NBA Trade Rumors: Veterans from Every Team Who Could Be Traded

The NBA trade deadline is coming and every team will look to ship away under-performing players in exchange for guys who can help them challenge for a playoff spot.

This year every team has at least one player who they would either love to give away or be willing to trade.

Let's examine the underachieving veterans from each NBA team who would be top trade targets.

Atlanta Hawks: Josh Smith

Smith is the Hawks’ mercurial star.  He is one of the best talents in the NBA , but either due to lack of practice or poor basketball IQ, he can't seem to take the next step to stardom.

Smith still does not completely grasp the Hawks’ offense and jacks up far too many jump shots.  But he is still the league’s most athletic small forward-power forward hybrid and one of the NBA’s strongest defenders.

He is a great target for a contender that needs limited offense from him.  Potential fits are the Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards. 

Boston Celtics: Rajon Rondo

Rondo is not exactly under-performing.  But like Josh Smith, he cannot seem to fine tune his game and take the jump to stardom.

Rondo was shopped for Chris Paul earlier this offseason.  He remains a painfully poor shooter and his free-throw percentages are so low that teams feel comfortable both leaving him open and hacking him in the lane toward the end of games.

But he has tremendous value as one of the league’s most cerebral point guards. The Celtics could get a lot of value back if they decide to deal Rondo and retool.

Potential fits are the Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Indiana Pacers.

Charlotte Bobcats: Tyrus Thomas

Thomas has gone from over-hyped super prospect, to under-performing talent, to underachieving veteran.

Despite his exceptional athleticism, Thomas’s low basketball IQ limits his grasp of offensive systems and ability to contribute on that side of the ball. He also has a very large and long contract. 

But Thomas remains one of the league’s best defenders and would instantly upgrade the second unit of an NBA contender.  Potential fits are the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets.  

Chicago Bulls: Joakim Noah

Joakim Noah is an integral part of the Bulls’ team.  But if Chicago makes a move, it will be to acquire Dwight Howard.

Any deal for the Magic center will have to be built around Noah, along with some combination of picks, cash and Taj Gibson.  Noah has also been under-performing this year, which could make Chicago more willing to make a deal.

Still, the Magic are the only potential fit in this case.  

Cleveland Cavaliers: Antawn Jamison

Jamison is not the Cavalier every team covets, but Anderson Varejao will command a king’s ransom.  No team will pay the price to acquire him, which makes Jamison the player most likely to move at the deadline.

He is aging and dogging it on defense. but Jamison still could  help a contender or help Cleveland bring on salary in exchange for rebuilding assets (for reference, think of last year’s Mo Williams-Baron Davis deal). 

Potential fits are the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies (if Zach Randolph suffers a setback).  

Dallas Mavericks: Lamar Odom

Odom was meant to replace Tyson Chandler while the Mavericks cleverly reloaded for a 2012 free agency frenzy.  That was wildly optimistic, but Odom still has drastically underperformed and showed his mercurial, emotionally insecure side since his abrupt trade out of Los Angeles.

He may just need another change of scenery, Dallas could look to ship him to a contender in need of size and versatility.  Potential fits are the Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.  

Denver Nuggets: Andre Miller

Miller is playing well in limited minutes, but he is now firmly locked in a reserve role behind Ty Lawson.  Denver can certainly use him for its playoff run, but he could also fetch a nice young player at the deadline.

Potential fits are the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers.  

Detroit Pistons: Rodney Stuckey

Once upon a time, the Pistons dealt Chauncey Billups for Allen Iverson because Stuckey was their point guard of the future.  Fast forward a few years and the team now has young Brandon Knight, which leaves Stuckey in a sticky (pun intended) spot.

But several teams could use someone like Stuckey, a sixth man and occasional point guard.  Potential fits are the New Orleans Hornets and Utah Jazz.  

Golden State Warriors: Andris Biedrins

Biedrins has been a monumental disappointment for three seasons.  Several years ago, he emerged as an up-and-coming center and nightly double-double threat.

But those days are gone.  Now, he looks inept offensively, cannot hit a free throw, and lacks the lateral movement to play good defense.

But NBA executives love seven-footers with a history of good performance, so if Golden State looks to deal Biedrins, they could find a taker. Potential fits are the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings. 

Houston Rockets: Luis Scola

Houston already tried to deal Scola once this year in the botched Chris Paul deal that would have netted them star power forward Pau Gasol.

Scola has not performed at peak levels this season and could be shipped if Houston is able to land a legitimate franchise star.  So any trade for him would likely be a multi-team deal. 

Potential fits are the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers as part of a larger deal involving Gasol and Dwight Howard.  

Indiana Pacers: George Hill

The Pacers like their team and they like Hill.  He is not likely to be moved. 

Nonetheless, he is not a point guard and Indiana could move him to help facilitate a deal to acquire a better point guard than starter Darren Collison.

Few potential deals loom, though Rajon Rondo could be available depending on how the Celtics’ season progresses before the deadline.

Potential fits are the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards.  

Los Angeles Clippers: Chauncey Billups

Yes, Billups is out the rest of the season.  But the Clippers could look to turn his contract, which expires at the end of this season, into a contributing player with a longer deal.

Stephen Jackson looms as a risky target for the Clippers, who need more production from the swingman position.  Tyrus Thomas could also help form a tremendous second unit alongside Kenyon Martin.

So, potential fits are the Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Bobcats.  

Los Angeles Lakers: Metta World Peace

At this point, the Lakers would love to get rid of the ghost of Ron Artest.  He is a clubhouse cancer whose problems now outweigh his performance.

But will anyone take him?

The Lakers could convince a rebuilding club to take his contract  in exchange for cash, draft picks and Darius Morris, which would give them more monetary flexibility moving forward.

Potential fits are the Phoenix Suns, Cleveland Cavaliers and New Orleans Hornets.  

Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo

Mayo has found his groove this season as a sweet-shooting sixth man. But the Grizzlies cannot afford to keep him in the offseason, so they will need to ship him out at the deadline. 

The Pacers could take another stab at him after failing last year. Other teams also could also check in on the former USC star.

Potential fits are the Indiana Pacers and San Antonio Spurs.  

Miami Heat: Joel Anthony

The Heat signed Anthony because he is a glue guy and effort defender.  But he is the NBA’s most offensively inept center. 

The Heat could look to ship him for an incremental upgrade at the position. He would be a great pickup for a young team in need of a character veteran for the locker room.

Potential fits are the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.  

Milwaukee Bucks: Stephen Jackson

The Bucks would love to unload Jackson and his contract.  But will anyone bite?

A  Jackson-for-Richard-Jefferson swap could be interesting, especially because the money works and Jackson would start trying again in San Antonio. 

The Mavericks also could swap Shawn Marion for Jackson.

So, potential partners could be the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs.  

Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Beasley

Beasley is an incredibly talented player, but he has failed to improve this season and lacks a permanent position.

The Wolves need to commit to top 2011 draft pick Derrick Williams at the small forward spot and superstar Kevin Love at power forward.

That means Beasley should be shipped to a team that has a slot open at small forward. Potential fits are the Toronto Raptors and Utah Jazz.

New Jersey Nets: Brook Lopez

Lopez has been on the NBA trading block since he forgot how to rebound last year. 

New Jersey would like to turn him into Dwight Howard, but that possibility grows more remote by the day.  He remains one of the league’s best young centers, but his defensive deficiencies, rebounding problems and recurring injuries loom as problems that could derail any trade.

Potential fits are the Orlando Magic and Golden State Warriors.  

New Orleans Hornets: Eric Gordon

In its ongoing effort to discredit itself, the NBA got involved in internal New Orleans Hornets affairs and engineered the Chris Paul trade that netted the Hornets Eric Gordon. 

Of course, Gordon has been injured and has no interest in staying, which means New Orleans should look to deal him for assets at the deadline.

Potential fits are the Indiana Pacers and Washington Wizards.  

New York Knicks: Toney Douglas

Did Douglas forget how to play basketball?  The Knicks’ shooting guard has been awful and has been replaced with Jeremy Lin, Iman Shumpert, and Landry Fields in the rotation.

But he still has value based on his performance as a rookie. Several teams could take a chance on him at the deadline.

Potential fits are the Toronto Raptors and Portland Trail Blazers.  

Oklahoma City Thunder: Thabo Sefolosha

Oklahoma City is not likely to let anyone go at the deadline.  But if anyone is expendable, it’s Sefolosha because sixth-man guard James Harden is playing like an All-Star. 

The current situation is a bit like when Michael Finley started for the San Antonio Spurs in the later years of his career over Manu Ginobli.  It’s more likely that Harden will simply become a starter, or the Thunder will continue as they have been because Harden presents such incredible matchup problems for an opponent's second unit.

Potential fits are the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks.  

Orlando Magic: Jason Richardson

Once upon a time, Magic GM Otis Smith believed Jason Richardson was the missing piece for the Magic to contend for a title.  Suffice to say, that belief has been debunked.

Richardson is performing below his career levels and looks a bit old, but he can still help a contending team that needs help at shooting guard. 

The question is whether the Magic will deal him as part of a rebuilding process or go for broke this season.  Potential fits are the Chicago Bulls and Los Angeles Lakers.  

Philadelphia 76ers: Thaddeus Young

The 76ers are likely to stand pat at the deadline.  But Young is another one of those talents who has not quite taken the next step and could be shipped to another destination.  Potential fits are the New Orleans Hornets and Cleveland Cavaliers.  

Phoenix Suns: Robin Lopez

Both Lopez brothers struggled this past season, but Robin is in worse shape moving forward.  He lost the starting center job to new star Marcin Gortat and has not looked good since then.

But he still has upside and a low salary, which means teams will take a chance on him.  Potential fits are the Portland Trail Blazers and Sacramento Kings.

Portland Trail Blazers: Nicolas Batum

Batum is a great talent.  The Blazers drafted him out of France and waited for him to arrive.

Although he is not under-performing, he is also not progressing to stardom as anticipated.  The Blazers will not give him away, but he could be part of a larger deal for a new franchise star. 

Potential fits are the New Orleans Hornets and Houston Rockets.  

Sacramento Kings: Jason Thompson

Thompson is another high pick who did not live up to his potential.  He is not exactly a bust, but he is not the Kings’ power forward of the future.

At this point, they need to look for a young center to pair opposite DeMarcus Cousins and should deal Thompson for assets toward that goal.

Potential fits are the Detroit Pistons and New Orleans Hornets. 

San Antonio Spurs: Richard Jefferson

Jefferson was the rare failed acquisition by San Antonio’s fabled front office.  The Spurs would love to unload his contract for another veteran without having to use their precious amnesty.

Stephen Jackson looms as the best potential fit, but you can be sure the Spurs will place a “just in case” call to every team in the NBA. 

Potential fits are the Milwaukee Bucks and Cleveland Cavaliers.  

Toronto Raptors: Jose Calderon

At this point, Calderon is what he is: a gifted offensive artist at point guard who has limited scoring ability and may be the worst defensive player in basketball.

Calderon is the type of point guard who could help a team that is a point guard away from serious contention, which does sound like a few of the league’s teams.

Potential fits are the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz. 

Utah Jazz: Devin Harris

The Jazz are a surprisingly strong team this season, but Harris is the weak link in the starting lineup.

It feels like yesterday that Harris was an underrated young point guard, but it’s been years since his lone All-Star season in 2008. Now, Harris is just another under-performing veteran and could be shipped off if the Jazz look to use their young assets to upgrade at point guard. 

Potential fits are the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Lakers.  

Washington Wizards: Andray Blatche

Blatche is an exceptional talent, but his basketball IQ is low and he has a problematic locker-oom attitude. The Wizards will look to sell him for 50 cents on the dollar just to get him away from their other developing young players.

The Spurs could look to put him next to Tim Duncan (and hope he matures next to the big fella), and Detroit could be interested as well.

So, potential fits are the San Antonio Spurs and Detroit Pistons.