NBA Rumors: Chris Paul, Brandon Roy and the Top Five Players Likely to Move

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The NBA is back to business as usual and the free-agency conversations have started to build momentum going into Dec. 9th.

Who is going to sign who and what trades will be made? With many of the top contending teams looking to make moves that will improve their playoff chances, look for a flurry of activity before the regular season tip-off on Christmas Day.

I've come up with a short list of big-name players and which team makes the most sense to them. The five players who I think that will move are...

5. Rajon Rondo

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The trade rumors are swirling and I personally don't understand why. He is one the most unselfish point guards to play in quite some time but I guess that his Boston days are numbered.

Forget about him going to New Orleans in a trade for Chris Paul, but can you imagine him in a Pacers uniform? I can and I think Rondo for James Posey's expiring deal and Roy Hibbert would work.

4. Tyson Chandler

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Sources are saying that Tyson Chandler will not return to the Mavericks.  Although I don't believe this development, let's go with it. 

Let's say Tyson Chandler doesn't re-sign, then I see New Jersey signing him after dumping the terrible contract of Travis Outlaw.

Chandler did play well with a great point guard and Deron Williams is a great point guard. 

3. Nene

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If he were staying in Denver, Nene would have signed the contract extension the Nuggets offered during the mid-season. He instead turned them down.

What team makes the most sense for him? Honestly, the Chicago Bulls do, but allow me to wake up from my dreams and say that he'll most likely become a Houston Rocket before it's done.

2. Brandon Roy

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Amnesty cuts be darned!

Brandon Roy will most likely be the biggest name to be let go and the moment that he is sent packing, several teams will be looking to sign him. 

If Dallas doesn't re-sign Caron Butler or J.J. Barea, then they might be a logical choice for Roy, though Jeff Green makes more sense from an athletic standpoint. They also have Rudy Fernandez from a draft day trade.

Brandon Roy will become a Chicago Bull.

1. Chris Paul

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Chris Paul will be traded! I repeat, Chris Paul will be traded, but not to the Knicks.

I'm sorry Knick fans, but the trio of Stoudemire, Melo and Paul isn't going to happen—not this season.

The Knicks don't need him anyway; they need a legitimate big man and a pass-first point guard. Chris Paul is a good fit there because he's an unselfish player, but an Andre Miller-type would get them over into the second round. The undervalued Kirk Hinrich fits like a glove here (figured I'd give you something to hope for).

Star-power is key in Orlando as (my apologies to anyone looking for Dwight Howard to be traded) Chris Paul perhaps joins the Magic. 

One thing to keep in mind...the league owns the Hornets and one of the major reasons for the lockout was the fact that stars were leaving the teams that drafted them by refusing to re-sign and those teams declined in value. The respective owners lost money.

Do you honestly believe that it's in the NBA's best interest to let Dwight Howard leave Orlando when they can offer the best possible lifeline?

My guess is no. Chris Paul to the Magic.

Don't Be Surpised If...

Draft day photo from 2009
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...Kevin Love finds his way into a Bulls jersey.

...Russell Westbrook joins another team in the midseason. He wants to be the star of his own team and the Lakers make a heck of a lot of sense. May the Westbrook for Bynum rumors begin.