NBA Trade Rumors: Fact or Fiction for 13 Most Likely Deadline Deals

With the NBA trade deadline approaching, several big names are on the block.

In the next nine days, there are going to be a ton of rumors flying around as every team with eyes on the postseason is going to be looking to make additions for that final push.

We're sorting through all garbage rumors, though, as we predict exactly what will happen by the March 15 trade deadline.

Here's a chance to play fact or fiction with the biggest NBA names on the trade block.

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard to New Jersey Nets

We've sifted through all of the other rumors as Magic general manager Otis Smith says six to eight teams are making a push for Howard.

It would be a major surprise if Smith deals his All-Star center to New York, Atlanta, Golden State or the Los Angeles Lakers, considering Howard has routinely stated he won't sign an extension with them.

Paying a major price to rent Howard's services for two months is too big of a gamble to make.

The Dallas Mavericks have next to nothing to offer, so that brings us back to New Jersey, who has been Howard's preferred destination all along.

Financially, Howard needs to be dealt before March 15. Getting the fifth year and roughly $30 million has been his priority, so I would expect Howard to speak out again about a trade very soon.

The Nets don't exactly have the assets that Orlando wants either, and with Brook Lopez's recent ankle injury, it makes things more complicated.

New Jersey would have to part with Lopez, MarShon Brooks, Anthony Morrow, Mehmet Okur, Johan Petro, plus their pair of first-round picks to take back Howard, Quinten Richardson and Chris Duhon.

That's the only way it would work out financially, and the Magic aren't dealing Howard to New Jersey without the Nets taking back either Duhon's and Richardson's bad contracts or that of Hedo Turkoglu.

Ultimately, the Nets are going to have to get a third or fourth team involved to make a deal happen, but Orlando can't lose Howard for nothing.

Verdict: Fact

Jose Calderon

Jose Calderon to the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers need a point guard badly and Calderon would be a great fit.

He's having a very good season and his 4.53 assist-to-turnover ratio is outstanding.

However, the Lakers plan on using their $8.9 million trade exemption they got from the Lamar Odom trade, but Calderon's $9.8 million salary doesn't fit into that.

The Raptors aren't going to take back salary in a trade and the Lakers don't have any young assets that the Raptors would covet, including a young point guard.

Verdict: Fiction

Steve Nash

Steve Nash to Orlando or Dallas

The Magic covet Nash in an attempt to convince Dwight Howard to stick around.

Dallas also has interest in reuniting Nash with his good buddy Dirk Nowitzki.

Unfortunately, there's nothing here to discuss.

Phoenix owner Robert Sarver has said time and time again he's committed to re-signing Nash and making sure Nash finishes his career in a Suns uniform.

The only way Nash gets dealt is if he comes out and demands one, and that's not going to happen.

Verdict: Fiction

Paul Pierce

Paul Pierce to Lakers

No chance here, even though Pierce's name has popped up in rumors for the second time this season.

There are a few teams that would like to make a play for Pierce, but Danny Ainge is just putting Pierce and the other members of Boston's Big Three out there to see what happens.

Pierce's $15 million-plus salary makes it very hard for teams that want him for the stretch run to make a real push for him since Boston isn't going to be willing to take back unwanted salary.

He's not going anywhere.

Verdict: Fiction

Josh Smith

Josh Smith to Boston for Kevin Garnett

Ainge has made it known he would love to acquire Smith, but it would take much more than Garnett's expiring contract to make a deal happen.

Both Boston and Orlando have a ton of interest, but neither really has anything that would entice Atlanta to get a deal done.

Verdict: Fiction

Monta Ellis

Monta Ellis to Orlando

Golden State has no problem shipping the NBA's eighth leading scorer (22.2 PPG) out in a deal for a big man.

Orlando's Howard has said Ellis is one of the guys he would like the Magic to bring in, but the only may the Warriors deal Ellis to Orlando is if they get Howard in return, as they continue to be in the mix for the All-Star center.

Verdict: Fiction

Joe Johnson

Joe Johnson to Golden State

The Warriors like Johnson and "think" he could be had in a deal, but considering Johnson's insane contract that pays him $20 million a season for the next three years, it doesn't make much sense for Golden State to even be thinking about anything concerning him.

The only way I can make sense of it is if they could acquire a quality big man in a deal for Ellis, but even then it's a stretch.

Verdict: Fiction

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford to Minnesota

Both the Wolves and the Los Angeles Clippers are in on Crawford, and Portland can create a bidding war for his services.

Crawford has an affordable contract of $5 million this season with a player option for next year.

The Clippers need him, but Minnesota's playoff lives can  be determined by whether or not they land the shooting they desperately need.

They will find a way to get it done and Crawford will help Minnesota sneak into the playoffs, as Crawford's ability to stretch the floor could see him flourish alongside both Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio.

Verdict: Fact

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo to Anyone

Even though Ainge put Rondo on the block earlier last week and even though dealing Rondo could get the Celtics the most return in an attempt to rebuild, it's not going to happen.

Ainge would have to get a massive haul of young players and draft picks to warrant dealing Rondo, and there aren't many teams in a position to make that type of offer.

The Celtics will ultimately end up building around Rondo

Verdict: Fiction

Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol to Houston Rockets

Gasol's name has been out there in rumors almost all season long, and he was nearly dealt to the Rockets before the season began in the nixed Chris Paul trade.

The Rockets still have major interest in the Lakers' big man, but aren't going to be parting with point guard Kyle Lowry in order to get him.

If the Rockets can get a third team involved to flip the Lakers the top-notch point guard they desire, then maybe there's a chance. But I'd expect to see Gasol in a Lakers uniform come March 16.

Verdict: Fiction

Ray Allen

Ray Allen to Los Angeles Clippers

Another Boston player on the block, but Ainge might have better results in an attempt to deal Allen.

The Clippers have been aggressively after the NBA's all-time leading three-point shooter after losing Chauncey Billups to injury and then losing out to the Knicks on signing J.R. Smith.

It would take some creativity to get a deal done from the Clippers' standpoint.

Boston would want a package of young talent that would almost have to center around point guard Eric Bledsoe and a first-round pick.

However, Boston already has the Clippers' first-round pick this season and they don't have the tradable young talent Boston would be looking for, so it would require another team getting involved.

It doesn't look good right now, but I'm going with the long shot here and think the Clippers will find a way to make it happen.

Verdict: Fact

Raymond Felton

Raymond Felton to the Lakers

The Lakers need a point guard and they've been tied to Felton in recent days.

Felton's having the worst year of his career, but a change of scenery could help.

He would fit in under Odom's trade exemption and the Lakers wouldn't likely have to come up with a huge package to get him.

Verdict: Fact

Ramon Sessions

Ramon Sessions to Anyone

If the Lakers fail to land Felton or a guy like Kirk Hinrich, they almost certainly will make an aggressive push for Sessions, being that they've been linked to him for over a month now.

Cleveland wants to deal him with Kyrie Irving solidified as the starter and will be looking for a first-round pick in return.

Ultimately, if it's not the Lakers, Cleveland will find a taker for Sessions as the deadline nears.

Verdict: Fact