NBA Free Agents 2011: Glen Davis and 5 Players Who Will Be Underpaid

With the NBA lockout finally coming to an end, the season is getting ready to start and now is the time that free agents will start signing with teams. With only about a month before play gets underway, many teams are going to be rushing to sign their guys, and players will likely be looking to join teams just as quick.

Considering the terms of the new CBA, many players may start getting paid significantly less. That means that players who do not present elite status may get much less money than what they were hoping for at the end of last season.

Here are five players who are not going to get paid what they expect.

Jamal Crawford

While Jamal Crawford has been a solid piece for the Atlanta Hawks, the efficient shooting guard has never been able to become a starter again after arriving in the ATL.

Crawford is likely looking to become a starter, but he will have to take a price cut if he decides to. No one is going to pay him a premium, especially at 31 years old. 

Crawford has yet to win a championship, so if he decides to leave Atlanta in his quest of a ring, he will likely get paid even less then what he would have received with the Hawks.

Glen Davis

While Glen Davis provided solid relief for the Boston Celtics in 2011, he unfortunately is in a free-agent class with many great big men. He will be looking for service with guys like Tyson Chandler, Shane Battier and David West.

Davis has been a good player over his career, but no team is going to break the bank for a 6'9", 289-pound power forward. Davis is a force to be reckoned with down low, but his height is going to keep him from making big money for the nearly 12 points he put up each game.

In the end, Davis may be best to re-sign with the Celtics, where he fits their system best and is posed to make the most money.

Jason Richardson

At 30 years old, Jason Richardson has still been an effective shooting guard. In 2010-11, he spent the majority of his season with the Orlando Magic where he averaged 13.0 PPG. While that will be satisfactory on many teams, Richardson could likely score more on a team that doesn't have a player like Dwight Howard.

Still, Richardson's drop-off will likely result in much less money. Also, considering the amount of free-agent veteran guards there are this season, Richardson may get caught up in the price tag that will be applied to his class.

Richardson should be looking to sign onto a squad where he can win a championship, so less money should be likely for Richardson.

Arron Afflalo

Arron Afflalo is a restricted free agent this season, but he likely won't be getting many suitors this offseason that will be willing to break the bank for the young shooting guard.

The Nuggets may match whatever offer he gets, but any of those offers will not likely match what Afflalo will be looking for. He averaged 12.6 PPG last season. That could help many teams that will be looking for quick scoring relief, but it isn't enough that he is going to get big money.

Afflalo likely will not get much more than the nearly $2 million he is making now. He deserves the pay increase, but it may not be coming this season.

J.R. Smith

J.R. Smith is a very talented player, but he often is a source of trouble. He has a career average of 15.2 PPG, but he is not likely to be a starter for any team so he will not be making the money that he will likely be looking for.

This previous season, Smith made nearly $7 million, but his next contract will likely be less. At 26 years old, that is quite a hit to take in his young career. Smith may want to take 2011-12 as a year to repair his image once and for all.

He has the talent, but his image needs a repair before he once again gets the big paycheck.