NBA Trade Rumors: Dissecting the 5 Most Unrealistic Deals on the Mill
The March 15 NBA trade deadline is nearing, and as always, the post-All-Star portion of the season is a great time for fans to speculate on who is going where and who is staying put.
Everybody wants to see the blockbuster trades that shake up the NBA, but like the Rolling Stones said: You Can't Always Get What You Want.
While trade scenarios are sure to dominate the headlines for the next two weeks, when it's all said and done, don't necessarily expect the results to live up to the hype.
Dwight Howard to the Golden State Warriors
1 of 5The Golden State Warriors are apparently still in the mix for Dwight Howard.
Howard is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, and the Warriors are allowing more than 100 points per game in a season where scoring is down across the entire NBA. They are also ranked 27th in the league in rebounds.
Match made in heaven, right?
Too bad it doesn't make sense long-term.
We all know that the asking price for Howard is going to be high, and that's probably a big reason nothing has happened as of yet.
If the Warriors are going to give up so many young pieces, they should at least get the impression that the big man has even an ounce of interest in returning to the Bay Area next season. If he's interested, they should be more willing to throw in assets and make this happen.
Howard's hesitance, however, should realistically be enough to scare away the organization from making any hasty moves before the March 15 deadline.
Message to the Warriors: He's just not that into you.
Ramon Sessions to the Los Angeles Lakers
2 of 5The Los Angeles Lakers are a team that is looking for an upgrade at point guard, and it was reported back in January that Ramon Session may be on their radar.
The Cleveland Cavaliers clearly don't need to bolster their point guard spot as long as Kyrie Irving keeps playing at such a high level, but that doesn't mean Sessions should necessarily be dealt before the trade deadline.
Irving is averaging 18.5 points, 5.1 assists and shooting 42.4 percent from the three-point line this season, and has the starting job locked up long-term in Cleveland. But as the roster currently stands, the team is only 3.5 games behind a struggling Boston Celtics squad for a spot in the playoffs.
Coming into this season, it seemed unlikely. But the Cavaliers have seen a bit of a turnaround from last year's struggles, and as long as Sessions has not requested a trade, the team should keep him in town and put pressure on the Celtics for that eighth spot out East.
Pau Gasol to the Chicago Bulls
3 of 5Pau Gasol has been hearing trade rumors for a while now, and while there are many teams interested in acquiring the 31-year-old power forward, the Chicago Bulls are seemingly becoming a less likely option.
ESPN's Chris Sheridan reports that while the Bulls would be willing to part with forward Carlos Boozer, the Lakers wouldn't be satisfied without Luol Deng being included in the deal.
Deng, who made his first All-Star appearance this season, has averaged 15.1 points per game and has also average career highs in rebounds, assists and three-point shooting, making him too difficult to pry away from the Bulls.
Steve Nash to the Portland Trail Blazers
4 of 5The Portland Trail Blazers have seen a drop off at the point guard position this season after bringing in 27-year-old Raymond Felton.
Felton is having the worst statistical season of his career, and as a result, the Trail Blazers find themselves looking at point guards all across the board.
ESPN's Marc Stein has reported that they are trying to "pry Nash away from the Suns."
Stein also reports, that the Phoenix Suns stand by their claim that Steve Nash will remain in Phoenix until he officially requests a trade from the team.
Nash would be a point guard who could help power forward LaMarcus Aldridge take his game to another level, but for such a long-tenured Suns star, the interest seemingly must be mutual.
While Nash may choose to test free agency this summer, it would be surprising if he finds himself in a different uniform before the end of this season.
Rajon Rondo to the Los Angeles Lakers
5 of 5Rajon Rondo trade rumors have been swirling since this past off-season when the New Orleans Hornets were shopping Chris Paul to see what was available.
Now, with two weeks until the trade deadline, Rondo is reportedly still on the block.
Not too long ago, the Celtics were rumored to be in talks with the Los Angeles Lakers about dealing point guard Rajon Rondo to the Los Angeles Lakers for Pau Gasol.
A Rondo trade possibility probably says more about the Celtics and their willingness to overhaul the roster than it does about the 26-year-old point guard.
Rondo is a premier point guard in the NBA, and trading him signifies to the league that anyone is available and that the team is ready to start fresh in order to compete with the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls out East.
While a Rondo-Gasol swap shouldn't be considered out of the realm of possibility, talk has certainly quieted down.
With GM Danny Ainge denying any trade rumors involving the Celtics' point guard, it's tough to say exactly where Rondo will be come the March 15 deadline.
