NBA Trade Rumors: Small-Market Stars Who May Be Going to New York or Los Angeles

With the March 15 trade deadline fast approaching, players will soon be moving from small markets to one of the teams in either New York or Los Angeles.

The biggest players in this will be the Los Angeles Lakers and the New Jersey Nets, who are moving to Brooklyn next season.  

The Los Angeles Clippers seem to be content with the team that they have and have not generated many trade rumors. 

With the emergence of Jeremy Lin, the New York Knicks have backed off of trying to acquire a point guard, but still may be interested in a trade for the right player. 

The following is a list of players who will be moving at the trade deadline. Each of them could easily make it to play on one of the teams in the bigger markets of Los Angeles or New York.

Stephen Jackson

It is no secret that Stephen Jackson has not helped the Milwaukee Bucks in the way that was expected when they acquired him on draft night last summer. 

It is also not a secret that the New Jersey Nets are doing all that they can to convince Orlando Magic superstar Dwight Howard to come and play for the team whether it be via trade or by free agency. 

Stephen Jackson may be the method of landing Dwight Howard that the Nets are looking for. 

Howard reportedly wants to play with Jackson, and if the Nets traded for him, it would be more appealing for Howard to join Jackson and Deron Williams on the Nets. 

The Nets would be taking a big risk in picking up Jackson, as Howard could be traded elsewhere.

With Jackson and Deron Williams on the team, Howard could still opt to team up with them this summer when he is a free agent. 

It would be a bit of a gamble to trade for Jackson with a bigger goal in mind, but the Nets could offer draft picks and young players in return for Jackson who has one year left on his contract.

Raymond Felton

Raymond Felton has not worked out well for the Portland Trail Blazers, and the team may be looking to move him at the trade deadline. 

Roland Lazenby of Lakernoise.com has suggested that the Los Angeles Lakers are interested in adding Felton as an upgrade at the point guard position.

Felton is in the final year of his contract and will not return to the Blazers next season. If Portland can trade him away for a draft pick and a role player, or part of the trade exception money that the Lakers can offer, they will at least get something in return instead of seeing Felton leave in free agency. 

Michael Beasley

Michael Beasley could be on the move again, this time headed to the Los Angeles Lakers. 

According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak has contacted the Timberwolves regarding the small forward. 

The Lakers need a point guard more than they would need a player at this position, but the young and talented Beasley would be a good addition for the team. 

The Lakers could use the trade exception that they have to take on Beasley's contract and possible send a draft pick back to the Timberwolves. 

Ramon Sessions

Ramon Sessions is not exactly a star, but there have been a lot of rumors of him going to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. 

The Lakers need a point guard to run the team, and Sessions has been stuck behind rookie Kyrie Irving for most of the season. 

In a report from Yahoo Sports earlier this season, Adrian Wojnarowski stated that the Lakers have talked to the Cleveland Cavaliers about this possibility. 

The Cavaliers would likely ask for at least a draft pick in return for Sessions, but the Lakers could also throw in a young role player or cash. 

Sessions would not solve all of the problems at the point guard position for the Lakers, but he would be an upgrade and a nice addition, especially if the team acquires Michael Beasley as well. 

Dwight Howard

While every team in the NBA is interested in acquiring Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic, only a few have a legitimate shot at taking him from his smaller market team. 

It is well-known that Howard has the Los Angeles Lakers and New Jersey Nets on his wish list, and could end up in either location. 

Recent reports have linked Howard to a possible three-team trade with the Magic, Lakers and Toronto Raptors, with Howard going to Los Angeles and the Lakers giving up Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

A later report indicated that this trade rumor is false, with Magic CEO Alex Martins telling the Orlando Sentinel that the rumor is wrong.

Regardless of whether this rumor is true or not, Los Angeles still remains a destination for Howard.

Along with Los Angeles, the teams in New York have not been ruled out as possible trade destinations for Howard.

The New Jersey Nets are better suited to acquire Howard in free agency, but will not hesitate to put together a trade package for him if needed.

The New York Knicks are not on Howard's preferred list of teams he would like to go to, but have contacted the Magic about a possible swap. One Eastern Conference general manager said via the New York Post,  

“I’m positive the Knicks have called just in case Dwight changes up, I’m sure they’ve offered a combination of everybody, excluding Jeremy Lin, of course."

Regardless of where he ends up, there is a good chance that Howard will be playing for one of the teams in either Los Angeles or New York.

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