VIN BAKER
Key Stats: 17 pts, 7.9 rebs, 1.9 asts
Age, Pos.: 28, PF
Team: Sonics

His numbers aren't bad, but they aren't close to his Milwaukee days when he was a 20-10 guy. Got paid the maximum and celebrated by gaining lots of weight and losing his scoring touch and penchant for rebounding, passing and blocking shots. And last year he shot 45 percent from the line. Other than that, he's fine.

CALBERT CHEANEY
Key Stats: 3.9 pts, 2.1 rebs, .474 FT
Age, Pos.: 28, SG
Team: Celtics

Rick Pitino blames others for the plight of his team. OK, how did Cheaney become a Celtic? Pitino signed him! The former Indiana U. star was bad last year as a Wizard, and is worse now. Originally a capable scorer (16.6 a game once), Cheaney's game is gone. In his last 109 games he's averaged less than five points, 42 percent FG and 49 FT.

DEREK FISHER
Key Stats: 6.4 pts, 2.9 asts, .347 FG
Age, Pos.: 25, PG
Team: Lakers

Hard to complain when the team never loses, but Fisher has been brutal. Sure, Kobe handles the ball, not Fisher, but 2.9 assists? And that .347 isn't from three-point range either. Fisher's play two years ago made Nick Van Exel expendable, and earned Fisher big money this offseason. Maybe it was a mistake. He's barely producing.

MATT GEIGER
Key Stats: 9.5 pts, 6 rebs, .424 FG
Age, Pos.: 30, C
Team: 76ers

Philly badly needed an inside presence, and paid Geiger like he was Alonzo Mourning. He isn't. Geiger did a nice job last year with the Sixers as a dependable scorer and boardman. With knee problems this year, he's been disappointing and his name comes up in trade talks. Let's face it: He's a backup 4 or 5, but not a coming star. Philly's lucky it has Ty Hill.

JUWAN HOWARD
Key Stats: 15 pts, 5.7 rebs, 2.8 asts
Age, Pos.: 27, SF
Team: Wizards

The posterboy for being overrated. Once Pat Riley went after him and Washington responded by giving him $100+ million, it's been all downhill. The shame is this guy can play. He just isn't doing it. A career 19-point scorer before this year, with other solid numbers, Howard probably just needs a change of scenery. But he'll never earn his paycheck.

CHRISTIAN LAETTNER
Key Stats: 12.7 pts, 6.9 rebs, .476 FG
Age, Pos.: 30, PF
Team: Pistons

Not too long ago he was a valuable frontcourt player for the Hawks, good for 18 and 8 nightly. Then he tore his Achilles, moved on and hasn't recovered. Never a bruiser to start with, Laettner is still remarkably accurate when he shoots. However, he doesn't always seem to care or try, which is worse than having declining skills in the current NBA.

BRYANT REEVES
Key Stats: 9.3 pts, 5.8 rebs, .446 FG
Age, Pos.: 26, C
Team: Grizzlies

Big Country is not well liked in Canada, from what we can gather. You wonder why? At 7-0, 275, he's underachieved for two straight years. Nobody was expecting 20 and 10 from him, and 16 and 8 would be fine, but knee issues are holding him back to far less. Probably needs another city if he's going to get back to that.

JASON WILLIAMS
Key Stats: 12.3 pts, 7.5 asts, .363 FG
Age, Pos.: 24, PG
Team: Kings

We still think he can be a great point guard, but right now he's overrated. His assist-turnover ratio is barely 2-1, which is not good for the position. His field goal percentage is brutal and he repeatedly is schooled on defense by non-scorers like Hubert Davis and Eric Snow. Williams is a lot of flash right now, and not as good as NBC thinks.