NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Trades the Experts Are Talking About

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The scuttlebutt is running rampid as we get closer to the 2010 NBA Draft.

Most of the talk centers around trade rumors that will net a team a higher pick, but there's plenty of legitimate talk surrounding player-for-player deals.

Then there's the deals that are blatantly allowing teams to clear out cap space in the pursuit of James, Bosh and Wade.

So which ones have the most legs?

Gilbert Arenas for Vince Carter

Talk surfaced Wednesday that the Wizards threw out a deal with the Magic that would swap Gilbert Arenas for Vince Carter.

The assumption was that Arenas was not happy with Washington after the gun suspension mess.

Both teams have debunked the rumor, calling it just normal chatter between teams. But experts feel there's still some legs to the rumor.

Then again ...

Carter in the Chris Paul Conversation

There's plenty that were posturing Wednesday to squash rumors of the Hornets shopping Chris Paul.

But when Paul came out and told ESPN that he is indeed open to trades, the talk shifted. Yahoo Sports and others reported that the Hornets were indeed willing to make the move.

The deal that is gaining the most traction among the beat writers and their Twitter feeds is Paul and James Posey to Orlando for Carter and Jameer Nelson.

It's a deal that lands the Hornets value with Nelson, plus an expiring contract with Carter (the team would have an $18 million option for 2011-'12).

Talks with New Jersey are reportedly still alive, with Devon Harris headed to Norleans along with the No. 3 pick tonight.

But there's also a lot of talk that the Hornets are starting to make overtures that they will need to move a my-bad contract (correct a bad deal) like Emeka Okafur in any deal for Paul.

Lamar Odom On the Block?

We threw this out Wednesday as a possibility in the Paul discussions. Now there's word that the Lakers are indeed pondering a parting with Lamar Odom.

It makes sense. He's not giving them their money's worth. They essentially won the title without him. So if you had a shot to get Chris Paul, why wouldn't you move him?

There's also talk that Odom is being dangled in a number of cap space moves. The L.A. Times reports that even though the Lakers made $40 million in profits, team owner Jerry Buss is cutting costs like they lost billions.

So the idea that the Lakers would add more salary in taking on Paul seems ludicrous if you believe Buss has tightened the belts.

Zach Randolph for Al Jefferson

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Call it the malcontents deal.

The Wolves and Grizzlies have both reportedly soured on these stars.

Randolph's ties to a drug dealer are just the latest in a series of issues. Meanwhile, there's a feeling that Jefferson is just not fitting into the Wolves' long-term plan.

Wolves GM David Kahn was telling any writer that would listen Wednesday that the talk is a bunch of hooey. There's plenty of sources being cited that are saying the deal is still very much alive.

Luol Deng All Over the Place

Deng has long been thought to be the bait in a LeBron James sign-and-trade.

Now, he's being talked about as a straight cap space savings or a player multiplier for the Bulls.

The first rumor had Deng moving to Orlando for Michael Pietrus and center Marcin Gortat. This one seems to have died down.

Now there's talk that the Clippers really want out of the No. 8 pick and will take Deng and the No. 17 pick from Chicago. The thought is that Deng is better than anything they could get at No. 8.

Kenyon Martin Headed Out of Denver?

Rumors started circulating that Golden State is still plenty busy and was close to a deal with Denver for Kenyon Martin.

The deal would involved sending Andris Bledrins and Dan Gadzuric—who they just got from Milwaukee in the Corey Maggette deal—to Denver for Kenyon Martin.

The 2-for-1 would be a fairly even $16 million salary swap.

When Did Rudy Fernandez Become A Commodity?

Rudy Fernandez was rotting away on the bench in Portland. The thought was that the shooting guard was going to bolt for Spain, but not so much now.

The Knicks were the first to be rumored in pursuit, for a player like Toney Douglas. But the Blazers have apparently found better value.

The latest rumor has Fernandez headed to Toronto along with Portland's No. 22 for the Raptors' No. 13 pick.

Boston Either Wants Out Or Up

The Celtics were rumored Tuesday to be looking to get out of the first round, sending their No. 19 pick to a team wanting in on the first round for future draft picks.

Now, the C's are reportedly shopping that pick along with Kendrick Perkins to get into the top 10 and continue a top-level youth rebuilding of the roster.

Good luck finding a taker for a guy about to go in for surgery.