4 NBA Players with Salary Cap-Killing Contracts

Here are four players currently in the NBA who signed large contracts either through free agency, or through a sign-and-trade. Players such as Gilbert Arenas, Joe Johnson and Hedo Turkoglu are just some of the names that are always mentioned when it comes to outrageous contracts that other NBA teams do not want to trade for.

However, here are four NBA players that can be held in similar regards when it comes to finances in the league.

Let’s meet the players!

Josh Childress, Phoenix Suns

Childress was acquired by the Phoenix Suns in a sign-and-trade from the Atlanta Hawks last summer. Childress signed a five-year, $33 million deal with Phoenix after spending two years playing basketball in Greece, and has struggled to find a spot in the rotation since.

It got to the point where the Suns looked to move his contract at the trade deadline but were unable to do so. It remains to be seen what the Suns will do with Childress once the current lockout is lifted.

Travis Outlaw, New Jersey Nets

Travis Outlaw signed a five-year deal worth $35 million deal with the New Jersey Nets during last year’s free agency period. Outlaw, a reserve forward who averaged no more than 13.3 points and 4.6 rebounds in six-and-a-half seasons in Portland, averaged 9.2 points and four rebounds appearing in all 82 games including 55 starts with the Nets.

However, the Nets may be re-thinking this decision, and could have signed Outlaw to a smaller contract. Now with Deron Williams on board, the Nets would like to use their salary cap in order to convince Williams to stay on board long-term.

Emeka Okafor, New Orleans Hornets

Emeka Okafor, the former second overall draft pick in the 2004 NBA draft, signed a six-year, $72 million contract (the largest deal in Bobcats franchise history) during the summer of 2008. Okafor never put up spectacular numbers in Charlotte, but dealt with various injuries causing him to miss a lot of games.

After being traded to the New Orleans Hornets in exchange for Tyson Chandler in 2009, Okafor has once again put up solid numbers playing alongside Chris Paul and David West. He has averaged 10.4 points and 9.3 rebounds per game in his two seasons with the Hornets.

David Lee, Golden State Warriors

David Lee signed a six-year, $80M deal with the Golden State Warriors in a sign-and-trade with the New York Knicks, where he spent the last five seasons with. Lee averaged 16.5 points and 9.8 rebounds in 73 games played (including all starts) in his first season with the Warriors. Lee plays with heart, energy, and is all about hard work as he showed after being drafted by the New York Knicks.

However, even though Lee’s style of play fits in well in Golden State even though an awful lot of money was given to a player that is more of a power forward than a NBA center. The center position has been lacking in Golden State for some time know, and in order to acquire a future center, the Warriors have really put themselves in financial burden with Lee’s contract.