NBA Trade Rumors: 5 Deals That Could Go Down at the Deadline

The NBA trade deadline is just a few days away, and the speculation is running rampant amongst fans.  Will Dwight Howard stay in Orlando or get his wish to be dealt granted?  Will the Lakers make a move?

Oh, and in the midst of all this, will the ghost of Isiah Thomas come back to the Knicks' front office and make another horrifically bad trade?

It's safe to say that this abbreviated season's trade deadline is going to be one for the ages.  So many big names could be on the trading block, and just one move (or lack thereof) could make or break a team.

Let's have a look at five trades that could potentially go down by Thursday.

No. 5: Dwight Howard to Chicago?

Ken Berger of CBS Sports reports that if the Magic are to deal Howard, their preferred trading partner would be the Chicago Bulls.  Were that trade to happen, the Magic would send Howard and forward Hedo Turkoglu to Chicago in exchange for Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and seven-footer Omer Asik.

Still, there's a problem.  The Bulls aren't on Howard's list of desired teams, and, as he wants to be "the guy" wherever he goes, chances are that won't happen on the team carrying the reigning MVP. 

Still, we can't rule this one out.  Last year, it was looking more and more likely that Carmelo Anthony would approve a trade to the New Jersey Nets, and then the New York Knicks sold the farm to acquire him.  That said, keep an eye on this one.

No. 4: Jamal Crawford to Minnesota?

Now that Ricky Rubio is out for the season with a torn ACL, the Timberwolves are missing a key piece of their offense.  According to a tweet by Adam Kennedy of Hoopsworld, "multiple sources" have GM David Kahn reaching out to Portland to make a deal for the electrifying shooter, who is averaging 14.3 points per game this year.

To be honest, I really don't see this deal happening.  The 'Wolves need a guard who'll be a playmaker as well as provide scoring, and Crawford is little more than a shooter.

Still, he provides enough of a spark that a deal cannot be ruled out just yet.

No. 3: Rajon Rondo to the Lakers?

Boston Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has been on the trading block since last week, and according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, GM Danny Ainge spoke to the Los Angeles Lakers about a potential deal last week.  The deal would have been a flat out swap of Rondo for Pau Gasol, though talks didn't go far.

Still, the Lakers need a top point guard and probably won't get one without giving up Gasol.  Given Rondo's versatility and the Lakers' needs, plus the Celtics' need for a more solid option at power forward, look for these talks to pick up steam should the Lakers' pursuit of other offers prove futile.

No. 2: Pau Gasol to the Rockets?

Another deal that the Lakers have been working on for quite a while now is one that sends Pau Gasol to the Houston Rockets, who have been high on the Spanish seven-footer for a long time.  Ben Golliver of CBSsports.com reports that both teams are still discussing a deal involving Gasol, though recent events may complicate things.

You see, the Lakers had their eye on Kyle Lowry, Houston's starting point guard, but the Rockets weren't having any of that.  Now that Lowry is out for two to four weeks as he recovers from a bacterial infection, the next few days are going to determine just how badly the Rockets want Gasol.

Don't be surprised if a third or even a fourth team is brought in to help get the Lakers a point guard.  Should that happen, Gasol will most definitely be traded by the Thursday deadline.

No. 1: Dwight Howard to the Lakers?

Finally, we come to a rumor that has been brewing since the offseason.  The Lakers could become a powerhouse with Dwight Howard, but they'd have to give up quite a bit to get him.  Bringing D12 to the West Coast would cost Andrew Bynum (who's having a career year), Pau Gasol and definitely some draft picks.

The International Business Times reported two days ago, via Brian Schmitz of The Orlando Sentinel, that the Oklahoma City Thunder talked to the Magic about "renting" Howard, but not at the cost of both Serge Ibaka and James Harden.  That said, the Lakers and Bynum are still in the sweepstakes.

Howard's fate is the ticking time bomb of this year's deadline, just like Carmelo Anthony's fate was last year.  If no move is made, particularly this one, count on this summer to be just like the free agency summer of LeBron James, but with even more anticipation.