NBA Trade Speculation: 7 Teams That May Make a Boneheaded Deal

Despite the NBA lockout in full effect, there has been no shortage of NBA trade rumors and speculation as to what will happen next when the action picks back up.

With a multitude of teams looking to compete and others looking to clear cap space for the prized free agent class of 2012, there could be some serious names on the move.

It's going to be interesting to track all of the moves from around the league, but these seven teams should be awfully careful when contemplating what comes next.

7. Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers were swept from the postseason by the Dallas Mavericks, and that left the former champs with a sour taste in their mouth as they look ahead to 2011-12.

Despite the fact that many are clamoring for the Lakers to swing a big move, it's unlikely that the club will look to engage in a drastic shakeup of a core that's already proven capable of winning a championship.

Lamar Odom's name has come up in multiple rumors, but if the team deals him for anything less than a proven star in return, it's going to be a move that they sorely regret.

6. Toronto Raptors

The Raptors were a complete mess last season with Andrea Bargnani leading the offensive charge, and despite the obvious need to upgrade, most of the attention was fixated on point guard Jose Calderon.

With Jerryd Bayless looking like a legitimate option to run the offense and Calderon seemingly wearing out his welcome in T-Dot, it's possible that the club could explore to move the prolific passer in exchange for some increased offensive contributions.

However, if the Raps pull the trigger on an exchange that nets them nothing but some financial relief and uninspiring draft selections, it wasn't a deal worth making.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

When the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Derrick Williams with the second overall pick, the club added to its already over-crowded rotation of wing players.

Now with Williams, Wes Johnson, Anthony Randolph, Martell Webster, Michael Beasley and Lazar Haywood, the T-Wolves clearly need to explore a deal for at least one of them as there simply aren't enough minutes to go around.

After Beasley's latest brush-in with the law over yet another marijuana charge, Minnesota could look to put him on the chopping block and move him in a deal similar to the one that they acquired him in.

But that would be the wrong move.

Kahn got the former number two overall selection for pennies on the dollar, and after he averaged 19.2 points per game last season, the T-Wolves would be regressing if they moved the skilled scorer.

4. Memphis Grizzlies

After the Grizzlies went on a surprising postseason run that saw them win their first games in franchise history without Rudy Gay, some speculated that the team would be better without him and his max contract.

However, Memphis sorely struggled at the conclusion of their playoff performance because of an inability to stretch the floor and convert from the perimeter, and that's exactly what Gay could have provided in a critical moment.

If the Grizzlies are going to consider trading Gay, they're likely going to get far less than what he's actually worth because of his inflated contract, and that probably wouldn't help them whatsoever in the long run.

3. Golden State Warriors

The Monta Ellis trade rumors have gone back and forth over the course of the offseason, but it would be a serious mistake if they ever came to fruition.

Ellis' unique nature as an electric scorer is not one that can be replicated easily on the court, and no matter what the Warriors would receive as a potential return, there's little doubt that retaining Ellis would be a far better alternative.

Despite the club drafting perimeter-oriented contributors in Klay Thompson and Charles Jenkins, Ellis' contract is relatively affordable—$11 million per season—and he is an elite contributor when he's healthy, as he showed during the 2010-11 campaign by averaging 24.1 points, 5.6 assists and 2.1 steals.

2. Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard wants the Magic to overhaul the roster before he considers signing a long-term extension with the team,

With only PG Jameer Nelson, SG J.J. Redick and PF Brandon Bass as (semi) attractive trade chips at the negotiating table, General Manager Otis Smith has an uphill battle ahead of him.

Last season in two separate trades, the Magic acquired PG Gilbert Arenas, SF Hedo Turkoglu, SG Jason Richardson and SF Earl Clark, but none of those players are what I'd term "difference makers" on a championship caliber club.

The Magic are going to need to execute a major deal for a legitimate offensive-minded player in order to appease Howard, but if they trade for a player with multiple years remaining on his deal and it doesn't deliver a championship to Orlando, the team will likely be waving goodbye to their big man in the middle at the conclusion of the season.

1. Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith is a very, very unique player with a boatload of talent and athleticism, and there's no doubt that there are a number of teams that would happily welcome him to the roster.

Despite the solid production that J-Smoove has given to Atlanta over recent seasons, it appears that his battles with inconsistency may have grown a little tiresome in the Hawks' front office.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported that the team was gauging interest in the forward prior to the draft, and it looks as if he's a very real candidate to be moved when transactions resume post-lockout.

If the Hawks move Smith in a deal similar to Michael Beasley's exodus from Miami, it'll be a move that the team will be left questioning for several seasons to come.