornets, the Sacramento Kings are a team extremely difficult to assess in terms of finding the dead weight.  T

hey are a very young team, so it's hard to judge anyone based on performance. On top of that, the team's payroll is one of the lowest in the league at $29.9 million (for players under contract next season).

That being said, when looking at the roster, the only name that really sticks out that could be considered dead weight is that of guard Francisco Garcia.  Injuries limited the former Louisville Cardinal to 58 games last season and he averaged 9.7 points.  Keep in mind, besides last season, he only played in 90 games the previous two seasons.

On top of that, Garcia's role with the team has always been unclear. Sometimes he starts, and sometimes he comes off the bench.  At this point, team management should stay committed to the fresh start and let Jimmer Fredette lead the team back to the playoffs.  Unfortunately, that means the inconsistent and injury prone Garcia could find himself and his $5.8 million salary on a new team as the Kings struggle to stay in Sacramento.

San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker

Considering how Tony Parker has been a staple of the Spurs for 10 years, it's strange to think that team management would look to unload him.  However, there is some merit to that story. 

In the days preceding this year's draft, ESPN reported that the Spurs had been talking to lottery teams about deals involving Parker.

At this point, it looks as though any effort to trade Parker would be with the intention to start anew. The Spurs are not a bad team at all, having finished with the top seed in the Western Conference playoff picture. 

Yet, Parker and his teammates just looked old in their first round matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies and were eliminated in six games. Parker averaged 19.7 points in that series, but shot a horrific 12 percent from long range.

He is still young at 29-years-old and is easily one of the top point men in the NBA, but the Spurs could be having a case of buyer's remorse considering how Parker was signed to a four-year $50 million extension at the start of last season. 

He had a fine year and averaged 17.5 points and 6.6 assists, but the way the team looked in the postseason could have put the front office into panic mode.

If that is indeed the case, look for Parker to be on a new team in the near future.

Toronto Raptors: Linas Kleiza

Last offseason, Lithuanian forward Linas Kleiza terminated his contract with Greek team Olympiacos Piraeus and signed a four-year deal worth $18.8 million with the Toronto Raptors. The 6'8", 245-pound Kleiza was expected to be a tough and physical forward that would help the team adjust to life without Chris Bosh, who departed for the Miami Heat.

Instead, the season turned into a nightmare for both the Raptors and Kleiza. The team struggled mightily and recurring knee problems limited Kleiza to 39 games. He had surgery on his knee in February and is expected to be out for at least a year.

It's sad because prior to the injury, Kleiza was averaging 11.2 points and 4.5 rebounds. Yet, with his salary and uncertainty surrounding his future, Kleiza becomes a candidate for a buyout or a trade.

Utah Jazz: Mehmet Okur

At one point in his career, 6'11", 265-pound Mehmet Okur was an absolute beast. He had a great outside shot for a big man, could play well under the basket and was one of the game's toughest players. Then, this past season, everything changed.

Okur was limited to 13 games and averaged just 4.9 points and 2.3 rebounds due to injuries to his legs and back.  He was a tremendous loss as the Jazz were forced to play without him before and after Deron Williams was traded to the New Jersey Nets.

Unfortunately, unless Okur comes back full force this season, the Jazz will have no choice but to consider trading or releasing him.  Next year is the last year of his contract and he is due $10.9 million.  Jazz fans can only hope that their Turkish big man is fully recovered so that they may return to the playoffs after a dismal 2010-2011 season.

Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis

Last December, the Washington Wizards traded one bad contract for another in sending Gilbert Arenas to the Orlando Magic for Rashard Lewis. On paper, this trade had a couple of positive factors. 

The Wizards organization further distanced itself from the Arenas gun fiasco of the previous season and at the same time brought in a seasoned veteran who could be a leader to the young team. Instead, the acquisition of Lewis was a disaster.

Lewis averaged just 11.4 points as a Wizard and appeared in a total of just 57 games due to a recurring knee injury that forced him to sit for the final month and a half of the season.  To add insult to injury, Lewis was in the fourth season of a six-year, $118 million deal that will pay him $21.1 million next season.

He is a fine three-point shooter when he is healthy and can certainly be a top contributor on any team, but Lewis and his balky knee are the last thing the Wizards need at this point.  If the front office can find a way to either deal him or buy him out, all the better.