The lockout that is currently holding basketball fans hostage is eating up all the headlines, and with no news of player movement, and no news of trade rumors with teams unable to talk about moving players, there is little to talk about on the player movement front in the NBA.
There is a lot in terms of speculation about what the new collective bargaining agreement is going to bring, and when the league is going to come to a conclusion and bring us some basketball, but that's about it right now.
We like to spend our summers sitting in the sun by the pool, coming into an air-conditioned house and watching a baseball game, and then seeing the trade rumors and free agent signings in the NBA and NFL crawling along the bottom line, but we see none of that this year.
Instead we get a lot about stubbornness and hostility between players and owners and nothing more.
However, there is still a lot out there in terms of players who could be on the move when the season does eventually start, and right before the league locked out the players there were quite a few trade rumors floating around.
So, I'll go ahead and give you a little recap with the most persistent trade rumor floating around the Internet for each team, if they have any at all.
Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith to Orlando
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The people in the know with the Atlanta Haws, and just speculators around the league in general have talked quite a bit about the Hawks moving Josh Smith.
He has a very high value throughout the league right now, and they want to get something good in return for him.
This would be a trade that could potentially convince Dwight Howard to stay in Orlando, which is the most important thing to the Magic right now.
Boston Celtics: Players Headed to Europe
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The only big news about player movement with the Boston Celtics is that of their players accepting deals and looking into moving to Europe to play some basketball.
It has been reported that the pair of Boilermakers (E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson) that Boston picked up in the draft have been exploring signing with teams in Europe.
Meanwhile, Carlos Arroyo seems to be linked to an Italian club, Pallacanestro Cantu.
Charlotte Bobcats: Crickets Chirping
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After a huge draft day in which the Bobcats shipped away Stephen Jackson, bringing back Corey Maggette and drafting Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo.
I guess we can just chalk it up to Michael Jordan being too busy smoking a giant victory cigar for any trade rumors to crop up.
Chicago Bulls: Carlos Boozer for Best Offer
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The Chicago Bulls were severely concerned with the defensive lapses that Carlos Boozer had all season long, and even more so with his less than stellar play in the postseason.
Ultimately, Boozer's contract is too big for them to move him for anything that they would consider equal to what they put into him, so expect to see him in a Chicago uniform next season.
Cleveland Cavaliers: Omri Casspi to Spurs, Knicks
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The most busy team on the eleventh hour before the lockout began was the Cleveland Cavaliers, trading JJ Hickson for Omri Casspi and a draft pick that they may not see for six years.
However, after they picked up Casspi, there are people out there saying that they were contacted by both the San Antonio Spurs and the New York Knicks, so they may still be interested in flipping their newly acquired asset.
Dalla Mavericks: No Time for Trading!
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The Dallas Mavericks have so many things on their plate at the time being that it would almost be irresponsible for them to openly pursue any trades.
They have their minds on re-signing Tyson Chandler, JJ Barea and Caron Butler before anybody should even be talking about trades in the Mavericks front office.
Denver Nuggets: Just Trying to Keep Nene
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After the departure of Carmelo Anthony, Nene was the glue that held together much of the Denver Nuggets.
If you watch them play without Carmelo, it doesn't seem as if Nene had a more integral part than before, but he did. They were a tempo pushing team that were able to do so because they had a big man who can move with some skill and play great defense, all while not concerning himself with how many shots he had.
Losing him would be a considerable blow to the Nuggets, and they should do everything in their power to keep the man.
Detroit Pistons: Moving Richard Hamilton
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Richard Hamilton is the most movable bad contract that the Pistons currently have (and they have them overstocked at this point), so moving him would help out immensely with their team getting worse to get better.
The last time I heard about Hamilton being involved in any trade rumors was around draft day when there was talk about him being part of a deal that would send the number eight pick and Hamilton to the Cleveland Cavaliers for their trade exception and possibly a player, but obviously that didn't happen.
Golden State Warriors: The Monta Ellis Saga
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Everyone out there seems to have their idea about Monta Ellis, that he should go to this team or that team, and that Klay Thompson was brought in to replace him. However, not more than a month ago everyone was talking like the draft was weak and very few players could make an immediate impact, let alone start, so why is Thompson suddenly a capable starting shooting guard in the eyes of NBA fans?
I honestly don't see Ellis moving unless some team out there blows the Warriors out of the water with their offer, which seems unlikely at this point.
Houston Rockets: Trade for Andris Biedrins
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Sadly for Houston and the rest of the basketball world Yao Ming has retired, along with his robotically automatic Frankensteinian turnaround jumper, so the Rockets need some height.
One of the more recent rumors that I heard flying around before the lockout was that the Rockets were looking to acquire Biedrins to start at center for them, replacing the woefully undersized (yet incredibly tough) Chuck Hayes.
Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger, Roy Hibbert on the Block?
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The rumor at the beginning of last season was that the Pacers were leaning toward making Darren Collison the man of the future, and would entertain offers for Danny Granger. There was a whisper or two about a month back about Minnesota looking at Granger for the No. 2 pick in the draft.
More recently, people have talked endlessly about Indiana possibly moving Roy Hibbert, talk which Pacers President Larry Bird finally put to an end.
Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Kaman for Andre Iguodala
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This is a thought that I feel would be an absolute home run for the Clippers, and possibly a fizzle for the 76ers.
The Clippers would essentially be trading a backup center for a starting shooting guard and one of the best defenders in the league.
If Los Angeles would somehow be able to convince Philadelphia to do this, or some variation of it then I would be ready to say they are a playoff team, and could even deem them The Showtime Blakers.
Los Angeles Lakers: This Dwight Howard Thing
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There was this little thing people were talking about with the Lakers and their trade rumors, something to do with some big dude from Orlando if I recall correctly.
What originated as a Dwight Howard for Andrew Bynum and a few other players swap has grown into a deal the size of the Eiffel Tower with Bynum, Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol being involved in trade rumors in one way or another.
Memphis Grizzlies: Endless Rudy Gay Rumors
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These are the rumors that are starting to bother me. People are starting to assume that just because the Memphis Grizzlies were able to make a great playoff run without Rudy Gay then they don't need him.
The biggest push for moving Rudy Gay came from rumors that the Cleveland Cavaliers were pursuing the man, rumors which were promptly squashed by Memphis brass.
Still, even if there is a 98 percent chance that a player isn't going to be traded, there is that two percent, and the Internet grabs onto that two percent and stretches it like silly putty.
Miami Heat: Ridiculous Big Three Rumors
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Everyone has thrown them out there, don't pretend like you haven't. Even if it's just the simple LeBron James for Dwight Howard question or something more intricate, everyone has talked about the Heat potentially trading one of their trio.
For the record, I would totally swap LeBron for Dwight if I were Pat Riley, it would give the team more of an identity and probably make them less hated.
Milwaukee Bucks: Andrew Bogut on the Block
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Talk about Andrew Bogut getting traded came from the now infamous few weeks when Minnesota tried desperately to trade their number two pick and leaked every name anyone ever mentioned on the phone. Andrew Bogut was one of those names.
Trading Bogut is a silly idea, why would any team want to trade a center in a league where height is a commodity and there are no more than five really good centers in the league, Bogut being one of them?
Minnesota Timberwolves: Beasley on the Way Out?
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They drafted Derrick Williams and Michael Beasley has run into old problems again, so he may be on the way out in Minnesota.
Beasley was pulled over and they found some weed in his car, but it happened during the lockout, and is unable to be punished so there isn't really a big deal there, there just might be a stink made by people saying that he is still immature.
Either way, Beasley's trade value is as high as it has been since he was drafted, so trading him would be totally defensible.
New Jersey Nets: Superstar Pairing Search
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The New Jersey Nets are one their way to New York in 2012, so they are looking to have as much firepower as possible once they get there. Even more, they are looking for any way possible to convince Deron Williams to sign an extension with the Nets.
Names that have been thrown around include Dwight Howard of course, along with Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala and even Monta Ellis a time or two.
New Orleans Hornets: Chris Paul on the Way out
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The trend has been to get the most value possible out of your superstar player if he is going to be leaving within the next few seasons, and it should continue with Chris Paul.
Paul will likely not return to the New Orleans Hornets after they have failed to have much playoff success in the past few seasons and with the team under no real single owner he is obviously going to be concerned with the direction of the team.
New York Knicks: Finding a Way to Get Steve Nash
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The Knicks need a point guard. They have a big man who can play some defense at this point and they have a focal point of the offense in Carmelo Anthony, now all they need is someone better than Chauncey Billups to run the point.
The most recent thought has been that the Knicks drafted Iman Shumpert, a player the Suns were rumored to have been interested in before the draft, just so they can put him in a deal to bring Steve Nash to New York. Definitely a clever ploy if there is truth behind the rumor.
Oklahoma City Thunder: Insane Kendrick Perkins/Nate Robinson Rumor
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This one takes the cake and wins the award for the worst trade rumor I have heard in the past few months—easily.
It goes that Los Angeles would get Kendrick Perkins and Nate Robinson for Andrew Bynum, giving up a top-three center (albeit a bit injury prone) for a weak offensive threat and worse defender in Perkins and a career backup and novelty point guard in Robinson.
Even better, later in the same column, Paul Finney (who initially reported it) said that J.R. Smith was on his way to Cleveland, Tony Parker to the Clippers and Chris Bosh to the Mavericks. We are blowing right by ridiculous there and right into out of controlsville.
Orlando Magic: This Dwight Guy
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The only thing coming out of Orlando that people around the nation care about at this point is that silly little Dwight Howard guy.
There are endless writings and blogs out there who put their two cents into the Howard Saga, with many of them end up with Dwight wearing Purple and Gold at some point next season.
I could see it happening, but if Orlando really wants to put the clamps down on Dwight they could flat-out refuse to trade him, daring him to try to go to the Lakers in free agency who couldn't afford him without trying to clear cap space all year long, leaving them with Kobe Bryant and league minimum guys.
Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodala for Monta Ellis or Chris Kaman
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The Philadelphia 76ers have been linked to Andre Iguodala trade rumors for almost two years now, dating back to the 2010 trade deadline and offseason where he was endlessly linked to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Now it seems more likely that he could be on the move to make way for the youth movement in Philadelphia in a trade for either Monta Ellis or Chris Kaman, which are the most popular ones out there at this point.
Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash Done-Zo
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Steve Nash has to be leaving Phoenix...right? He can't want to stay there.
There is no way that the Suns could win a title in the next three years, which is about the most amount of time that Nash could spend playing as well as he is playing, and he has to want to win a ring.
I just can't fathom how they could re-sign him next Summer, so they should want to trade the guy this season.
Portland Trail Blazers: General Manager Search
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The Portland Trail Blazers fell face first into a new point guard with the Raymond Felton trade, but without a general manager they can't do much in terms of player movement or even trade rumors.
They dumped Richard Cho in May pretty unceremoniously and have to find a new GM before they can really get on track with some trades.
Sacramento Kings: Trading Cities
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The only thing the Sacramento Kings have thought about trading in the past few months has been cities (and possibly owners).
There is a perfectly fine stadium in Anaheim and a fan base that would love to have them there, plus there are some guys there willing to help pay the fine they would get for splitting Sacramento this season, so why not just cut your losses and go Maloofs?
San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker Going Nowhere
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The last trade rumor involving the San Antonio Spurs was that they were ready to part ways with Tony Parker who had fallen out of favor in San Antone because of his affair.
However, they shipped away George Hill for Kawhi Leonard, meaning the guy in line to take Parker's place is no longer there, so there is no way Parker isn't in silver next season.
Toronto Raptors: Andrea Bargnani Available?
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The New York Daily News reported a few months back that the Toronto Raptors would be willing to part ways with Andrea Bargnani, news to which every Raptors fan shed a tear of joy.
If Andrea Bargnani is on the block then a few teams should want to take a look at him because of his good offensive numbers and height, but he is one of the least aggressive defenders in the league and flat-out refuses to rebound.
Utah Jazz: Al Jefferson Losing Support in Utah?
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After trading away Deron Williams, which could be looked at as one of the smarter trades of the decade if the whole season is lost to the lockout (correct me if I'm wrong, but that would make all the 2012 free agents become free agents with no chance for their teams to trade them and get prospects in return) the Jazz are stuck between trying to grab a playoff spot and going young.
Well, shipping Al Jefferson off would be one of the first moves in a youth movement, as he should bring back a nice package of young players or draft picks in return.
Washington Wizards: Bailing on Blatche
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Andray Blatche is like The Jersey Shore, many people like it because they see it as a funny show, but when you get past the surface it is all a bunch of twenty-something d-bags getting paid to get drunk and get into staged arguments. On the surface of Andray Blatche you have a player who gets good numbers, but ultimately he doesn't contribute to a winning mentality.
Most recently Blatche had been rumored to be offered to Cleveland, but that was back in February, although I fully expect them to pick up yet again when the lockout does end.
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