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Ok to come out right away, I read PHSports’s Blog (http://www.fannation.com/blogs/post/216196) and his list of The NBA’s 10 Worst Current Contracts. I didn’t agree with his analysis so I decided to do a little research on my own. All the salary info you see before you is taken from Hoops Hype (http://hoopshype.com/salaries.htm)

My Criteria

In order to qualify for this discussion the player is over rated compared to his contract. Seems pretty arbitrary right? I know. But I think I’ll be able to justify my reasoning in each case. Most of my criteria consist of what type of production is provided by the player, what type of roll they have on the team, character issues, injuries etc all play into it. Why exclude an oft injured player with a big contract, they still get paid right? I take the length/size of the contract into account as well. I’d love to put past horrible contracts on here but I am only basing this on salaries for this up coming year and going forward; no buy outs cause that’s a column in itself. All salaries are in millions.

First I thought you’d appreciate this nugget of info:

Worst Team Payroll: Knicks: $93,864,770

This shouldn’t be a surprise but what is staggering is the amount of luxury tax the Knicks eat with this payroll. The NBA salary cap is set at $58,680,000 for the 08-09 season. The luxury tax threshold is $71 million meaning any salary above that amount is a dollar for dollar tax. That’s a lovely $22,714,770 tax to eat on top of the near 100 million dollar payroll. When the Knicks are all said and done paying players and the tax penalty their payroll is $116.5 Million dollars for the year.

Here is some salt on the wound for Knicks fans…. Almost a fourth of your payroll goes to Starbury (21.9 Million this year) but don’t worry, you still owe lots of guys like Zach Randolph 14 million, 16 million, and 17 in the up coming years. Oh yeah and how is D’Antoni going to run with Eddie Curry in the middle? Never mind, thinking about that will make me change my list...

This is in order of most expensive contracts remaining

Andrei Kirilenko (15, 16.45, 17.8) 49.25 Million

Hey, I like Drago and I think he brings useful tools to the Jazz but he is massively overpaid. $15 million and up going forward means you better be more than the # 3 option on your team. Williams and Boozer produce very effectively, Andrei not so much. Plus there are the conflicts with Sloan as well. If you’re getting this kind of money, shut your yap and go count dollar bills at your locker. Do what you’re told.

Kenyon Martin (14.1, 15.3, 16.5) 45.9

Yes, yes, Kenyon has bad knees. That’s not his fault but it still sucks for Denver. Have they even gotten a full year out of him yet?

Jermaine O’Neal (21.3, 22.995) 44.295

His shoulder and knee’s exploded the night of the brawl, probably happened during that super awesome flying sucker punch he threw at that guy that looked like Turtle. Jermaine has the talent to justify his contract…he just hasn’t utilized it the last few years. Hopefully Toronto will be good for him.

Nene (9.68, 10.5, 11.3, 11.6) 43.08

Nene is young and could work himself off a list like this (just like Samuel Dalembert did last year) but for now he sits close to the top. From my recollection he didn’t really play much before he got this huge contract. I’m sorry to hear he is battling testicular cancer and I hope it works out in the long run but for now Denver is the lucky owner of two of the worst contracts in the NBA. Hmm why did they trade Camby again? Oh yeah, see Knicks above.

Boris Diaw (9,9,9,9) 36

Boris is a solid roll player and especially now playing along side Shaq he’ll be able to shine a bit more. His 9 million bucks make him too expensive to move however and that means his contract is bloated. 4 more years at 9 million bucks? Ouch. If it helps he’ll be there after Nash, and Shaq have moved on, maybe Amare too.

Erick Dampier (9.5, 10.1, 13) 32.6

Vampier has only 3 years left compared to Boris’s 4. He starts and is serviceable but not for 10 million a year. Mavs wouldn’t have had to throw bigger money at Diop if that weren’t true.

Ben Wallace (14.5 and 14) 28.5

Ben, seriously man just hire someone to help you learn how to shoot. I know it sucks but bite the bullet and get it done. Your contract was questionable when Chicago signed you but now its very clear you are a one trick pony. Happens to be a useful defensive pony but I’d turn you into glue if you get paid this much and can’t shoot FT, lay ups, etc.

Larry Hughes (12.8, 13) 25.8

Jamaal Tinsley (6.75, 7.2, 7.5) 21.45

Jamaal and Troy Hudson are similar in that they tricked teams into thinking they can play consistently. Troy sucks more (T-Hud to the rap community) and Jamaal is actually a decent PG but only plays half a year annually. The other half is spent in a hyperbolic chamber preserving his hamstrings.

Marko Jaric (6.575, 7.1, 7.625) 21.3

I’m a wolves fan so when McHale signed Marko to this contract I almost shot myself. We gave Cassell to the Clippers plus a first round pick, plus we signed this guy to a horrible contract and it was the first time in MN where it was clear KG did not like the direction of the team. He is suppose to be a point forward but isn’t smart, can’t shoot and gambles a ton on defense. Enjoy Memphis! 

Bobby Simmons (9.9 and 10.5) 20.4

Vladimir Radmanovic (6, 6.4, 6.8) 19.2

Known as Vlad the Imploder after the finals this year. I think he had like 4 fouls in 3 minutes at one point. He was the secret weapon for the Celtics. What he lacks in defensive skill and intellect he makes up for by injuring himself snowboarding and then trying to lie about it.

Jarred Jeffries (6, 6.4, 6.8) 19.2

Mark Blount (7.35, 7.962) 15.312

This guy can shoot from just beyond the free throw line. Don’t ask him to do anything else. Also a wonderful matador defender.

Marcus Banks (4.176, 4.464, 4.752) 13.392

I would like to say McHale tricked the Suns on this one. Wolves got Banks in the first Celtics trade (Wally for Ricky Davis). We played him during tank mode and then McHale claimed he was going to be our PG of the future (pre Foye/Roy 06). Suns came in and signed him to this bloated contract for a guy that isn’t even good as a back up.

Jerome James (6.2, 6.6) 12.8

Yep

Mike James (6.049, 6.466) 12.5

 Another wolves signing no longer on the club! Is it a good sign when your back up PG is getting paid more than your all star starting point guard Chris Paul? I could’ve thrown a few Knicks in there but since I already laid out their fortune for the year why bother. Did I miss any? Which don’t you agree with? I like feed back :)