THREE EXPIRING CONTRACTS MOST LIKELY TO GET TRADED

Last week, TNT analyst Charles Barkley took a shot at LeBron James by suggesting that the superstar needs to "shut the hell up" about leaving Cleveland in the summer of 2010. While James has been fueling the speculation that he will ditch the Cavs for the spotlight of New York, nobody really knows what is going to happen in the free-agent bonanza in two years.

Some teams have already begun wheeling and dealing to free up cap space for the future. The Pistons sent former NBA Finals MVP Chauncey Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson (and his expiring contract), and the Knicks traded for Cuttino Mobley, Tim Thomas, and Al Harrington, all of whom have contracts that expire after next season.

Here is a quick look at three players with expiring deals who may get dealt before the NBA's trade deadline this February.

1. SHAWN MARION - Heat
Marion, who came to Miami in the Shaquille O'Neal trade, is making $17,800,000 this season. While it has long been speculated that Carlos Boozer might be on the club's radar, thus leading Miami to keep Marion on the books until the end of the season, that is certainly not a done deal. The Heat may want to deal Marion and take back players who's deals have another year on them. That way, when Dwyane Wade is set to leave in July, 2010, the Heat will have plenty of space under the salary cap to re-sign their superstar guard.

2. WALLY SZCZERBIAK - Cavaliers
Szczerbiak is making a ridiculous $13, 275,000 this season playing along side LeBron James. And James is the reason that Cleveland will probably deal him before February's deadline. With the speculation that King James' future will take him out of Ohio and into a bigger market, it would behoove the Cavs to load up on talent and make a push for the title now. Szczerbiak was overwhelmingly voted, in a recent issue of ESPN The Magazine, as the worst defensive player in the NBA. As the Celtics proved last season, defense wins in the playoffs, so Cleveland may want to sure up that side of the ball. And since Wally's deal is up after the season, there should be plenty of teams willing to take him back, then let him walk at the end of the year.

3. ANDRE MILLER - 76'ers
The 76'ers will really only make Miller available in trades if they fall out of playoff contention, and nobody truly expects that to happen. The point guard, who came to Philly when AI was shipped to the Nuggets, is making $10,333,334 for the year. The Sixers slow start, they are 7-9 and in last place in the Atlantic Division, as well as the team's scoring issues could push Philadelphia to shop Miller should they continue to struggle. The signing of Elton Brand this past offseason means the Sixers won't be a part of the madness in 2010, so dealing the 32-year-old for younger players might make some sense.

Other players with expiring contracts include Jason Kidd ($21,372,000), Allen Iverson ($20,840,625), Lamar Odom ($14,148,596), and Rasheed Wallace ($13,930,000). Here is a list of players with contracts that expire in 2009, and 2010.