NBA Trade Speculation: 8 Teams That Would Be Insane To Make a Trade

The NBA trade deadline is exactly one month away.

Rumors are flying.

Fans’ fingers are crossed.

Each team has seemingly limitless possibilities. Get rid of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum to pair Kobe with Dwight Howard? Ship half your franchise for Deron Williams? Can your team make a play for Rajon Rondo?

Speculation runs wild this time of year about what may or may not happen in the days leading up to the March 15 cutoff.

But for these eight teams, the best thing that can happen is nothing.

These teams need to avoid any trade deadline moving and shaking. Their best bet is to finish the season with the players they have.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are sitting atop the Western Conference with one of the NBA's best young rosters. There’s no reason for them to make a move.

The Thunder are in a rare position. Success is well within the team’s grasp this year—OKC was tabbed by many as the preseason favorite in the West and has done nothing to change that assumption. The team’s core players range in age from 22 (James Harden) to 27 (Kendrick Perkins). Guys coming off the bench like Nick Collison at 31 and Nazr Mohammed  at 34 are the elder statesmen of this group.

The Thunder have potential to be a power player for years to come if management can keep this group—mainly 23-year-olds Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook and 22-year-old defensive stopper Serge Ibaka—together.

2. Los Angeles Clippers

The L.A. Clippers have already made their move for the decade. Pairing one of the league’s premier point guards with its most sensational aerial artist has created a fanbase where once there was nothing but shadows of the Clippers’ arenamates.

Not only did the Clippers get Chris Paul, but they also snagged the best backup point guard in the NBA by acquiring Chauncey Billups.

By recently signing Kenyon Martin, L.A. has added some insurance in the frontcourt.

Shooting guard is the biggest weakness for the Clippers, but that is not a big concern. With talented point guards like Paul, Billups, Mo Williams and Randy Foye, as well as swingmen like Caron Butler and Ryan Gomes, the position can be filled.

This team is fun to watch for a change and their good—sitting a game-and-a-half ahead of the Lakers in the Pacific Division.

3. Miami Heat

Sure, you can argue the Miami Heat could use a better center or an upgrade at point guard.

Then again, you could argue that Natalie Portman could be prettier. While there may always be room for improvement, you can only come so close to perfection.

As long as you have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on the same team, the only thing you need is someone to refill the talcum powder and a trainer who can keep Wade in the lineup.

4. Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls have an NBA championship roster.

With Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer leading the way, this team is tough to beat. Add in the energy and rebounding of Joakim Noah, the three-point shooting of Kyle Korver, the off-the-bench offense of Richard Hamilton and the league leading cheerleading of Brian Scalabrine, and you have the perfect mix.

Other than Scalabrine who’s 33, none of the other players mentioned above are older than 30. The Bulls also have 26-year-olds Luol Deng and Ronnie Brewer.

Don’t be surprised to see Chicago playing Oklahoma City in the NBA Finals this year. Or next year. Or any of the five years following that—as long as they don’t trade away any of their key components.

5. Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves are the most exciting last-place team in the NBA. They’re like the pre-Chris Paul Clippers—only with a more appealing prospect at point guard.

Ricky Rubio is an enigma. He’s like Jason “White Chocolate” Williams. People want to see him as much for his style as for his success. If he’s able to keep a steady balance between the two, the Wolves are in good shape.

Minnesota has a healthy blend of veterans like Brad Miller and Luke Ridnour to help bring along its bumper crop of young talent.

Rubio likely has big things ahead of him, as do Michael Beasley, Anthony Randolph and Derrick Williams.

Then you’ve got Kevin Love, perhaps the best power forward in the NBA.

While they’re in last place in the Northwest Division, the Timberwolves are only three games below .500.

Minnesota fans should plan on purchasing their 2013 playoff tickets soon.

6. Charlotte Bobcats

There is not much room for improvement for the Charlotte Bobcats this season. Through 28 games, they’re 19 games out of first in the Southeast Division.

They have three wins and 25 losses.

Keep the roster you’ve got, take your lumps and hope the lottery works in your favor.

The Bobcats have young talent in Kemba Walker and Bismack Biyombo that they can build around. Another two years of successful drafts should be the goal for this franchise.

Sorry, Charlotte fans, but I wouldn’t count on seeing a lot of wins anytime soon—trade or no trade.

7. New York Knicks

Unless the New York Knicks can cash in on Jeremy Lin by swapping him for LeBron James, they need to stand pat.

As everyone with a pulse knows, Lin has been Lincredible, Linsane and Linvincible in helping New York to a six-game Linning streak. He’s rejuvenated the franchise, the city, the league, the universe. That can mean only good things for the Knicks, who have been Linjected with talent despite missing its two All-Stars during the Linsanity.

Carmelo Anthony and Amar’e Stoudemire are on their way back. If they can adjust to the Linproved system in New York, the Knicks will be in business.

With Tyson Chandler anchoring the defense, the newly Linspired Knicks can make a run at the postseason this year.

On second thought, they may want to trade for Vince Carter to help the media continue with their Linventive headlines.

8. Philadelphia 76ers

Like the saying goes, you don’t want to mess with a good thing.

The Philadelphia 76ers are the surprise success story of 2012. They’ve achieved that success by diminishing the role of the star and embracing the team concept. Eight players average nine or more points for the Sixers and nobody scores more than 16 a game.

This team cares about one another. Bringing in an outsider poses the potential threat of breaking up everything that has been created to this point.

While it would be tempting to add a standout player or a go-to scorer to push this team over the top, that would be devastating to Philadelphia.

The Sixers need to ride this thing out as long as they can.