NBA Trade Rumors: The Hottest Trade Rumor for Every NBA Team

We can still speculate about NBA trade rumors even though the league is currently locked out and trades can't actually be made. In fact, the teams can't even discuss trades right now, much less make them. 

But regardless, it's still fun to think about which stars might be packing up their bags and taking their talents to a new location. 

Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Andre Iguodala, Monta Ellis and Josh Smith are only a few of the many names that have been floated around the Internet this summer. 

Read on for the latest trade news for each and every team in the league.  

Atlanta Hawks

Everything right now revolves around mercurial power forward Josh Smith. He's got otherworldly talent but sometimes doesn't seem to use it his best advantage. 

The biggest decision that Atlanta has to make this offseason is whether or not to keep him in a Hawks uniform. 

Personally, I think he needs to go, as you can tell from the following article, Atlanta Hawks and Josh Smith Need to Part Ways. 

Boston Celtics

The only real trade rumor dealing with the Boston Celtics right now is the thought of trading away either Kevin Garnett or Ray Allen. 

Both players are past their primes, but they are each still valuable contributors to a true contender in the Celtics. I'd be pretty shocked to see either dealt as it would essentially be Danny Ainge admitting that it's time for Boston to reload for a season. 

Charlotte Bobcats

The Charlotte Bobcats already made one big splash in the trade market, dealing shooting guard Stephen Jackson for Corey Maggette. 

Because of that and the acquisitions of Bismack Biyombo and Kemba Walker in the NBA draft, I haven't really heard any trade rumors that have anything to do with the Charlotte Bobcats. 

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls didn't address their biggest need (shooting guard) during the draft, so any and all rumors dealing with the top team in the regular season have to do with that position. 

Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah and Taj Gibson should be availalbe, but the player coming to the Windy City in return would need to be of Monta Ellis' caliber. 

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers snuck in a trade before the CBA expired by dealing J.J. Hickson to the Sacramento Kings for Omri Casspi. 

Now the hottest rumor is that Casspi may be traded once more according to ESPN's Marc Stein. The New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs both may be interested in him still. 

This summer's Casspi saga isn't done yet. 

Dallas Mavericks

With Rudy Fernandez thinking about going to play abroad and the futures of Caron Butler, J.J. Barea and Tyson Chandler all up in the air, the Dallas Mavericks have too much to think about without considering any trades. 

Right now, all anyone is talking about when it comes to the defending champions is free agency. Trades may develop later on, just not yet. 

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets are another team that really only has free agency buzz surrounding them. 

Nene Hilario has been the source of the most ink thus far, but that should end now that he's decided to opt out of his contract and test the open market, ending his career-long tenure with the Nuggets. 

Detroit Pistons

Richard Hamilton has been in and out of the trade rumors for at least a few years now, and it will likely be no different once the lockout ends and moves can actually be made. 

Rip has enjoyed quite a career with the Pistons, but it's time for both he and the team to move on as Detroit is now firmly in rebuilding mode. 

Golden State Warriors

If you haven't heard that Monta Ellis was on the trading block, no matter what Mark Jackson and the Golden State brass said, then you're probably living under a rock. 

The shooting guard has been rumored to go to virtually every single team in the league at some point, or at least so it seems. 

But recently, CEO and majority owner Joe Lacob did say that the team was not trying to deal Ellis anymore. Should we believe this?

Houston Rockets

According to the New York Post, the Houston Rockets offered a big (literally) trade to the Golden State Warriors, attempting to send Brad Miller and Hasheem Thabeet for Andris Biedrins. Obviously though, the deal didn't come to fruition. 

But it does scream to me that the Rockets are going to let Yao Ming walk, if he's even healthy enough to, and try to land another big. 

Indiana Pacers

The most recent rumor dealing with the Indiana Pacers had to do with trading away young center Roy Hibbert. However, Larry Bird and general manager David Morway quickly denied this rumor. 

Since then, some have argued that Danny Granger should be shipped out of Indiana, but that's about it. 

Los Angeles Clippers

ESPN's Marc Stein was the first to report that the Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers were talking about a potential trade involving Chris Kaman and Andre Iguodala. 

While it clearly hasn't happened yet, this is still the hottest rumor in Clipper-land. 

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have been the center of a lot of speculation this offseason. 

Will Dwight Howard end up wearing purple and gold and becoming the greatest center there since Shaquille O'Neal left? 

Will the Lakers deal Lamar Odom or Andrew Bynum?

Could they bring in a new point guard to replace Derek Fisher?

We'll learn the answers to all these questions as soon as the whole CBA thing is cleared up. 

Memphis Grizzlies

Fox Sports Ohio's Sam Amico first reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies discussed a possible trade that would send Rudy Gay away from the only franchise he's ever played for. 

Since then, rumors have run rampant about Gay being traded to another team. This should absolutely not that happen as it would be a momentum-killing trade for a team that has a lot going its way right now. 

Miami Heat

Could the Miami Heat really be looking to ship one of the Big Three out of South Beach? 

If that happens, I'd have to think that Chris Bosh would be the most likely candidate since he's much less of a superstar than either Dwyane Wade or LeBron James.

People have been talking about trading him for Steve Nash, but I have yet to hear that either team has actually been interested in that swap. 

Milwaukee Bucks

Yahoo! Sports' Mike Miller reported that after acquiring Shaun Livingston and Beno Udrih, the Milwaukee Bucks may actually be interested in trading young point guard Brandon Jennings. 

But then, an unnamed source told Sporting News that this was in no way true. 

Either way, it got people thinking about who Jennings could bring back to the team if he was traded away. 

Minnesota Timberwolves

Many speculated that the Minnesota Timberwolves would try to move Michael Beasley after David Kahn drafted Arizona's Derrick Williams. 

That speculation is now going to run wild after Beasley was cited for marijuana possession on Wednesday. 

New Jersey Nets

Because of new General Manager Mikhail Prokhorov's presence, the New Jersey Nets are finally very relevant. 

So relevant that they're being linked to star after star this offseason. That includes Orlando's Dwight Howard, Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala and Los Angeles' Lamar Odom. 

New Orleans Hornets

This one is just all about Chris Paul. 

With the All-Everything point guard set to leave the team after this upcoming season in free agency, the Hornets may as well get something for him now instead of nothing for him later. 

He's another player that's being linked to team after team after team. 

New York Knicks

While some think that the New York Knicks should trade point guard Chauncey Billups, most of the rumors have to do with who to bring in during free agency as the Knicks wait for the free agency bonanza that will occur during the summer of 2012. 

There are no confirmed rumors to report of with the New York Knicks, at least none that have occurred even fairly recently. 

Oklahoma City Thunder

Times Picayune's Peter Finney informed his readers recently that the Los Angeles Lakers are considering trading tantalizingly talented young center Andrew Bynum to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson. 

Let's just stop and think for a second about what this would mean. Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, James Harden and Bynum on the floor at the same time? Can you say championship?

Orlando Magic

It all revolves around Dwight Howard here, both during the season and the offseason. 

He's been rumored to go to the Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers and many other places. Honestly, it's pretty difficult to keep track of everything that has been said about Howard so far. 

Philadelphia 76ers

Andre Iguodala has been the be-all, end-all when it comes to Philly trade rumors. 

The latest episode in the Iggy series cannot be done justice by my words. 

Please, please, please, click this link: latest Philadelphia 76ers trade rumor. 

Phoenix Suns

Everything in Phoenix has to do with the best point guard in that franchise's history: Steve Nash. 

Nash is running out of seasons in the NBA and he has yet to win a ring. He wants one, but I doubt he'll ever publicly ask to be traded away from the Suns. 

It's a bit of a sticky situation, but rumors persist nevertheless. 

Portland Trail Blazers

Without a general manager in place, it's hard to have any official trade rumors coming out of the Portland Trail Blazers camp. In fact, Portland is still searching for Rich Cho's replacement. 

But that said, the most recent rumor came before the draft and involved the Magic's Jameer Nelson and the Trail Blazer's Andre Miller. This however is definitely no longer possible. 

Sacramento Kings

The Sacramento Kings are one of the few teams that has actually already made a move. They did so when they swapped Omri Casspi for J.J. Hickson with the Cleveland Cavaliers. 

In my opinion, this was a great move for the Kings, who grabbed yet another high upside talent who was in desperate need for a fresh start. 

Because this trade was so recent, no other rumors have popped up yet. 

San Antonio Spurs

According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, the San Antonio Spurs are actively shopping long-time point guard Tony Parker. But with George Hill already gone, this one doesn't really make all that much sense to me. 

The Lakers are rumored to be a possible destination, but I doubt they'll have the financial means necessary to land Parker. 

Toronto Raptors

The hottest name in the trade rumors right now is Andrea Bargnani, although nothing official has been said about him being on the block. 

Even though he scores a lot, the Italian big man hasn't lived up to the expectations he brought overseas with him when he was drafted first-overall. It wouldn't surprise me to see him moved. 

Utah Jazz

There have been no official trade rumors dealing with the Utah Jazz, but it wouldn't surprise me to see one pop up soon, since the Jazz have way too many good members of their frontcourt to all peacefully coexist. 

Al Jefferson and Mehmet Okur are the names you should expect to hear soon. Devin Harris may be included as well. 

Washington Wizards

The Washington Post's Michael Lee reported right before the draft that the Wizards were not interested in trading center JaVale McGee, and that remains the latest rumor for this team. 

Washington is pretty set for years to come now, with good young talent at each and every position. 

Adam Fromal is a Featured Columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer. Follow him on Twitter: @Fromal09.