NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Teams One Veteran Away from Contender Status

As the NBA nears the halfway point of this fast-paced 66-game season, it is already apparent which teams are the contenders and which ones are struggling through yet another year.

Somewhere in the middle of those two places is a group of teams who are almost there but need a little bit of help.

Some are teams that are surprising the league, and some are teams that were expected to perform better.

A few of these teams are showing their age, and some have once again been hit by the injury bug.

While many of these would be able to surprise a higher-ranked team in a first-round playoff series, the following is a list of teams who are one veteran player away from being a true contender in the NBA.

Utah Jazz

The Utah Jazz are a team that has a good mix of veteran players and guys who are learning to handle life in the NBA.

The biggest deficiency the team has had so far this season has been at the point guard position. 

Devin Harris has struggled to find consistency, and Earl Watson has played well in a relief role, but the team needs an upgrade at that position.

The ideal scenario for the team would be if it could pick up a point guard like Mo Williams from the Los Angeles Clippers, Andre Miller from division rival the Denver Nuggets or even Aaron Brooks from the Phoenix Suns when he is able to return from his time in China.

If they could use all or part of the approximately $10 million trade exception they got back when they sent Mehmet Okur to the New Jersey Nets, they will be able to add a veteran player without giving up one of their own.

Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic have been a player away from true contention since they reached the NBA Finals a couple of seasons ago.

This year is no different, and if the Magic don't add a quality player to the team, it is a sure sign that Dwight Howard will leave for another team this summer as a free agent.

Howard has reportedly shown interest in playing alongside Milwaukee Bucks forward Stephen Jackson, who has not worked out well with his current team.

If the Magic have any hope of keeping an increasingly more disgruntled Howard, they must look at a trade to acquire Jackson.

If that is not enough to keep Howard around, the Magic will have a huge problem, as they will have to scramble to trade Howard and hope to get good players back in return.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies showed last season that they were ready to take the next step towards contention as they put together a surprising run in the Western Conference playoffs.

This season, the Grizzlies started with high expectations and were supposed to be one of the top teams in the West. They are currently doing all they can to keep pace in the playoff race and are trying to get into the eighth spot.

The veteran player that they need to add to the rotation is not a guy they will need to trade for or sign to a contract, but Zach Randolph, who is already on the roster.

Reports indicate that Randolph is currently ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation process and could return after the All-Star break.

If he returns at this time, Randolph will be the much-needed spark the team needs to improve on its .500 record, make it into the playoffs and go on another deep playoff run.

Toronto Raptors

The Toronto Raptors have several promising young players on the roster and have a couple of good veterans as well in Jose Calderon and Andrea Bargnani. 

Unfortunately, at the moment, Bargnani is missing games with an injury, and they do not yet have that player who can take over and finish a game.

Despite a big season-high performance from Calderon recently against the Los Angeles Lakers, the team is reportedly open to trading him away. He would be difficult to move due to his big salary, but there are several teams looking for a quality point guard.

Another option would be to pursue J.R. Smith as he returns from China, but at that point it may be too late for this season. If they were able to acquire a player like Smith and keep Bargnani healthy, they could finally return to being a playoff team.

Smith would bring more consistent shooting to the team, have the chance to start—which he did not do often in Denver—and be a perimeter shooter that opens things up for Ed Davis and Bargnani to operate closer to the basket.

Denver Nuggets

The Denver Nuggets have been a better team since they traded away All-Star Carmelo Anthony to the New York Knicks last season.

This season, the Nuggets started out stronger than many expected but have run into some difficulty lately with the loss of leading scorer Danilo Gallinari to injury.

Like the Memphis Grizzlies, the best addition to the team is a player it is already familiar with.

The return of Wilson Chandler from China will be one that is welcome for this team and one that both Chandler and the team want to have happen.

Chandler may have to wait until sometime in March to once again become a Nugget, as his Chinese team looks like it will make the playoffs.

The return of Chandler from China and Gallinari from injury will help this team to get back on track and help it to become the contender it looked like in the early part of this season.

Milwaukee Bucks

It seems like the Milwaukee Bucks have been a player away from being contenders for several seasons.

The team thought it had added that piece with the addition of Stephen Jackson in the offseason, but that has not worked out like it was planned.

Despite being frustrated early in the season, Jackson seems to be taking his recent benching with a good attitude.

The other problem the Bucks face is another significant injury to big man Andrew Bogut.

Jackson may be the key player in a deal with the New Jersey Nets, who would use him to try to convince Dwight Howard to join the team this summer.

A trade of Jackson for Brook Lopez and Anthony Morrow would be close to matching salaries, but the Nets would have to throw in a draft pick or another role player to make it work.

If they thought that it would bring Howard to the team, the Nets would make the deal, and the Bucks would be happy to part with Jackson.

Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers started the season off with a 7-3 record in the Northwest Division, but things have since evened out for the team.

One big need that they have is finding a consistent outside shooter to better open up the floor for LaMarcus Aldridge down low.

The Blazers are a team that has the potential to beat any of the teams in the Western Conference in a playoff series, but the addition of a perimeter shooting veteran would add needed consistency for the team.

One player to look at is Boston Celtic guard Ray Allen. Earlier this season, the Celtics were willing to break up the Big Three and look at options to get younger players. It could work if the Blazers offered the Celtics some combination of Jamal Crawford, draft picks and possibly Greg Oden, who could still have time left to play in the NBA.

If Allen were to return to the Northwest, he would bring another outside threat for the Blazers.

Los Angeles Lakers

It is no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers need help at the point guard position.

With the injury to Steve Blake and the decline in play of Derek Fisher, the Lakers need to find someone to help Kobe Bryant.

According to ESPN, the Lakers have looked at multiple options, including Gilbert Arenas, who recently was in Los Angeles working out for the team.

The Lakers have also shown interest in trading for Cleveland Cavaliers guard Ramon Sessions or Houston Rockets point guard Jonny Flynn.

Whatever they do, they desperately need a point guard to consistently and effectively run the offense and take some pressure off Kobe Bryant.

If they are unable to add that player, the Lakers will be looking at a repeat of last season's playoffs, where they took an earlier than expected trip home for the summer.

Boston Celtics

After a slow start, the Boston Celtics have been playing better lately and are coming off a big home victory over the Chicago Bulls.

Despite the big win that came with Derrick Rose sidelined, the Celtics are still seventh in the Eastern Conference and have some very good teams in front of them.

The Celtics have plenty of veteran players on their team but need to add one more guy that can bring energy off the bench and give the older guys a rest.

There have been trade rumors lately for the Celtics for players that would add that energy.

Although it is very unlikely after Rajon Rondo's big triple-double against the bulls, there was talk that would send Rajon Rondo to the Los Angeles Lakers for Pau Gasol.

Other reports have outlined these five possibilities for Paul Pierce:

"

1. Atlanta Hawks for PF Josh Smith
2. Memphis Grizzlies for SF Rudy Gay
3. Indiana Pacers for SF Danny Granger
4. Utah Jazz for Paul Millsap and pick, or Enes Kanter and 2012 draft pick
5. Houston Rockets for Kevin Martin and Patrick Patterson/Jordan Hill

"

The Celtics also have options with the expiring contracts of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

If the team does bring in another quality player, it will come at a price for the Celtics, who will have to break up the big three.

Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns need to bring in somebody to get back into contention.

Aside from Steve Nash and Marcin Gortat, players on the team are not doing much to help the Suns win at this point.

The Suns are a team that needs some excitement that could come in the form of an athletic player to pair with Nash.

Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, Memphis Grizzlies guard O.J. Mayo and Michael Beasley are all players who need new homes and would bring a spark to the Suns.

The difficult thing with the Suns making a trade is that they would have to give up several players for one in return, as they don't have much to offer to make salaries work. They do have draft picks, but they need to hold on to those for when Nash calls it a career.

Bringing in an exciting young player will be the spark that is needed in Phoenix that would energize other teams and help the Suns get to the playoffs where anything can happen.

To return to contention, the Suns must do something to help out Steve Nash or his career will end on a losing note.

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