NBA Trade Rumors: Most Underrated Players on the Block

The truncated NBA season has created seemingly insurmountable weaknesses for a number of teams, and many have taken to the rumor mill—where names like Dwight Howard lie—to find a solution.

But what about the other guys?

Howard's not-so-subtle situation continues to dominate headlines, but there are a number of other impact players who have emerged on the chopping block.

While obscene amounts of attention will continue to be paid to the league's household names, there are numerous other athletes who have the potential to render any interested organization a winner by deadline's passing.

Chris Kaman of New Orleans Hornets

Chris Kaman isn't having the type of contract year he or anyone envisioned, but his fortunes may be about to turn with reports surfacing that the New Orleans Hornets are actively shopping the 29-year-old center.

In limited playing time, Kaman has remained effective, posting an average of 9.2 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in just under 23 minutes per game. His field-goal percentage is down, but on the rare occasion he receives touches, it is usually with the shot clock winding down, forcing him to take abrupt and out of sequence shots.

As Kaman approaches 30, this is not a "buyer beware" situation. The big man is simply not a part of New Orleans' future, and consequently, his minutes are being divvied up amongst younger players.

His name may not be Dwight Howard, but Kaman's impact on both ends of the floor will be an asset for any interested teams. 

Raja Bell of Utah Jazz

Leading up to last season's trade deadline, the Utah Jazz entertained offers for Raja Bell, and the team may find itself exploring options once again as the veteran shooting guard is borderline unhappy with his current role.

At 35, Bell offers little value as a scorer, yet remains a legitimate three-point threat, which helps spread opposing defenses.

While Bell's impact on offense is limited, his perimeter defense knows no bounds. He is known for his ability to contain high-octane guards—just ask Kobe Bryant.

Any athlete with the potential to shut down A-list perimeter scorers should not go overlooked.

Mo Williams of Los Angeles Clippers

Mo Williams' emergence onto the trade block has become a trend, and although his value has never been higher, he is not held in high enough regard.

According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports!, the Los Angeles Clippers officially recalled point guard Eric Bledsoe from Bakersfield, paving the way for Williams to be traded.

Let's move past the fact that the Clippers are clearly a better team with him and focus on how Williams filled in admirably while both Chris Paul and Bledsoe were sidelined. He is averaging 14.7 points, 3.5 assists and 1.3 steals per game on the season, while posting a ridiculous 21.4 PER.

Williams' numbers are not career bests—though he is shooting a career-best 52 percent from the field—but they are within an offensive system that dictates Paul and Blake Griffin receive a majority of the touches.

Dealing for Williams will provide any interested team with an All-Star punch at a role-player price.

Devin Harris of Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are looking for a team to take point guard Devin Harris off their hands, but they may have a tough time thanks to his lukewarm start to the season.

Despite struggling with Utah's system, Harris remains one of the league's more underrated floor generals. His current averages of 9.2 points and 4.6 assists per game only tell one side of the story; his career stat line of 13.1 points, five assists and 1.2 steals per game tell the other.

The Jazz are a team to be taken seriously, yet they are one of the few whose systems don't call for a prolific point guard. Harris doesn't have an arsenal of perimeter weapons to dish off to—evident in the team's 29.6 percent three-point efficiency—and his bigs, while prolific in their own right, are not solid pick-and-roll candidates.

Deron Williams found a way to offset the unbalanced attack, and so will Harris with time. As long as he's on the chopping block, though, potentially interested teams need not be discouraged, as his struggles are purely situational.

O.J. Mayo of Memphis Grizzlies

Depending on the day, O.J. Mayo either is or isn't on the trade block. After more than a year of being dangled on and off, though, the shooting guard is far from untouchable.

Mayo has been most recently linked to New Jersey Nets, but soon after, both sides halted negotiations.

The 24-year-old thrived in a starting role his first two seasons, but has struggled to find his identity off the bench over the past year. Mayo has been overcome with unselfish play as of late, though, and Lionel Hollins' willingness to issue him a green light has re-instilled confidence in the wingman.

While Mayo has begun to establish himself as a premier threat once again, his impending restricted free agency is motivation for Memphis to move him. He has known to exhibit stubbornness, but has visibly matured over the past year, and his warrior-like tactics are severely underrated.

Under different circumstances, Mayo's role player rank could easily ascend into superstar status. 

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