NBA Trade Rumors: 10 Players on the Block That Will Ruin a Contender's Chemistry

While the NBA trade deadline is a time for teams to improve themselves, some also use it as a means to dump dead weight. Be it bad contracts or bad attitudes, some teams' internal problems can be fixed with just one simple trade.

Yet, such is not the case for the team acquiring someone with a history of behavioral problems, or a selfish game. Take New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams, for example. He was traded to New Jersey because Utah Jazz management had had enough of his prima donna-like behavior. Now that Brook Lopez's injury has essentially taken the Nets out of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, they could easily trade him and get some draft picks and young talent in return.

However, Williams' reputation as a scoring point guard could end up sinking whichever team may acquire him, should he be traded.

Thus, let's have a look at 10 players who, if dealt, could ruin a contender's chemistry.

No. 10: Jamal Crawford

A piece by HOOPSWORLD reports the Minnesota Timberwolves to be engaged in talks with the Portland Trail Blazers over guard Jamal Crawford, who is averaging 14.3 points per game this season. Minnesota has a glaring need at guard now that Ricky Rubio is out for the season with a torn ACL, so they've turned to the electrifying Crawford to fill the void.

As much as I like Crawford, he isn't the right fit in Minnesota. The team is just one game out of the final playoff spot in the Western Conference and need to replace Rubio's 8.2 assists per game, and Crawford just won't do that. He's a shooter who would take way too many shots per game and barely do a thing to create plays.

Were he to be dealt to the Timberwolves, the team would go from contender to pretender in the blink of an eye.

No. 9: Marvin Williams

Bob Finnan of the News-Herald reports that the Cleveland Cavaliers have talked to the Atlanta Hawks about forward Marvin Williams, who has been Mr. Inconsistent ever since being drafted with the No. 2 pick in 2005.

This season, the former North Carolina Tar Heel has averaged just 9.4 points in a starting role and is simply dead weight on the Hawks roster.

Seeing as how the Cavaliers are just one game out of the final playoff spot in the East, trading for that one missing piece could prove beneficial. Yet, acquiring Williams would surely cost them both Ramon Sessions and Antawn Jamison. Seeing as how the latter is putting up big numbers for the team this year, the deal just isn't worth it.

Even if Williams is traded to another contender, his inconsistency could cause frustration to set in amongst teammates, thus putting the team itself into a downward spiral.

No. 8: Monta Ellis

ESPN's Chris Broussard reported at the beginning of the month that the Orlando Magic were eying Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors in a potential deal for Dwight Howard. Ellis is currently ninth in the NBA in scoring with 21.9 points and also averages six assists per game.

Still, despite the respectable passing numbers, Ellis could be a lock to mess up a contender's chemistry. You see, while the scoring is all well and good, he also takes 19 shots a game and makes just 42 percent of them. That number isn't bad, but it could be far better.

Simply put, Ellis is a scorer and not as much of a leader as he should be. Contenders are looking for players who will make the team better.

In Ellis's case, that just won't happen.

No. 7: JaVale McGee

Ben Golliver of CBSsports.com has made it known that the Washington Wizards are "open" to trading center JaVale McGee, whose bone-headed behavior has landed him on the block.

Despite the fact that the seven-footer has averaged 11.6 points, 8.8 boards and 2.5 blocks per game this year, his time may be running out in the nation's capitol.

As talented as McGee is, however, contenders needing help down low should think twice about adding him. The whole point of acquiring a so-called "missing piece" is to be focused and alert over the last weeks of the season and throughout the playoffs.

In McGee, teams would receive someone aloof and unaware, thus hurting team chemistry in a horrible way.

No. 6: Rajon Rondo

Love him or hate him, Rajon Rondo is a phenomenal point guard. He drives hard to the basket, plays phenomenal defense and has determination that you can't buy today.

Still, the Celtics have grown tired of his high-maintenance attitude and are looking to possibly trade him. That said, whichever team acquires Rondo should a deal be made will see its season end in one of two ways: on an extremely high note or an extremely low one.

I love Rondo, but I'll be the first to admit that he can be a lot to handle. His fiery personality is admirable, but could also be viewed as off-putting to some. Should he rub his new teammates the wrong way, the ship will be sunk.

No. 5: Terrence Williams

Ever since he was drafted 11th overall by the New Jersey Nets in 2009, former Louisville star Terrence Williams has been nothing but a showboater who is slowly wasting his talent.

A report by Alex Raskin of HOOPSWORLD stated that Williams "would not be upset" if he were traded, but this is a perfect case of "buyer beware."

Sure, Williams is still young at 24 and could easily undergo a turnaround, but old habits die hard. Even if a team were to trade for him and use him in a bench role, his attitude is a huge risk that isn't worth taking.

Plus, as history has shown us, just one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel.

No. 4: Deron Williams

Deron Williams is currently sidelined with a calf injury, so the odds of him being dealt by Thursday are slim. Still, with the Nets falling out of the Dwight Howard race more and more, they could look to deal their lone A-lister before he potentially leaves via free agency.

If that does happen, the team that acquires D-Will should cross their fingers, and hard.

As good as the former Illinois standout is, he comes with his share of problems. He holds career averages of 17.6 points and 9.1 assists, but keep in mind that this is the man who supposedly drove Hall of Fame coach Jerry Sloan to resign.

Were a contending team to bring him in as a "missing piece" type of player, his shoot-first mentality could potentially lead to a late-season collapse and royally screw up team chemistry.

No. 3: Michael Beasley

Matt Brooks of The Washington Post reported a couple of weeks ago that the Los Angeles Lakers were interested in Michael Beasley, who is currently coming off the bench for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The former No. 2 pick has been little more than a bench shooter for the team this year, but has done a fine job in making 41 percent of his shots from beyond the arc.

Still, the Lakers and any other team looking at Beasley should think twice before making a deal. Throughout his career, he has had a reputation as someone with an attitude and major maturity issues. On top of that, he has been in trouble with the law.

Simply put, it doesn't matter how good a shooter Beasley is and how much he could help one team make a deep playoff run. His unpredictable personality is too risky and should the bad side come out post-trade, then the new team could be in big trouble.

No. 2: Dwight Howard

There is only one reason that the Orlando Magic have not won a championship with Dwight Howard on the team: He's a complete and utter ball-hog. Seriously, when a team's offense is such that the only plan is to pass the ball to one player, there is no way a championship can be won.

Herein lies the double-edged sword that comes with trading for Howard. As good as he is, he wants to be "the guy" on any team he does play for. The fact that he won't even OK a trade to the NBA-best Chicago Bulls to go play with reigning MVP Derrick Rose says it all.

Thus, despite his talent, Howard's ego just isn't worth it during a playoff push.

No. 1: Stephen Jackson

Here, we come to the man who is the king of changing teams. Stephen Jackson is currently in the middle of his 12th NBA season and is playing for his seventh team, the Milwaukee Bucks. This year, the normally electrifying shooter is averaging just 10.5 points per game on 28 percent three-point shooting.

Worst of all, he has publicly clashed with head coach Scott Skiles and has also missed eight straight games with a hamstring injury. Sure enough, he has demanded a trade.

Still, what contender is going to bite on Jackson? Sure, he's great when motivated, but his personality is just way too unpredictable.

Forget how he'll behave once traded to a new team. Just making a deal for Jackson could hurt team chemistry, as some players would surely feel uneasy about him and his attitude arriving in the locker room.