NBA Trade Rumors: Marquee Names Will Add Excitement to Trade Deadline
Forget the notion that every NBA trade deadline is doomed to pass without reality living up to the hype. Dwight Howard and Paul Pierce will prove the 2012 deadline is an epic one.
The Knicks are struggling and have chemistry issues, and the Boston Celtics are mired in a downward spiral where age is becoming a problem for the first time in years.
Meanwhile, the Orlando Magic still have Dwight Howard and the season's biggest question to answer. All of this means a swirling storm may culminate and see Pierce and Howard on two different teams by the end of this truncated season.
An odd start to the season will be trumped by a crazy midseason that will see Howard and Pierce wearing new threads, and this is how it may all go down.
Paul Pierce
The Celtics are old. They aren't convalescent lawn-bowling old, but they are certainly done contending for an NBA title as is. Their defense that we have come to know and love has been far too soft to warrant keeping this team intact.
Its time to rebuild in Boston, and that doesn't have to be bad thing. ESPN's John Carroll delves into the Celtics situation and the need for them to get value for a near 100 percent healthy Pierce now.
The majority of the article may be hidden behind the Insider pay wall for those that do not subscribe. Carroll issues that there are five trades that would work out in shipping out the Celtics' franchise player.
Among them, the one I like best is a deal sending Paul Pierce and a pick to the Utah Jazz for Paul Millsap and Enes Kanter.
The Celtics would get a hard worker and a big man that may one day make up for the gaffe in sending off Kendrick Perkins. No deal is going to be perfect for the Celtics, but they cannot continue in this manner and simply age without getting better.
Dwight Howard
We have seen Howard to the Lakers and Nets, but we have overlooked a great possibility with the NY Knicks.
Tom Carpenter of ESPN surmises that the Knicks may be a great landing spot for Superman and would give the Magic exactly what they need in incoming star power.
Carpenter quotes Stephen A. Smith, who stated a juicy rumor that would send Howard to Manhattan.
"The Orlando Magic, I will preface my statement by telling you that they have categorically denied this, but my sources tell me that they have inquired about Tyson Chandler and Amar'e Stoudemire going to Orlando for Dwight Howard.
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Smith goes on to say that he would do that trade in a heartbeat if he were the knocks, even though he loves Tyson Chandler.
Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire are not gelling as you would hope two of the team's big three could. Their chemistry issues could make the Knicks likely to break up a carefully crafted star-studded team.
The Magic would get two great big men in return, which is more than they could have hoped for in any other trade.
This is a rumor that would turn the NBA on its head. As we continue towards the deadline, it is far more likely that this season's trades would be the stuff of legend.
