NBA Trade Rumors: Chances for the Top 5 Rumored Players to Get Moved

Even through a summer where everyone knew the lockout was coming—and it eventually did—there still was a long list of NBA players who were considered to be on the trading block.

The list was littered with some role players but also includes some of the best players in the NBA today.

Here are the top five NBA players on the trading block, and their chances of being traded before the trade deadline comes and goes this upcoming season.

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Chris Paul

After heavy speculation last season surrounding Chris Paul during last season's trade deadline, the New Orleans Hornets opted to keep Paul around for at least one more go-around.

Now entering the final season on Paul's multi-year deal with the Hornets nears, the rumors have started to heat up again.

I see a scenario somewhat similar to Carmelo Anthony's last season. That being the deal will be a last minute kind of deal, with rumors flying abroad about a new team Paul is linked to everyday during that final week before the deadline before Paul ends up being traded.

I think the two front running teams for Paul are the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, and I think there is a 75 percent chance that Paul is wearing a new team's jersey by the end of the 2011-12 NBA season.

Josh Smith

Coming off one of his best seasons in the NBA where he averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this past year, Josh Smith seems to be an expendable piece of the Atlanta Hawks team.

After the past few seasons of making serious noise in the regular season, only to fall flat in the playoffs, the Hawks could use a little mix-up in their lineup and Smith is the perfect player to shop around.

As Smith matures more-and-more each season his game has been improving and so has his attitude, making him an even more intriguing trade prospect.

Smith has been linked to the Orlando Magic, and would make a serious case for Dwight Howard sticking around Orlando.

I think the possibility of Smith being dealt is around the 65 percent range.

Monta Ellis

The high-power scoring machine that is Montana Ellis would make an instant impact on any team that would be luck enough to land the shooting guard.

Ellis averaged 24 points-per-game last season, and could help out a team who is in dire need of a scorer—like the Chicago Bulls.

There is a long list of possible suitors for Ellis including: Atlanta, Chicago, L.A. Lakers, Memphis, Orlando, Philadelphia and Portland.

Ellis has a 60 percent chance of going to one of the seven interested teams and playing for them this upcoming season.

4. Steve Nash

Although Steve Nash seems to be as loyal of a player as there is in the NBA these days, the Phoenix Suns would be showing their respect for Nash by trading him to a contender giving him a shot a a title before his career is all said and done.

The Suns are in the midst of a total rebuilding process of their team, and Nash is one of the last pieces that still remains of the old Suns teams that had marginal success in the past.

Sending Nash to a contending team as he enters the twilight of his career would be a proper gesture in the part of the Suns and there are a few who need a pint guard with the abilities Nash holds.

Possible teams who are contenders who would benefit from Nash are the L.A. Lakers, Dallas Mavericks, and the New York Knicks.

Given the fact that the Suns and Nash both seem reluctant, it's hard to see the chance of Nash leaving the Suns anywhere above 50 percent.

Dwight Howard

The most coveted of the player's brought up in recent trade rumors is the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard.

Howard had a monster season last year averaging 23 points and 14 rebounds-per-game, and won his third straight defensive player of the year honor.

Howard is going into the final year on his contract, and the Magic would be wise to avoid a LeBron-like situation and wait it out til the end of the season and get nothing in return for their marque player.

Howard has been linked to the L.A.Lakers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.

Given the possibility of the LeBron decision happening to the Magic, I feel the chances of Howard leaving Orlando are around 80 percent.