NBA Rumors: 6 Teams That Will Get Screwed at Trade Deadline

There's much speculation as the NBA trade deadline rapidly approaches, and while there are a ton of big names rumored to be on the move, there's a good chance that most of them won't be changing addresses anytime in the near future.

NBA trades aren't easy to make, and most of the rumored names aren't easy to trade thanks to their large contracts.

Some teams also think they are one piece away from contending, but given their current salary-cap situation, acquiring that missing piece isn't an easy thing to do.

As March 15 quickly approaches, here's a look at several teams that will get screwed and not be able to make a deal.

New Jersey Nets

The Nets have been hot after Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard all season long, and now with Brook Lopez out with an injury, it looks less likely that the Nets can acquire the All-Star center.

Then there's the fact that the longer this saga plays out, it looks more and more likely that Orlando general manager Otis Smith will roll the dice and hold on to Howard, as Smith is aggressively looking to improve the current team and not deal Howard.

If the New Jersey Nets can't swing a deal for Howard, they also will risk losing point guard Deron Williams next season as a free agent.

Orlando Magic

Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel that there are six to eight teams calling about Howard this late in the game.

But we know he's not giving his franchise player away for free, and the right offer likely isn't going to come in for Howard.

In the meantime, Smith is trying to add that extra piece to convince Howard to stay, as he's told teams not to bother calling unless they are offering a major piece in order for the Magic to help keep Howard in Orlando.

It would be nice for Orlando if some team offered up enough where it made sense to deal Howard, but he knows he can't get equal value in exchange.

The Magic will likely hold on to him and risk losing him next season for nothing.

Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers desperately need a shooting guard, and while they've made recent attempts at both Ray Allen and Jamal Crawford, realistically they don't have a ton of valuable trade assets in order to pull off a deal.

HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy reports that if they strike out on Allen or Crawford, they could potentially make a run at Houston's Courtney Lee or New Jersey's Anthony Morrow if either ends up on the block.

Either way, it could be very tough for Los Angeles to land the perimeter shooting it needs to make a postseason run.

Los Angeles Lakers

The past few days showed how much the Lakers need help.

Their needs have been well documented—point guard play, production from the wing and bench production.

Given the financial restraints that the Lakers are under at the moment, there's next to no chance they will land all the parts they need.

They could still land a point guard, as they are in on almost everyone on the market. That will go a long way toward helping, but don't expect a complete makeover.

But for those expecting general manager Mitch Kupchak to make a splash, it's very unlikely to happen.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets need a legitimate big man and have had their eyes on Pau Gasol all season, but they aren't going to be including point guard Kyle Lowry in any deal, so their chances of landing that big man are very slim.

Sam Amick of SI.com confirms that Houston is still in on Gasol, but without Lowry it's unlikely. Amick also sees the Timberwolves as major players:

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Sources say Minnesota general manager David Kahn is still attempting to land Gasol, and that push is likely to continue all the way until the deadline.

Houston general manager Daryl Morey remains equally enamored with the player he thought he landed in the vetoed three-team deal with the Lakers and New Orleans on Dec. 8, but the Rockets’ love of point guard Kyle Lowry (whom the Lakers would also love) has likely ended any possibilities there.

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Boston Celtics

Danny Ainge has come to the realization that these Celtics aren't title contenders, and he's trying to improve the teams for the future by shopping the likes of Rajon Rondo, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce.

It doesn't look like Boston will be able to move any of its four major parts, but if it can't, it's not the worst situation in the world.

While Boston fans would probably like to see Ainge act quickly and improve the current team, doing nothing and allowing the likes of Garnett and Allen to walk next season gives the Celtics a ton of money to spend.