NBA Trade Rumors: Deals That Must Be Completed Before 2011-2012 Season Starts

The NBA season tips off in less than two weeks, and while fans cannot wait for opening tip-off, the rumor-mill will keep the basketball world occupied until then.

Since the lockout ended, trade rumors have run rampant throughout the league. Players that were being shopped prior to the stoppage have returned to the block, in addition to some new faces that have opted to make an appearance.

While nearly two weeks may seem like an eternity to fans that have gone without basketball for so long, Christmas day will be here before we know it, giving teams little time to complete deals before being forced to negotiate them in-season.

Amidst a heavily-condensed schedule, in-season trades stand to be a major inconvenience, as they provide unnecessary distractions.

As a result, there are a number of deals that must go down before the 2011-2012 campaign begins, as they are liable to cause the same type of distraction Carmelo Anthony negotiations did last season.

Chris Paul to Anyone

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Chris Paul's situation is rapidly developing into a Carmelo Anthony-like headache for the New Orleans Hornets.

There was a deal in place that would have landed Paul with the Los Angeles Lakers, but the NBA-owned Hornets vetoed the trade, refusing to facilitate the formation of another superstar powerhouse at that price. Since then, the Lakers have pulled out of the Paul sweepstakes, opting to chase Dwight Howard.

It seems now that the Los Angeles Clippers are hot on Paul's trail, as they are working feverishly to hash out a deal that would pair Paul with the Blake Griffin. The Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics could also get involved once again, as well.

Regardless of where Paul lands, the fact is he needs to go there before the season starts. Not only do both parties involved need to have time to develop some chemistry, but this debacle is already a major distraction, and one that will only get worse.

The Hornets seemed determined to move Paul as soon as possible, and while this is the right state of mind to be in, let's hope David Stern doesn't feel compelled to veto yet another potential deal.

Andre Iguodala to Los Angeles Lakers

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The Lakers are officially in a messy situation, as they went from being favored to land both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, to the gut-wrenching reality that they may miss out on both superstars.

Now that Los Angeles' circumstances have changed, it is imperative they revisit other options. The team is likely to wait for both the Paul and Howard sagas to play out, but as soon as they do, the Lakers can waste no time mourning.

Prior to the lockout, Los Angeles was involved in talks with the Philadelphia 76ers regarding swingman Andre Iguodala. Talks never really went too far, as the Lakers held Howard and Paul aspirations, but they could be rekindled now that Los Angeles' situation has changed.

A roadblock to this potential deal is the fact that Lamar Odom is now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, which means the groundwork to make such a trade happen has to be completely revamped.

Regardless of how the Lakers do it though, they need bring Iguodala to Los Angeles before the start of the season. His bloated contract makes him the easiest superstar to acquire, and thus the most realistic option.

And let's face it, the Lakers cannot walk out of this offseason empty-handed. 

Dwight Howard to New Jersey Nets

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Dwight Howard is eyeing a move to the New Jersey Nets, a deal that must be completed before the NBA season officially kicks off.

At this point, it benefits both Howard and the Orlando Magic to just move on. His impending free-agency is becoming a headache for both him and the team, and it would be settling to get some closure on both fronts.

Additionally, there are a number of other teams, like the Dallas Mavericks and Lakers, who will have all moves on hold until the star center's situation is resolved. Once Howard is dealt, all teams on the hook can pursue other avenues.

Chris Paul's next move may be receiving the most prominent placement of all the trade rumors, but make no mistake that Howard's potential relocation stands to shift the balance of power even more.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.