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1. Ben Wallace, PF-C, Cleveland Cavaliers
In addition to now ranking No. 2 among NBA post defenders named Wallace, Ben is giving the Cavs 3 points and 6.7 rebounds in exchange for their 14.5 million scoots. If a trade with the Suns had occurred, I doubt that the training staff in Phoenix could have resurrected this guy, too. It's also a shame that he doesn't even have the best hair among Cleveland post players.
2. Jermaine O'Neal, C, Miami Heat
Yeah, I realize that in one year from now O'Neal's whopping salary will be considered a bonanza as Miami clears cap space for the Sensational Free Agent Summer of 2010. But it would be nice if the Toronto Raptors and Heat could expect more than 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for splitting Jermaine's $21.3 million. At least the Heat have someone to post up now while Wade is icing his elbow.
3. Tracy McGrady, SG, Houston Rockets
The player some of my pals used to think was better than Kobe Bryant is averaging 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5 dimes. I wonder if his sore back and bad knee can be traced to improper technique used while attempting to lift his wallet ($21 million this year). We'll have to see if microfracture surgery will impact the macroeconomics that hit next season in the final year of his contract.
4. Kenyon Martin, PF, Denver Nuggets
You'd think getting 14.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game would be a steal for a player being paid about $3 million per season. And you'd be right. The Nuggets are paying K-Mart a cool $14.1 million. He has a player option for $16.5 million in two years; think he'll exercise that baby?
5. Nazr Mohammed, C, Charlotte Bobcats
Right, he's one of the rank and file struggling along at $6 million, while Larry Brown struggles (and fails) to find more burn for a center putting up 2.5 points, 2 rebounds and making an icy 39 percent of his field-goal tries. Here's the good news: his contract won't die for two more years! We'll see if Michael Jordan can prove he's learned a few lessons by not
6. Mark Blount, C, Miami Heat
If Mark could have managed more than 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds for his $7.3 million, the Heat wouldn't be overpaying Jermaine O'Neal to offer a pulse in the pivot. His performance also paved the way for the arrival of Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire. At least they all have managed to stay out of the way of Dwyane Wade.
7. Dan Gadzuric, C, Milwaukee Bucks
He may deserve a bailout call or two on his salary (a measly $6.2 million), but the 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds have managed to make losing Andrew Bogut seem as bad as a long-term injury to Bill Russell. Dan has two more lovely years on his contract, which should make it a hayride to re-sign Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions.
8. Darko (Milicic) and Marko (Jaric), Euros, Memphis Grizzlies
They only combine for $13.5 million this year, which doesn't seem all that prosperous until we point out that they only combine for 8.5 points. At least the Grizzlies can't be accused of having traded Sam Cassell for Marko or drafting Darko instead of Carmelo Anthony (among others). And they didn't get rid of the other Gasol brother.
9.Allen Iverson, SG in PG body, Detroit Pistons
While Iverson doesn't deserve all of the credit for Detroit's slide or the coaching change and trade that encouraged it, the Pistons probably expected more bang than 18.2 points per game for their 21.9 million bucks. But the Pistons are leading the league in home attendance with him in uniform, right? Right, just like they did without him last season.
10. Adam Morrison, SF, Los Angeles Lakers
The competition for the last spot on our overpaid roster was intense. For example, Atlanta's Mike Bibby ($15.2 million) is in the team photo with Steve Nash and Andre Miller for meekest point guard defense and Philly's Elton Brand was averaging about one million bucks for every point on his scoring average. But for his $4.4 million in what qualifies as chump change, Morrison needs to do more than get a haircut.
In addition to now ranking No. 2 among NBA post defenders named Wallace, Ben is giving the Cavs 3 points and 6.7 rebounds in exchange for their 14.5 million scoots. If a trade with the Suns had occurred, I doubt that the training staff in Phoenix could have resurrected this guy, too. It's also a shame that he doesn't even have the best hair among Cleveland post players.
2. Jermaine O'Neal, C, Miami Heat
Yeah, I realize that in one year from now O'Neal's whopping salary will be considered a bonanza as Miami clears cap space for the Sensational Free Agent Summer of 2010. But it would be nice if the Toronto Raptors and Heat could expect more than 13.4 points and 6.8 rebounds per game for splitting Jermaine's $21.3 million. At least the Heat have someone to post up now while Wade is icing his elbow.
3. Tracy McGrady, SG, Houston Rockets
The player some of my pals used to think was better than Kobe Bryant is averaging 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 5 dimes. I wonder if his sore back and bad knee can be traced to improper technique used while attempting to lift his wallet ($21 million this year). We'll have to see if microfracture surgery will impact the macroeconomics that hit next season in the final year of his contract.
4. Kenyon Martin, PF, Denver Nuggets
You'd think getting 14.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game would be a steal for a player being paid about $3 million per season. And you'd be right. The Nuggets are paying K-Mart a cool $14.1 million. He has a player option for $16.5 million in two years; think he'll exercise that baby?
5. Nazr Mohammed, C, Charlotte Bobcats
Right, he's one of the rank and file struggling along at $6 million, while Larry Brown struggles (and fails) to find more burn for a center putting up 2.5 points, 2 rebounds and making an icy 39 percent of his field-goal tries. Here's the good news: his contract won't die for two more years! We'll see if Michael Jordan can prove he's learned a few lessons by not
6. Mark Blount, C, Miami Heat
If Mark could have managed more than 3.9 points and 1.8 rebounds for his $7.3 million, the Heat wouldn't be overpaying Jermaine O'Neal to offer a pulse in the pivot. His performance also paved the way for the arrival of Joel Anthony and Jamaal Magloire. At least they all have managed to stay out of the way of Dwyane Wade.
7. Dan Gadzuric, C, Milwaukee Bucks
He may deserve a bailout call or two on his salary (a measly $6.2 million), but the 3.4 points and 3.3 rebounds have managed to make losing Andrew Bogut seem as bad as a long-term injury to Bill Russell. Dan has two more lovely years on his contract, which should make it a hayride to re-sign Charlie Villanueva and Ramon Sessions.
8. Darko (Milicic) and Marko (Jaric), Euros, Memphis Grizzlies
They only combine for $13.5 million this year, which doesn't seem all that prosperous until we point out that they only combine for 8.5 points. At least the Grizzlies can't be accused of having traded Sam Cassell for Marko or drafting Darko instead of Carmelo Anthony (among others). And they didn't get rid of the other Gasol brother.
9.Allen Iverson, SG in PG body, Detroit Pistons
While Iverson doesn't deserve all of the credit for Detroit's slide or the coaching change and trade that encouraged it, the Pistons probably expected more bang than 18.2 points per game for their 21.9 million bucks. But the Pistons are leading the league in home attendance with him in uniform, right? Right, just like they did without him last season.
10. Adam Morrison, SF, Los Angeles Lakers
The competition for the last spot on our overpaid roster was intense. For example, Atlanta's Mike Bibby ($15.2 million) is in the team photo with Steve Nash and Andre Miller for meekest point guard defense and Philly's Elton Brand was averaging about one million bucks for every point on his scoring average. But for his $4.4 million in what qualifies as chump change, Morrison needs to do more than get a haircut.
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