NORTHWEST DIVISION

Denver Nuggets: Al Harrington

Harrington was signed as free agent this summer with the hope he could help persuade Carmelo Anthony to stay in Denver. He has a decent year in Denver, but the Nuggets are looking to shed the four years and $28 million left on his deal, as indicated by the fact that they wanted the Nets to take on his contract if they were the ones who had acquired ‘Melo. Also with Wilson Chandler now on board, and the solid play of J.R. Smith and Arron Afflalo recently, Harrington is clearly not in the team’s plans for the future, and was even a healthy scratch for two games recently.

Minnesota Timberwolves: Darko Milicic

If there is one thing David Kahn has done a good job of as GM of the T-Wolves, it has been not taking on bloated contracts. Milicic’s contract calls for him to get $5 million per year over the next three seasons, and is really the worst contract the team has. Darko has played better in Minnesota than he has anywhere else in his career, but that is not saying much. And losing him would not make the team any worse off than it already is.

Portland Trail Blazers: Brandon Roy

Before this season, the nearly $70 million remaining on Roy’s contract over the last four years of his deal would not have been unreasonable. Roy was the team’s go-to guy and the face of the franchise in the Portland community. However, with his troublesome knees (who knows how well, and if, Roy will be able to play in four years?), that contract might come back bite the Blazers.

Oklahoma City Thunder: Nick Collison

Collison has an interesting contract. He is getting paid $13 million this year before Kevin Durant’s extension kicks in then about $3 million per year over the next four which is a bargain actually. The only reasons Collison is on this list is the fact that the Thunder have no bad contracts, and are loaded with young, front court talent in players like Serge Ibaka, Cole Aldrich and Byron Mullens. Plus, the recent acquisition of Kendrick Perkins makes Collison the likely odd man out.

Utah Jazz: Al Jefferson

The Jazz acquired Jefferson this offseason to help the team replace Boozer’s production. He was going to be Deron Williams’ new pick-and-roll partner, but that didn’t last long. Williams is now gone, and the Jazz appear headed for a rebuild. And with a contract that calls for $29 million over the next two seasons, Kevin O’Connor would be happy to see that cap space freed up.