NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Pau Gasol and Top Stars on Trading Block

And then there were 10—as in, days left before the trade deadline. 

Time keeps marching forward, and no one is traded yet, but the closer we get to March 15, the closer we get to a trade. There are some names on the trading block, which range from merely "star" to the "superstars" of the NBA.

In order of star power, here are the seven biggest names on the trading block right now. 

Chris Kaman

Chris Kaman is a former All-Star who had some injury issues, but the way he has been playing of late, he could be a great player to add to a contending team. The New Orleans Hornets have let it be known he is on the trading block. 

If he ends up in the right place, he could be a real difference-maker in the postseason. 

There are rumors that the Miami Heat are trying to acquire him, but with a $14 million contract, they aren't going to get him via trade. They're going to need him to be bought out and get him through that. The catch here is that the Hornets are saying there will not be a buyout. 

Of course, that's what they would be saying if they were going to buy him out anyway. They don't want to lower his trade value. 

I doubt it happens, but if it does, Kaman to the Heat would be a monster deal. The Heat's only real weakness right now has been in the middle. Kaman would give them size and production in the middle. Joel Anthony is an underrated defensive player, but he is undersized and is a limited scorer. Kaman is neither of those things. 

Jamal Crawford

Apparently, the Trailblazers front office and team are blowing up. Presently, it looks to be a two-team race but with more teams interested. According to Yannis Koutroupis of HoopsWorld:

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Sources confirm to HOOPSWORLD that Crawford, who was signed as an unrestricted free agent this offseason to be retired shooting guard Brandon Roy’s replacement, is on several team’s radar. The Los Angeles Clippers and Minnesota Timberwolves are pursuing him the strongest, but the Sacramento Kings, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks have also expressed interest.  

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Either of these teams would make for a very interesting trade, but to the Clippers, it would be massive. Adding Crawford to the already talented Clippers roster would give them a shooting guard who could give them what Billups was giving them before he went down. 

Boston's Big Three

Mitch Lawrence of the New York Daily News reports:

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With the Big Three’s window now shut, Ainge is trying to land Atlanta’s Josh Smith and other young studs, while offering up Kevin Garnett. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen can also be had, for young players and draft picks.

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This one is hard to believe. Why would Atlanta be willing to part with young talent and an All-Star level forward in Josh Smith for a graying player/players? 

Still, true or untrue, it's apparent that the Celtics are shopping hard and looking for someone to come to the Big Three. Any of them could be dealt before the deadline, but Ray Allen has the least albatrossian contract at just $10 million and is therefore the most likely to be moved. 

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis is one of most exciting young scorers in the league this side of Derrick Rose when it comes to being able to pull off how-in-the-world-did-he-do-that moves. The Warriors have had conversations with "just about everyone" according to Rusty Simmons of the San Francisco Chronicle. 

The most interesting discussion involves Josh Smith, but the Hawks seem to be pushing Joe Johnson. Of course, the problem there is that there's not much reason for the Warriors to give up a better, younger and cheaper player for an inferior, older, more expensive one.

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo had a massive game yesterday, scoring 18 points, grabbing 17 boards and dishing 20 assists. Let's not confuse having a great game with having an outside shot, though. Rondo might have had a great game, but he won't be racking up 20 assists if and when he doesn't have anyone capable of scoring the ball on his team. 

So, while we live in a prisoner-of-the-moment age free, yourself for a minute. Yesterday didn't change anything. Rondo still doesn't have a jumper. He shoots just a .376 effective field-goal percentage off his jump shot. That's not very good. It's not what you can build a team around. 

 “I think I’ve been playing better since the trade rumors, so keep them going,” Rondo said after the game in a television interview.

Well, they're going to keep going Mr. Rondo, but that's not the reason why. 

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol has been rumored to be going anywhere and everywhere. The rumor that makes the most sense isn't likely to happen, though, according to ESPN:

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Sources say that the Houston Rockets remain adamant that they won't surrender Kyle Lowry for Gasol, no matter how much they like the big man, but it's likewise still true that L.A. lusts for an elite point guard to pair with Bryant and has made it known around the league that it's willing to surrender Gasol to get one.

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Does that move us back to Rajon Rondo? 

Dwight Howard

If Dwight Howard goes anywhere before the trade deadline, it's looking more and more like it's going to be to the New Jersey Nets. The other horse still in the race, (surprise!) is the Orlando Magic, according to the Orlando Sentinel:

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The problem is that Howard has most of the leverage, and it seems fairly obvious that for the last few months, he seems to want out more than he wants in. But at least now, I feel the Magic are back in the game. Howard remains non-committal, but there is a sense the door remains open for him to stay now. 

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So now it comes down to one of four possibilities for Howard:

1. The Nets put together a package around Brook Lopez and possibly a third team.
2. Howard doesn't get traded and signs with the Nets during the offseason. 
3. Howard picks up the option on his contract and we go through this nonsense for another year. 
4. Howard stays in Orlando perpetually. 

Right now, my guess is that the safe money is on the second option.