NBA Trade Deadline: One Player That Every NBA Team Needs to Move by Deadline

Well NBA fans, it's about that time. This is the time of year when NBA franchises start pulling the trigger on trades that will hopefully take their team to that elusive next level. 

With the 2012 NBA deadline less than one week away, it's time to take a look at every NBA roster and see which player on those rosters needs to be moved the most.

While a majority of the players on this list won't be moved by the Mar.15th, 3 pm ET trade deadline, there's no disputing that the players on this list could all use fresh starts.

In all reality, some of the teams on this list could use new starts just as much as these players could.

Here's one player from every NBA team that needs to be put on the trade block and moved before the Mar. 15th NBA trade deadline.

Atlanta Hawks: Joe Johnson

It's not that Joe Johnson isn't a good player, with season averages of 17.6 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game.

The problem is that Johnson is the tenth highest payed player in the NBA, with a salary of $18 million per year, while continually failing to play at a level deserving of such a large contract. Joe Johnson isn't even the best player on the Hawks' team, as power forward Josh Smith is averaging more points and more rebounds per game on the year.

The Hawks won't trade Joe Johnson because they've already committed too much money to him and won't be able to find a lot of teams that will be willing to take on Johnson's massive contract, which extends through the 2015-16 NBA season. Trading Johnson would help the Hawks by freeing up cap space to go after younger more talented players in free agency, that could help the Hawks turn the corner in the East.

Sorry Hawks fans, Johnson's going to be your contract and salary-cap problem for the foreseeable future.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Hawks investing too much in him already, and not enough teams being able to offer what the Hawks would want in return for Johnson's talents.

Boston Celtics: Kevin Garnett

Kevin Garnett is certainly the emotional glue of the aging Boston Celtics, and no player in the NBA brings more emotion and energy to his team than Garnett.

There's no doubt, though, that Garnett isn't the same player that he once was, as his season averages are down from career averages across the board. While Garnett still has some productive days ahead of him, the Celtics would be wise to move the aging power forward, mainly because of the talent they have behind him.

With Brandon Bass and JuJuan Johnson behind Garnett on the Celtics' depth chart, Boston would be able to make up for, if not increase, their production from the power forward position by moving Garnett before the Mar. 15th NBA trade deadline.

Boston would be smart to move Garnett now, as they could maximize his value by dealing him to a team looking for a veteran player to bolster its lineup in the second half of the season. The reason the Celtics aren't likely to move Garnett is simply because they haven't done so yet.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, Danny Ainge seems more interested in moving the most versatile player on their roster in Rajon Rondo.

Obstacle to a trade:  The Boston Celtics focusing on trading the wrong player in point guard Rajon Rondo.  

Charlotte Bobcats: Their Entire Team, Especially D.J. Augustin

The Charlotte Bobcats truly have nowhere to go but up, as they are currently the worst team in the NBA sitting in last place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-32 record.

While there isn't enough time in the day to get into the Bobcats issues, their one glaring problem is that they have two solid young point guards on the roster. I know, having two solid point guards doesn't sound like a problem, but it seriously messes up the Bobcats five-man rotation, as Charlotte's been starting both Kemba Walker and D.J. Augustin.

Depth at the point guard position is good, but it's holding the Bobcats back from stockpiling talent at any other position on their roster.  Moving Augustin rather than Walker is the smart move to make, as Walker is a more prolific scorer and a more proven leader than Augustin.

By moving Augustin to a team like the Lakers, who are desperate for an offensively minded point guard, the Bobcats would be able to add depth to their roster at other positions.

Unfortunately, the Bobcats don't seem interested in moving anybody before the Mar. 15th trade deadline, with no solidified rumors coming out of Charlotte.

Obstacle to a trade:  The Charlotte Bobcats usual inactivity before the NBA trade deadline, which keeps them from maximizing their players' trade values.  

Chicago Bulls: Omer Asik

I know Chicago Bulls fans are big on Omer Asik's potential, but he's never really come close to realizing all of the potential that fans, and the Bulls' front office for that matter, see in him.

Asik isn't necessarily a bad player, but he's worth more to the Bulls on the trade market than he is on the bench, where he's earned an average of only 14.6 minutes per game this season.

The Bulls could try to move Asik before the trade deadline either for a draft pick or a young shooting guard that would help bolster their depth at that position on their bench, as Rip Hamilton doesn't appear to be the answer.

The main reason that the Bulls won't trade Asik is because they don't have another legitimate post presence option coming off the bench aside from Taj Gibson, who isn't suited to play center.

The Bulls are unlikely to make a move before the trade deadline as their current rotation has obviously had good results, but this would be a move that the Bulls could make this off-season as they'll undoubtedly be looking for a shooting guard to solidify their five-man rotation and bench.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Lack of depth at the center position without Omer Asik on the bench. 

Cleveland Cavaliers: Ramon Sessions

There's no doubt that the Cleveland Cavaliers want to move Ramon Sessions before the trade deadline, and they would be smart to do so, as they have their point guard of the future in 2012 Rookie of the Year front-runner Kyrie Irving.

The only problem is that the Cleveland Cavaliers may have over-valued Sessions, by putting a first-round pick price tag on the highly sought after point guard.

While a first-round pick, especially for a team like the Los Angeles Lakers, isn't that difficult to give up, it's a little too high for a player that's been coming off the bench for the majority of the 2011-12 NBA season.

What the Cavaliers need to realize is that Sessions is most likely leaving the team at the end of the season hoping to secure a multi-year contract, and they would be smart to get at least something out of him before the trade deadline instead of letting him walk at the end of the season for nothing.

I hope the Cavaliers move Sessions, but they won't until they realize that hoping for a first-round pick in return is something that's not going to happen, especially with the point guard talent in this year's NBA draft.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Cleveland Cavaliers over-valuing Ramon Sessions, and asking for too much in return.  

Dallas Mavericks: Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom has been a shell of his former self since coming to Dallas, and while his production hasn't helped the Mavericks win any games, he's still managed to stay in the Mavs' main rotation.

The Mavericks, who will most likely release Odom at the end of the season owing him only $2 million, would be smart to at least shop Odom around and see if they can't get something in return for him.

There are undoubtedly teams that would be interested in Odom, hoping that he would return to his Sixth Man of the Year form.

Unfortunately, it seems like the Mavericks are more interested in keeping him after meeting with Odom Tuesday night to discuss their expectations for the star, as reported by ESPN's Jeff Caplain.

Holding onto the hopes of Odom returning to last season's form is merely a pipe-dream and it's one that the Mavs need to let go off before the Mar.15th NBA trade deadline.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Mavericks already gave up too much to get Odom and they won't be able to get nearly what they want out of trading him.

Denver Nuggets: Timofey Mozgov

No, the main reason that the Nuggets need to trade Timofey Mozgov isn't because of last year's posterization at the hands of Blake Griffin.

Mozgov needs to hit the trading block before Mar. 15th because the players on the Nuggets' depth chart behind him are playing more productively and more efficiently than he is.

Mozgov isn't a terrible center, but both Chris Anderson and Kosta Koufas are playing at a higher level than Timofey Mozgov, with higher per game averages in points, rebounds and blocks.

It doesn't make sense that Mozgov is in the starting lineup, as he's less productive and has a smaller contract than Chris Anderson. I know Mozgov gets less minutes than Anderson, but it just seems like Mozgov is filling time and keeping the more productive players off the court.

Trading Mozgov won't yield much in return other than some cap-space moving forward and a possible second-round draft pick, but that would undoubtedly be a more valuable asset to the Nuggets than Mozgov's weak 5.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game average in 17.2 minutes per game.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Nuggets' three-man center rotation working decently so far in the 2011-12 NBA season. 

Detroit Pistons: Ben Gordon

Ben Gordon has been absolutely underwhelming since taking his talents from Chicago to the city of Detroit.

Not only is Gordon's offensive production down when compared to his season averages, he's also playing at a career low level of efficiency, with a PER of only 11.50.  Gordon's also lost his starting job to Rodney Stuckey, who's been producing at a much higher level than Gordon this season.

There's no doubt that Ben Gordon isn't worth the $11.6 million dollars that he's getting this year, and the Pistons would be wise to try and see if another team would take that contract off their hands.  With teams like the Los Angeles Clippers looking to add a shooting guard after losing Chauncey Billups for the season, the Pistons could potentially make a deal to get Gordon out of Detroit.

Unfortunately for the Pistons, it's going to be hard for teams to take on his massive contract, especially considering the production that they would most likely be getting in return.

The Pistons also haven't mentioned anything about looking to trade Gordon, although they would be extremely wise to do so as he's not getting any better and his contract isn't getting any smaller.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Gordon's contract being too large for teams to take on at this point of the season.

Golden State Warriors: Monta Ellis

With reports coming out of Orlando that the Magic are interested in Monta Ellis, it seems plausible that the Warriors could move Ellis before the trade deadline.

There's only one problem: the Warriors seem fixated on the possibility of moving Ellis in hopes of getting Dwight Howard in return, which would be a terrible move for the Magic to make.

The problem the Warriors have when it comes to trading Monta Ellis is that if they realistically think he's worth getting Howard in return, they are seriously overvaluing the inconsistent shooting guard. The other problem for a potential Warriors trade involving Ellis is that the Warriors need a post presence at the center position, and there's not many players like that on the trading block.

The Warriors would be wise to look away from Orlando, and focus on trying to make a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers for center Andrew Bynum, who happens to be the type of player that the Warriors are looking for.

Golden State needs to start looking at different options than just making a trade with the Orlando Magic, because that move is unlikely to happen as long as the Warriors want Dwight Howard in return. 

Obstacle blocking a trade: Warriors being fixated on trading with the wrong team, in the Orlando Magic. Golden State should approach Lakers instead.  

Houston Rockets: Terrence Williams

With Courtney Lee and Kevin Martin at the shooting guard position, the Houston Rockets don't have much room to give Terrence Williams much time on the court.

Terrence Williams hasn't lived up to his potential since entering the NBA in 2009, and a large part of that is because he hasn't found his way onto the right team.

Williams is a perfect fit coming off the bench as a pure scorer, as he plays like a two guard with the size of a small forward.

The one thing that Williams needs though is legitimate time on the court, as he's a streaky offensive player. There's no doubt though that with the right team and getting the right amount of minutes, Williams could be a nice fit for a team down the stretch of the 2011-12 season.

With teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers looking to add scorers to their roster before the trade deadline, the Rockets would be wise to see just how much value Williams holds on the trade market.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Houston's need a backup plan in case Courtney Lee rejects their qualifying offer at the end of the 2011-12 NBA season, and that backup plan is Terrence Williams. 

Indiana Pacers: Lance Stephenson

Lance Stephenson certainly hasn't been the type of player that the Pacers thought he would be since they drafted him in 2012.

Stephenson is an athletic shooting guard that has the potential to becme a legitimate piece of an NBA team's second unit given the right opportunity. With the Pacers, Stephenson's minutes have been limited by the emergence of Paul George and the consistent production of George Hill.

While Stephenson is certainly a project player, there's no doubt that he has the potential that front offices like to see. The young Stephenson has tremendous upside, and the Pacers would be wise to see what kind of value his raw talent holds in the trade market.

The only reason why the Pacers won't look to trade Stephenson is a lack of depth at the shooting guard position.

If Paul George goes down with an injury, Stephenson is the only real option the Pacers have as a backup. While the Pacers could make their roster rotation work without Stephenson, it's a risky move to make.

Obstacle to a trade:  The Pacers not having enough depth at the shooting guard position behind Paul George. 

Los Angeles Clippers: Trey Thompkins

Ever since losing Chauncey Billups to a season-ending torn Achilles tendon, the Clippers have been looking for an answer at the shooting guard position.

In spite of that, the Clippers went after free-agent power forward Kenyon Martin rather than J.R Smith, bolstering their front-court but still leaving a gaping hole at shooting guard.

If the Clippers are going to have a legitimate chance at getting a shooting guard before the trade deadline, they'll need to part with a player or two, as they only have a second-round draft pick to work with thanks to the CP3 deal.

One asset that the Clippers have is rookie power forward Trey Thompkins, and if they want to reel in a shooting guard they are going to have to be willing to move him.  While Thompkins has a lot of upside, the Clippers are packed at the power forward position, and letting him go wouldn't be that difficult of a move to make.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Kenyon Martin not being a long-term option coming off the bench for Blake Griffin, and the Clippers being infatuated with the thought of Thompkins being that option for the future. 

Los Angeles Lakers: Metta World Peace

The Los Angeles Lakers have a lot of needs down the stretch of the 2011-12 NBA season.

While the Lakers biggest need is arguably the lack of production they are getting from the point guard position, there's no doubt that Metta World Peace's lack of production this year isn't helping out either.

World Peace is averaging just 5.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game this season, in 23.8 minutes per game, and is a major reason that the Lakers are struggling in the West this season.

The Lakers would be wise to move World Peace and go with Matt Barnes as the main option at the small forward option, or trade World Peace and try to make a realistic offer for Timberwolves' small forward, Michael Beasley.

The Lakers won't make it out of the first round if they keep World Peace on their roster and in their seven-man rotation, because World Peace just isn't playing at an efficient level this season.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Lakers being too fixated on their need at the point guard position, and trying to move Pau Gasol.  

Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo

It seems like every year around the NBA trade deadline, O.J. Mayo's name comes up as a player to watch.

The Grizzlies haven't been able to move the under-performing shooting guard as of yet, and there's a high likelihood that they won't do it this year either.  While Mayo isn't a bad player, he's not necessarily playing at a high enough level to warrant the $5.6 million dollars he's making this year.

Mayo is splitting minutes with Tony Allen, who's playing at a much higher level of efficiency this season, and the Grizzlies would be wise to give more minutes to Allen by moving Mayo before the Mar. 15th NBA trade deadline.

The Grizzlies could shoot for a first-round draft pick in return for Mayo, but they have to be willing to take less if teams aren't willing to offer that high of a pick. Memphis could also try to make a deal with a team like the Clippers and get a young player like Trey Thompkins and a draft pick in return, bolstering their front-court while buying time until Zach Randolph's return.

It's time the Grizzlies move on from O.J. Mayo, and now is the time to do just that.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Grizzlies unwillingness to trade O.J Mayo in the past, and the Grizzlies lack of depth at shooting guard position.   

Miami Heat: James Jones

I'm not quite sure what's going on in South Beach, but Erik Spoelstra doesn't seem interested in giving James Jones more than 10 minutes per game.

If Spoelstra isn't planning on using James Jones as an offensive spark off the bench, then there's no sense in keeping him on the payroll. 

With Shane Battier finding his way into the starting lineup and on the court more often than Jones because of his defensive presence on the court, it's possible that Jones' average of 10.3 minutes per game could continue to decrease. In fact, he's played only 20 minutes in the past nine games.

The Heat could certainly package Jones with other players like Mario Chalmers and Joel Anthony, to try and lure Chris Kaman to South Beach. If that doesn't happen, the Heat would still be smart to try and move Jones to a team like the Lakers, who are looking for more production off the bench.

If the Heat could get a second-round pick for Jones, they'd be foolish not to pull the trigger on that kind of trade.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Not being able to get enough in return for James Jones. 

Milwaukee Bucks: Stephen Jackson

Signing Stephen Jackson this off-season wasn't the best move the Milwaukee Bucks have made in the past few years, as Jackson's never been more than an overrated shooting guard, who consistently shoots at a low percentage from the field. 

That's exactly the kind of player that Jackson has been for the Bucks this season, ultimately holding the Bucks back more than he's helped them.

Jackson, who averages 27.4 minutes per game, is averaging only 10.5 points per game with a terrible PER of 9.50.  The Bucks certainly would be smart to try and get something in return for the aging Stephen Jackson, who will most likely be let go at the end of the season.

The only problem is that most teams, including the Lakers, who are desperate for bench production, would be foolish to send the Bucks anything for Stephen Jackson at this point in the season.

Sorry Bucks' fans, it looks like Stephen Jackson will most likely be your problem for the rest of the season.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Stephen Jackson. Enough said.   

Minnesota Timberwolves: Michael Beasley

Oh, Michael Beasley, you have so much potential, but you're not worth the money your making.

Michael Beasley is a horribly inconsistent player, and while his "shoot-first" offensive mentality is a product of being on bad teams for so long, it's not meshing well with the new look Timberwolves led by Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio.

With Derrick Williams, who's a small forward in a power forward sized frame, playing better and better every day, the future of Beasley in Minnesota appears to be all but over, especially with the money he's making ($6.2 million).

Derrick Williams can step in and replace Beasley's production with ease, and the Timberwolves would be smart to do just that. 

The Timberwolves would be smart to move Beasley, no matter what the cost, as it's unlikely that they will give Beasley a qualifying offer next season.  I know it sounds ridiculous, but even a high-second round draft pick would be a steal for Minnesota, and if they have that option, they need to pull the trigger.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Timberwolves over-valuing Michael Beasley and his often-times inconsistent production. 

New Jersey Nets: DeShawn Stevenson

Signing DeShawn Stevenson to a one-year $2.5 million dollar contract, has turned out to be one of the worst acquisitions of the 2011-12 NBA season.

DeShawn Stevenson is averaging a whopping 2.8 points and two rebounds per game, with a terrible PER of 3.55. While Stevenson hasn't always been known for his ability to score, averaging 2.8 points a game just isn't worth $2.5 million dollars in my mind.

I know Stevenson is known for his ability to defend, which was put on display in last year's NBA Finals against LeBron James, but the Nets undoubtedly need more than just defensive pressure out of him the small forward.

The Nets would be wise to at least see if anyone is interested in DeShawn Stevenson, especially teams poised for a run in the playoffs who could benefit from a defensive stopper off the bench.

Stevenson just isn't a good fit for the Nets, and while he'll certainly be gone at the end of the season, the Nets would be wise to see if they could at least get something in return for him.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  DeShawn Stevenson's inability to produce on the offensive side of the ball.  

New Orleans Hornets: Chris Kaman

The New Orleans Hornets season is all but over after losing Eric Gordon early on in the season and then forgetting how to win games on the way to a 9-30 start.

It's time for the Hornets to focus on their future, they can start by unloading some serious cap space in Chris Kaman.

Kaman isn't a bad player, but he's certainly not the kind of guy that the Hornets are looking to build the future of their franchise around. Eric Gordon on the other hand is, and if the Hornets are smart, they will free up as much money as they can heading into the 2012 free agency market so that they can bring in talent to lure Gordon into staying in New Orleans.

With that being said, there aren't a lot of teams interested in Kaman, as his health and his $14 million dollar contract is an issue moving forward. If there's one hope of moving Kaman it's by dealing him to the Miami Heat, but if the Hornets are going to do that, they'll have to take a loss on the deal.

The Heat could offer the Hornets a first-round pick with James Jones, some cash and maybe another scrub off their bench, and if that happened the Hornets would be foolish to not pull the trigger on that kind of deal.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Kaman's massive $14 million dollar contract, and the Hornets overvaluing him. 

New York Knicks: Carmelo Anthony

Linsanity has all but died, as the New York Knicks have lost three of their four games since the All-Star break.

While Jeremy Lin has looked more like the bench player that he was for most of the season as of late, there's no doubt that the chemistry between Lin, Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire hasn't developed at the rate many had hoped it would.

I'm not saying by any means that 'Melo isn't a better player than Lin, but what I am saying is that 'Melo doesn't fit nearly as well into Mike D'Antoni's system as Jeremy Lin does.  With Jeremy Lin running the point and without Anthony in the lineup, the Knicks are seven and one on the season. With Jeremy Lin and Anthony in the lineup together, the Knicks are only two and five, which goes to show that the chemistry needed to win games, doesn't exist between 'Melo and Linsanity. 

While it might seem foolish to trade away Carmelo Anthony, there's no doubt that the Knicks are a better team without him on the court, freeing up Jeremy Lin to run the offense and make more plays for his teammates.

Mike D'Antoni's system is set up for a guy like Lin.  It's not set up for 'Melo as evidenced by the Knicks inability to win consistently with Carmelo Anthony.  It's time for the Knicks to put Anthony on the trading block and build around Stoudemire and Lin.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Public perception and fan response to moving Carmelo Anthony, after trading for him just a year ago. 

Oklahoma City Thunder: Thabo Sefalosha

Thabo Sefolosha and Daquan Cook are identical players for the Thunder, both acting as fillers for the most prolific shooting guard on the Thunders' roster, James Harden.

While Daquan Cook could realistically find his name on this list, as his production is almost identical to Sefolosha's, Cook is a more prolific set shooter, which fits better into Oklahoma City's offense than Sefolosha's game.

I know Harden is "better" off the bench, but that kind of thinking is just foolish. The Thunder need to just bite the bullet and put him in the starting lineup for around 36.5 minutes per game. Whether or not the Thunder put Harden into the starting rotation, it's clear that they don't need both Sefolosha and Cook.

While trading Cook might be more realistic as Sefolosha is struggling with a right foot injury and likely wouldn't pass a physical, trading Sefolosha would be the better move for them to make moving forward. The Thunder could maximize Sefolosha's value by moving him before the trade deadline, as there are teams like the Clippers and Lakers looking to add a shooting guard to their roster.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The severity of Thabo Sefolosha's right foot tendon injury.  

Orlando Magic: Dwight Howard

It's looking more and more likely that the Orlando Magic are going to finish the 2011-12 NBA season with Dwight Howard on their roster, and while that works for this season, it's bad news for the future of the Orlando Magic as an NBA franchise.

Remember what happened in 1996, when Shaquille O'Neal left Orlando for Los Angeles, leaving the Magic and their franchise in the dust? Well if Orlando hangs on to Howard, that's exactly what's going to happen to them again.

Melissa Isaacson of ESPN Chicago is reporting that Howard wants to be the "go-to-guy" no matter where he's playing this season or next.  While that sounds good for the Magic, as Howard is truly their "go-to-guy" right now, that won't change the fact that he wants to play some place where he can win NBA titles and Orlando, as currently constituted, isn't that place.

If the Magic care about the future of their franchise, they will trade Dwight Howard before the Mar. 15th trade deadline, which would at least assure them of getting something in return for Howard instead of losing him at the end of the season for absolutely nothing.

Obstacles blocking a trade:  Orlando Magic's front office and General Manager, Otis Smith's stubbornness to let Dwight Howard loose.   

Philadelphia 76ers: Elton Brand

As expected, the Philadelphia 76ers have cooled off after a surprising 16-6 start to the 2011-12 NBA season.

The 76ers are currently sitting at 23-17 overall, and while that's not bad for such a young team, the way they are playing now is a far cry from the way they were playing at the beginning of the season. A large reason for the 76ers slowdown of late is the lack of production that they are getting out of power forward Elton Brand.

Elton Brand's offensive production is down consistently across the board, and the 28 minutes per game that he's averaging this year is keeping younger, more productive players like Thaddeus Young and Lavoy Allen from getting more minutes.

Elton Brand isn't a bad player, but he's not earning the $17 million dollars that the 76ers are paying him this year.  The 76ers would be wise to try and trade Elton Brand now, as he still has one more year on his contract.

Trading Elton Brand could be the spark that the 76ers need to help them find their winning ways, and I'm sure there would be teams interested in adding the talents of a veteran power forward.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Elton Brand's massively overpriced $17.1 million dollar contract. 

Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash

While the Phoenix Suns have reportedly said that they aren't trading Steve Nash unless he demands a trade, there's no doubt that the Suns need to bite the bullet and move the All-Star point guard.

Steve Nash is one of the best point guards in NBA history, and his production this year isn't far off from his career averages. But if we've learned one thing about the Suns and Steve Nash this year, it's that they aren't going to contend in the Western Conference with the talent they have.

Steve Nash is a proven leader and a prolific assist man, but he can't get it done in Phoenix all by himself.  While the Suns show flashes of being a good team from time to time, there's no debating the fact that the Suns just can't get it done against playoff contending teams in the West.

Nash will be a free agent at the end of the season, and while it's feasible that Nash could remain in Phoenix, there's a chance that he'll take his talents to a team that has a higher likelihood of winning that elusive NBA title.

The Suns would be wise to just do the unthinkable and trade Nash, even if it's to a team like the Los Angeles Lakers because they would at least be able to get talent and/or draft picks in return for the all-star point guard.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Steve Nash's lack of desire to be traded, and the Suns unwillingness to do what they need to do.  

Portland Trailblazers: Raymond Felton

After an impressive start to the 2011-12 season, the Portland Trailblazers have cooled off rather quickly, falling out of the playoff picture as of now in the Western Conference.

While there are a lot of reasons why the Trailblazers aren't winning as of late, one of the main reasons is inefficiency at the point guard position, which starts with the play of Raymond Felton.

Felton isn't necessarily playing at at terrible level, but his average production isn't helping the Trailblazers win games. A large piece of Felton's inconsistency is his underwhelming 38.3 shooting percentage from the field this year.

Without Brandon Roy, the Trailblazers need a prolific scorer aside from LaMarcus Aldridge, and Raymond Felton certainly isn't that kind of player for Portland.

The Trailblazers need to trade Felton now, before the Mar. 15th trade deadline, because they can maximize his value based on the needs of teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, who are desperate for an offensively minded point guard. Trading Felton and letting Jamal Crawford or even rookie Nolan Smith run the point would be a wise move for Portland to make, as they'll be building for the future.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Teams undervaluing Felton because of his lack of consistent offensive production this season so far. 

Sacramento Kings: J.J Hickson

There are reports that the Sacramento Kings are looking to move power forward J.J Hickson, and that's absolutely the right move for the Kings to make.

Hickson hasn't been the same athletic and energetic player he was in Cleveland so far in Sacramento, and it's better to try and move him now than to hold onto him in hopes that he will revert to the way he played with the Cavaliers.

With Jason Thompson and Donte Green, the Kings have enough depth at the power forward position, and they could feasibly trade J.J Hickson to try and get another draft pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, or to get a legitimate center to help bolster their somewhat underwhelming front court.

Hickson isn't the kind of player that the Kings need right now to build around. The Kings need a veteran power forward or center who can develop and mature the the young talent that the Kings have.

The Kings would be smart to move Hickson for whatever they can get in return, as the production he's giving the Kings in his 19 minutes per game isn't anything that the Kings need or rely on.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Sacramento wanting too much in return for Hickson, and a lack of teams that need a power forward at this point in the season  

San Antonio Spurs: Manu Ginobili

With Manu Ginobili finally back in the San Antonio Spurs starting lineup, it's time for the Spurs to trade the often injured shooting guard.

I know it seems outlandish to think about the Spurs trading Manu Ginobili, who is a staple of the Spurs franchise, but if there was ever a time to trade Ginobili, the time is now mainly because of how often he finds himself on the bench with injuries.

Sure, the Spurs are a better team with Ginobili, but if there's one thing we learned this season so far, it's that the Spurs can win without Ginobili, going 18-9 in their games without him.

The Spurs should move Manu Ginobili because his value is maximized with a number of teams looking to upgrade their talent at the shooting guard position.  By moving Ginobili now, the Spurs would be able to get solid talent and/or high draft picks in return for him.

The Spurs would be wise to move Ginobili before he suffers another injury, forcing him to miss more time.  Maximizing a players' value is an important part of maintaining the success of an NBA franchise, and that's what the Spurs would be doing by moving Ginobili before the Mar. 15th trade deadline.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  The Spurs tendency to stay silent around the NBA trade deadline.   

Toronto Raptors: DeMar DeRozan

The Toronto Raptors are going nowhere fast, and it's in large part due to its inefficiency on the offensive side of the ball. The Raptors have the 27th ranked offense and average under 90 points per game.

The player that was supposed to take the Raptors to the next level, especially with his ability to score, was DeMar DeRozan, and he hasn't been able to do that just yet.

DeRozan is  a solid sixth man coming off the bench, or a quality role player, but he won't ever be the focal point of an offense like he often is in the Raptors offensive rotation.  While DeRozan's offensive production is up this year as compared to his career averages, his field goal percentage and efficiency level is down.

There are teams, like the Lakers, Clippers and Magic, who are looking to add some offensive talent to their lineup in the hopes of turning the corner in their respective conferences, and DeRozan could be just that kind of player for those teams.

The Raptors would be wise to move DeRozan now because his value, based on the needs of other teams, is at an all-time high.  The Raptors could get some quality talent and/or draft picks to build around in return for DeRozan, and that's not a bad thing for a team that's currently 13-26 overall.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Toronto's front office undervaluing DeMar DeRozan's true value in this year's trade market. 

Utah Jazz: Devin Harris

Devin Harris has been a shell of his former self ever since coming to the Utah Jazz in the trade that sent Deron Williams to the New Jersey Nets.

While Devin Harris is still playing at an efficient level, with a PER of 15.43, there's no doubt that his offensively minded style of play doesn't fit as well in Utah's system as it did in New Jersey's.

Harris' lack of offensive production isn't helping the Utah Jazz contend in the Western Conference, as the Jazz are currently 11th in the West, three games behind the Houston Rockets, who are the owners of the eight seed in the West.

If the Jazz want to get back to the playoffs, they need a point guard who is able to score like they had in Deron Williams, and it unfortunately doesn't look like Devin Harris is that guy.

If there was ever a time to trade away Devin Harris, the time is now, before the Mar. 15th trade deadline, mainly because there are a number of teams looking to add point guards before the trade deadline.  

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Utah's lack of depth at the point guard position without Devin Harris. 

Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis

There are a number of players that the Wizards could feasibly trade before the Mar. 15th trade deadline, like Andray Blatche or Jordan Crawford, but the player at the top of the Wizard's 'must-trade" list is none other than Rashard Lewis.

Not only is Lewis the proud owner of the NBA's most absurd contract, making nearly $22.1 million dollars per year, he's also one of the must under-performing players in the NBA too, with averages of 7.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and a PER of 9.54.

All together, that goes to show just how much of a waste Rashard Lewis is for the Washington Wizards. Unfortunately for the Wizards, Lewis is under contract through the end of next year's season, which means they need to find a team that wants him, or cut him at the end of the year and take a huge financial hit in doing so.

Trading Lewis will be a tough sell, especially because of his massive $22 million dollar contract, but it's feasible for the Wizards to do if they don't ask for too much in return.

Moving Lewis would open up cap-space for the Washington Wizards, which would help them moving forward, as they would have more room to add talent in the upcoming free agency of 2012.

Obstacle blocking a trade:  Rashard Lewis's absurd $22.1 million dollar contract that the Wizards agreed to when they traded for him in 2010.

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