NBA Rumors: Free Agent Buzz and Trade Speculation Roundup

Big names are coming up in the news, and big teams are looking to make some moves. From the best teams in the NBA to the worst, there are potential shake ups in the works, whether that means buying out players or making a move to replace an injured one. 

There are several big names involved involved in trade talks in one way or another, either as players to be waived, replaced or traded, and most of them could have ties to major teams and a ripple effect deep into the postseason. 

Here are five of the biggest players and shoppers whose names are at the top of the rumor mill right now. 

Boris Diaw Getting Waived

Boris Diaw won't be a Charlotte Bobcatt much longer. The team is looking to buy him out according to the French website, L'Equipe,

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The Bobacts appear willing to free Boris Diaw from his contract if they can reach an agreement on a buyout.

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That leaves an interesting question. Where does Diaw go if he does get bought out? One team that's looking for help in the middle to help shore up their interior defense is the Miami Heat. Diaw might be a bit on the chubby side, which is a nice way of saying he's found all that weight Charles Barkley lost, but he is a terrific passer for a big man.

He would make an interesting teammate to the big three.  

Dwight Howard Rent-a-Center

With Brook Lopez turning his ankle there is a lot of speculation that Dwight Howard to the Nets is now a move that is going to be hard to pull off. 

That leaves open the speculation that there will be a "rent-a-center" option whereby teams would be send the Magic less of a package with the hopes that by securing him short term they could convince him to stick around for the option year in his contract. 

The Magic turned down the idea of Monta Ellis as a rental which leads me to believe they are asking way too much. A team is only gong to send over franchise level players if they are certain they are going to keep him. 

The rumor is that the Magic are down to six to eight teams. You have to wonder, are the Bulls in that mix? One way or another, Howard to the Bulls would certainly shake up the Eastern Conference. 

Richard Hamilton a China Shop in the Bulls?

Richard Hamilton is a "china shop" on the Bulls. He's about as fragile a player as there is right now for whatever reason. Every time he steps on the floor you have to wonder if and when he's going to pull, break or tear something. 

So far this season he's managed to get his feet on the court 15 times, and the latest time was for less than 90 seconds. Then he brushed up against a player and grabbed his shoulder doubling over in agony. 

There's no indication yet on what it might be but there's a frightening pair of tweets from Aggery Sam to indicate what it might be. 

Rip's right arm was in a sling postgame, according to a source. Apparently it's the "top" of his shoulder. The source wasn't optimistic about Rip returning soon.

That has K.C. Johnson speculating about a trade for Stephen Jackson or Jamal Crawford to replace him. One thing is certain. No player is good enough to help his team win a championship without playing and the Bulls might suddenly take the trade deadline more seriously. 

Timberwolves Trying to Land Jamal Crawford

The Trail Blazers are looking to trade Jamal Crawford for a point guard and they are getting a range of options that vary from the likes of Luke Ridnour (whom Minnesota is offering) to Rajon Rondo or Jose Calderon (whom they are trying to get). 

The Blazers have a huge amount of depth and could move other pieces along with Crawford to land a major player. Certainly this one is a team to keep an eye on depending on where he goes. Crawford on the 'Wolves would lock them up as a playoff team, and could make them a second round team. 

Then again, what if Rondo is distributing the ball to some of the Trailblazers' weapons and pushing that offense? Portland could be come a contender fairly quickly with the right point guard. 

Boston Celtics Field Calls on Ray Allen

Of the Boston big three, the player that is getting the most phone calls is apparently Ray Allen which is not too surprising. It's also not surprising that Danny Ainge is overvaluing what Allen can bring back in return. 

With both Allen and Garnett, you're talking about a player on the wrong side of 35 with an expiring contract, but at least with Allen it's not a huge expiring contract—only $10 million. 

No one is ready to ship off $10 million worth of top tier talent for a 37 year old, even if he is a Hall of Fame player and the all-time leader in three-pointers made. 

To the right team Allen could make a huge difference. He's still a great three-point shooter and can stretch the court. But where can he go and who can offer what Boston is asking? That's another question.