NBA Trade Rumors: Point Guards the Spurs Should Ponder

The driving force behind this slideshow is the sad news we learned today. Point guard T.J. Ford, the eighth overall selection in the famed 2003 draft, has announced his retirement from the NBA.

Rather than host a news conference or announce something through his agent, Ford went to Twitter to announce a humongous decision, stating "It's official. 'I Retire from the NBA' as of Today." He continued, "Thanks to all my fans who follow my career since a kid from all over the world. Basketball has been great to me & my family for 28yrs."

Ford also released a statement, noting, "While this was a tough decision to make, it is what is best for me and my family at this time. Regardless of what the future holds, I will carry the experiences, the friendships and the memories with me forever."

The former Naismith Award winner was seemingly forced to retire after suffering a multitude of neck and spine injuries, the most recent being a neck injury suffered last week in a game against the New York Knicks.

Although he played in just fourteen games this season, the Spurs now have a glaring need at point guard. They already have Tony Parker, but the Frenchman cannot go out there every night and play all 48 minutes. He needs rest and the Spurs are suddenly in the market for a back-up point guard.

So, in this slideshow, I will feature some small trades that have a low risk, but could eventually have a high reward.

Eric Bledsoe

The Trade: San Antonio trades SG James Anderson to the Los Angeles Clippers for PG Eric Bledsoe

Synopsis: According to recent reports, the Blazers and Clippers are close to a deal where Jamal Crawford is shipped to L.A. in exchange for Bledsoe and small forward Ryan Gomes. But in case that falls through, he could end up in Texas, backing up Tony Parker.

The Clippers are in current need of a swing man after losing Chauncey Billups for the season. They are now very thin at shooting guard, with Randy Foye listed as the team's only option at that position. Point guard Mo Williams plays the two-guard when sharing the court with Chris Paul, but that's not his actual position.

So that's where James Anderson comes in.

Anderson has reportedly wanted out of San Antonio for some time now, and there's a very distinct possibility that he could get dealt elsewhere by the time the trade deadline rolls around.

The former Oklahoma State star is a very good player, but has yet to receive a great amount of playing time in coach Gregg Popovich's system. That fact alone seems to be good enough for Anderson to find his way out of a Spurs uniform.

It's definitely a minor deal, but both teams could receive substantial benefits from the trade. Both players have endless amounts of potential and could flourish in their new systems.

Kirk Hinrich

The Trade: San Antonio trades SF Richard Jefferson to Atlanta for PG Kirk Hinrich and a future second-round selection

Synopsis: This trade may not make much sense, but it could still happen.

Hinrich has yet to really see the court this season, as he has currently played in 23 games, while averaging career lows in points per game (5.5) and assists per game (2.5). So there is a very strong possibility that Hinrich could be dealt at the trade deadline and he could fit in the Spurs' system.

He may not receive about 21 minutes per game like he does in Atlanta, but he would immediately become a serviceable backup to Parker.

For Atlanta, they would receive Richard Jefferson, who like Hinrich, has seen his minutes decrease lately.

Since arriving in San Antonio, Jefferson has not played up to his standards. Over the last three seasons, the former Arizona product has averaged 12.3, 11, and 9.3 points per game, respectively. This is a far cry from his five-season span (2003-08) in which he averaged 18.5, 22.2, 19.5, 16.3 and 22.2 points per game.

He has shown that he is a quality player, but he needs to be in the right system. San Antonio's system appears to be his kryptonite.

Jefferson would immediately fill a void in Atlanta, especially if the Hawks decide to part ways with Marvin Williams, who has been subject to trade rumors. Williams is also the only small forward on the roster and if he does get traded, the Hawks suddenly have a glaring need at that position.

Goran Dragic

The Trade: San Antonio trades SF Richard Jefferson and SG James Anderson to Houston for PG Goran Dragic, SF Terrence Williams, C Hasheem Thabeet and a future second-round pick

Synopsis: Yeah, this is one of the bigger trades of the scenarios, but Goran Dragic seems like a solid option to back up Tony Parker.

To make a deal work, there would have to be other players thrown in. Richard Jefferson, originally drafted by Houston in 2001, would be shipped to Houston, along with James Anderson, who has stated that he wants out of black-and-white.

Jefferson would immediately help the Rockets with their issues at small forward. Rookie Chandler Parsons has been their best small forward, while Chase Budinger has played mediocre. Terrence Williams, the other option, has been sparingly used since arriving in Houston.

Jefferson would perhaps become the starter immediately and could definitely help the Rockets make a playoff appearance -- they are currently sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference, the last postseason spot.

San Antonio, in turn, would acquire Dragic, who has shown flashes of brilliance since coming to the NBA. He's been a solid player that would likely have a better career as a back-up than a starter.

The Spurs would also receive the aforementioned Williams, who is looking for a fresh start. He has seldom played over the last couple of seasons and a change of scenery is vastly needed. Popovich's system could be what he needs.

Former No. 2 overall pick Hasheem Thabeet, one of the biggest busts in recent memory, would also be sent to San Antonio. Thabeet is currently owed about $5.1 million this season and his contract expires at the end of the season. That cap relief at the end of the season could definitely help the Spurs.

Will Bynum

The Trade: San Antonio trades SG James Anderson and G Cory Joseph to Detroit for PG Will Bynum and a future second-round selection

Synopsis: With the addition of Brandon Knight through the draft, the Pistons' coaching staff has significantly decreased Will Bynum's minutes. Bynum was once a key contributor for the Pistons, but he now rides the pine for the majority of games.

Bynum has played in just sixteen games this season, averaging about twelve minutes per game. In those twelve minutes of action, Bynum accumulates 4.8 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists. In other words, they are not great numbers.

Bynum needs to go somewhere else if he wants to play. And it could be San Antonio.

A deal to the Spurs would immediately make the Illinois native the primary back-up for Parker. In the past, Bynum has showed that he can be a great scorer, although his ball-distributing needs more tuning. Regardless, he can be a solid player in the NBA if given the opportunity.

For Detroit, they would acquire James Anderson and rookie Cory Joseph.

As stated in previous slides, Anderson has stated that he wants out of San Antonio and he would get his wish in this scenario. Unfortunately for Anderson, he would be going from a championship-contending team to one of the cellar dwellers that is in the midst of a rebuilding process.

But regardless, both players get what they want -- Bynum gets the opportunity to play while Anderson gets a change of scenery.

A.J. Price

The Trade: San Antonio trades G Cory Joseph (or a future second-round selection) to Indiana for PG A.J. Price

Synopsis: According to recent reports, A.J. Price has fallen out of favor with the Pacers' coaching staff and his departure seems imminent.

Additionally, as reported by Ben Golliver at Blazer's Edge, the Pacers and Blazers are in legitimate talks that would send Price and a first-round selection to Portland in exchange for Crawford.

In case that falls through, I'm sure there are other teams that could use Price's services, which in this case would be the San Antonio Spurs.

Price has potential and although he's young, he still has plenty of time to develop.

Even though head coach Gregg Popovich refuses to play young players, he would really have no choice but to play Price if he were acquired by the team. There's no way that he would let Parker log in over 40 minutes per game, and someone would have to help alleviate pressure off the Frenchman.

The former UConn point guard could become a solid player if given the opportunity, but it has become clear that he won't flourish in Indiana when Darren Collison and George Hill are above him on the depth chart.

Jerryd Bayless

The Trade: San Antonio trades SF Richard Jefferson to Toronto for PG Jerryd Bayless and SF Linas Kleiza

Synopsis: This trade really doesn't make much sense, especially if the Raptors deal away Jose Calderon, as expected. That would leave Bayless as the team's only point guard and if they deal him to the Spurs, then the Raptors wouldn't have an official point guard on the roster.

So honestly, this scenario really only works if the Raptors manage to hold on to Calderon.

Another distinct possibility is that the Raptors could immediately turn around and deal Jefferson to another team instead of keeping him and his $9.282 million salary.

But the suspected trade would work out tremendously for the Spurs, who would receive a point guard with great potential. A former lottery pick, Bayless is one of the best backup point guards in the NBA.

A Parker-Bayless duo would be a great combination for the Spurs, but since Bayless would demand a significant amount of playing time, Parker's minutes would likely decrease.

San Antonio would also receive Linas Kleiza in the deal, who is a quality role player in Toronto. The Lithuania native is currently playing about 22 minutes per night, averaging 10.3 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest. The addition of Kleiza would give them some great help off the bench, and it is also entirely possible for Kleiza to jump into the starting lineup.

It may not make much sense for the Raptors, but it appears as though the Spurs would be definite winners in this scenario.

Shaun Livingston

The Trade: San Antonio trades SF Richard Jefferson and SG James Anderson to Milwaukee for PG Shaun Livingston, SF Luc Richard Mbah A Moute and a future second-round selection

Synopsis: In this scenario, Richard Jefferson would get a second stint in Milwaukee as he, along with James Anderson would be dealt to Milwaukee for Shaun Livingston and Mbah A Moute, one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA.

Livingston has somewhat rejuvenated his career since appearing in 26 games with the Wizards during the 2009-10 season. The former high school phenom averaged 9.2 points per game, along with dishing out 4.4 assists during those 26 games.

The following season, he latched on with the Bobcats, participated in 73 games and averaged 6.6 points and 2.2 assists per game in the process. On draft night last year, Livingston was dealt to Milwaukee, but immediately became the third point guard on the roster behind Brandon Jennings and Beno Udrih.

Still, he has been able to surpass Udrih on the depth chart, starting 23 games and averaging 7 points and 2.2 assists per contest. As a player who doesn't need to play 20 minutes per night, Livingston would fit in well in San Antonio's system.

The Spurs would also acquire Mbah A Moute, who is a spectacular defender. And that's the type of game the Spurs play.

San Antonio has consistently been one of the better defensive teams over the last decade and adding the former UCLA star to the roster would make them an even better defensive team.

Baron Davis

The Trade: San Antonio trades SG James Anderson to New York for PG Baron Davis and two future second-round selections

Synopsis: Despite being plagued with injuries this season, Baron Davis is still a serviceable point guard.

The former UCLA star has played in just nine games this season, averaging 4.3 points and 5.3 assists per game in about seventeen minutes per night. Of course, his point total is a career-low and his assist numbers are the lowest since his rookie season, but he can still be a solid back-up point guard at 32 years old.

If given the opportunity, the Spurs need to take a shot on him.

The Knicks aren't really in dire need of a point guard with the emergence of Jeremy Lin and the stellar play of his backup, Iman Shumpert. The team also has Tony Douglas on the roster, along with the seldom-used Mike Bibby.

So needless to say, the Knicks can afford to let go of a player such as Davis.

In exchange for the veteran, they would sever ties with James Anderson. Even though the Knicks need frontcourt help, the addition of Anderson wouldn't hurt.

J.R. Smith hasn't played that great since coming back to the United States and adding Anderson to the roster could light a fire under him to perform better. Not to mention, Landry Fields is on the roster. But it is entirely plausible for the Knicks to occasionally play Smith, Fields or Anderson at small forward to back up Carmelo Anthony.

But we'll see what happens.