NBA Trade Deadline 2012: Dwight Howard and 4 Stars Who Must Be Traded

The 2012 NBA trade deadline is coming! Several teams have high-profile stars who they need to trade by the deadline.

Some of them are obvious, others much less so. 

So, which teams should be shipping their precious stars away, and which should be circling them like sharks in the hope of landing a prime catch?

Dwight Howard

Yes, I know it's obvious, but Dwight Howard clearly needs to go by the deadline.

Orlando fans (and ownership too, perhaps) seems to be convincing themselves that they can keep Howard and dare him to leave "$30 million" on the table. But that is a logical fallacy: it's $30 million because they can offer an additional year. That's useful for a half-star like Andre Igoudala, but Howard is going to get paid again in five years. 

So, really, Orlando can offer a bit less than $10 million more per year for him to stay. Considering they have little long-term talent to build on (no disrespect Ryan Anderson), that just is not happening.

Instead, they should ship him to Chicago for some mix of Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, the rights to Nikola Mirotic and draft picks. Consider a Lakers offer of Bynum and picks. Or bite the bullet and take New Jersey's whole (bad) team except for Deron Williams.

Whatever they decide, the franchise's decision makers need to salvage something for Howard before he leaves in free agency.

Steve Nash

At this point, the Phoenix Suns are going nowhere and really need to unload Nash.

He is older but still playing at an elite level, and there are several pretender teams—the Portland Trail Blazers in particular—who could contend with him quarterbacking the roster.

But, the question is, can anyone really offer anything that is interesting enough to Phoenix? 

Nash is the franchise star but, at his age, a good young guard and a draft pick should get a deal done...if the Suns front office is thinking rationally of course. Lately, that has NOT been a given. 

Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry

Golden State has spent the last two years proving that Stephen Curry and Monta Ellis cannot play together in a viable, winning offense. 

It's time for one of them to go. 

Ellis has been better this season, but I am not convinced he is a true point guard. And Curry can't stay healthy. 

They could ship out Ellis to Orlando for J.J. Redick, Daniel Orton, Jason Richardson and draft picks, while swapping Stephen Curry for Rajon Rondo. 

That would leave Golden State with a pick and roll passing savant who can take full advantage of David Lee, a young center in Orton, and a starting shooting guard with a dead-eye outside shot.

Rajon Rondo and the Big Three

It's like an auction—all things must go!

The Celtics had a great run. Since 2007, they have won a championship and came within five minutes of adding another.

But it's all over now and they need to move forward.

The Big Three are old and injured, while Rondo is very talented but high maintenance and unable to close out games.

Since all four still have great value around the league, they should be shipped out for the talent needed to quickly retool.