NBA Trade Rumors: Brandon Jennings and 7 Stars Who Will Stay Put

Every year there are about 1.37 million trade rumors per trade actually made. Oddly enough, much like last night's trade, the trades that actually happen happen quickly without a lot of warning. 

The majority of all trade rumors are for entertainment purposes only. Trades are actually more complicated than we make them out to be. Salaries need to be considered, and long-term effects and ramifications based on when salaries expire also need to be accounted for. 

On top of all that there's the matter of team chemistry. How is a trade going to affect the teams?

That's why running something through the ESPN Trade Machine doesn't mean the "trade works." Just because a trade works by league rules, it doesn't mean it works for the teams involved. 

That's why for all the talk you hear about stars getting traded, you usually don't see them moved. Here are seven players who have been in rumors but aren't going anywhere. 

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford was about to burn off the rumor pages last week, his name was so hot. He was going anywhere and everywhere. Now it's looking like he might be going nowhere. 

According to this tweet by Ken Berger, he's staying put, "Sources: Unable to secure a first-round pick in a deal for Jamal Crawford, the Blazers are said to be "cooling" on the idea of trading him."

Minnesota was a hot partner until Luke Ridnour was pulled out of the talks because of the injury to Ricky Rubio. The Clippers want the Trail Blazers to take the Ryan Gomez contract, which Portland doesn't want.

It's looking more and more like Crawford won't go anywhere.  

Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings isn't going anywhere. After the deal for Ellis, the Bucks have an intriguing backcourt that will present an interesting challenge. 

Adrian Wonarowski and others are reporting that Jennings is off the table. 

According to Sam Amick, he nearly got dealt. "Milwaukee told one team that it had deal it liked for Brandon Jennings. That fell apart, and he told Jennings' reps yesterday he would remain"

Steve Nash

Steve Nash and the Phoenix suns are too loyal to each other to break things up according to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports:

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Nash will only be moved by the deadline if he asks to be traded, a source said. The All-Star, however, doesn’t appear interested in making that request. Nash is in the last year of his contract and could walk at the end of the season.

"

Nash and Phoenix just like each other. They've had a long lasting and healthy relationship that neither is in a rush to finish. There are plenty of teams that would love to see Nash traded to them, but it's not likely that he'll go anywhere because he's not going to ask for a trade and the Suns aren't going to trade him unless he asks. 

Josh Smith

According to the Tacoma News Tribune, Atlanta Hawks co-owner Bruce Levenson says

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"The likelihood of us trading Josh at the trade deadline is a close to zero as you can get." 

"I don't know where the rumors are coming from and neither does Josh," Levenson said. "Josh said to me, 'They're not coming from me, Bruce. They're not coming from my agent.'

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The Tacoma Tribune is also reporting that "numerous reports have stated Smith wants out of Atlanta. But Levenson says Tuesday those rumors are unfounded and that Smith has told him they aren't coming from the player or his agent."

Of course, we know that they probably really are, but what matters is what Levenson thinks. 

It seems clear that Levenson is going to stick his head in the sand and hear what he wants to hear, which means that he's not going to hear Smith saying he wants to be traded, which he does according to ESPN.com,

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"A source close to Smith confirmed to ESPN.com that he indeed did tell Hawks management over a year ago that he would prefer to be traded and the request stands. 

"The Hawks have made it clear to Josh they aren't willing to trade him so Josh figures it's not worth it to push anything right now," the source said. "He's not that kind of guy. If he's going to be here the rest of the year, he's not going to cause problems."

Levenson said the Hawks have been contacted by other teams and wouldn't definitely rule out any deal before Thursday's 3 p.m. EDT deadline. 

Levinson isn't going to hear it unless Smith bellows it in his ear. Smith isn't going to insist. Ergo, Smith isn't going anywhere. 

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Pau Gasol

The biggest revelation concerning Pau Gasol comes from K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, who points out that the Lakers power forward has a 15 percent trade kicker in his contract.

According to Johnson, "Gasol has two years and $38.3 million left on his deal. However, his contract carries a 15 percent trade kicker. That means he would make close to $22 million next season if he's traded."

After the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, that's a huge amount of money to be taking for a player who is 31 years old. Those who gloss over that are just not being realistic. That would make Gasol the second highest paid player in the NBA, behind only Kobe Bryant. 

The question is simple. Is Pau Gasol the second best player in the NBA? Is he even in the top 10 any more?

In addition to the sheer cost of the money is the cost of the acquisition. Reports are that the Lakers' asking price from the Bulls is Joakim Noah, an unnamed player and two first-round picks. That's entirely too much. 

The Lakers are just not being realistic about his present value and the cost of his contract is even larger if he gets traded. Don't expect him to go anywhere. 

Rajon Rondo

According to  CSNNE.com,

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Rajon Rondo will continue to be the subject of trade rumors up until the 3 p.m. deadline on Thurday. But there's one player that isn't going anywhere - Rajon Rondo. "Rondo's not being traded," Danny Ainge, Boston's president of basketball operations, told CSNNE.com prior to the Celtics facing the Los Angeles Clippers. "I don't know how many times I have to say it. Rondo's not being traded."

"

This one really has just worn itself out. If there was a person to be speculated about, conversed about or queried about for Rajon Rondo, it's been done and he hasn't gone anywhere. He isn't going anywhere now.

It might fall into the level of "grassy knoll" conversations in terms of whether we'll ever "really" know if he was on the block and how much he was. At this point, it's safe to say the Celtics aren't getting offered what they would want for him so they aren't going to trade him. Don't look for Rondo to be wearing a new uni anytime soon. 

Carmelo Anthony

According to Marc Berman of the New York Post, "Carmelo Anthony’s discontent with the Knicks organization became so severe after Monday night’s loss to the Bulls, he told a confidant he preferred to be traded before Thursday’s NBA deadline, The Post has learned.

 Marc Breman reports, 

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As mandated by NBA rules, Carmelo Anthony is not allowed to publicly say he wants a trade. Here is his denial on The Post's story he told a confidant after the Bulls game he wants to be traded unless he has assurances D'Antoni won't be back. “Let’s nip it in the bud right now. I’m tired of hearing it. It came out this morning. I guess an anonymous source. I’m tired of anonymous sources. I don’t want to be traded. I don’t know where that foolishness came from.

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It's not hard to read between the lines here. The Post article reports,

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According to a person familiar with his thinking, Anthony’s disillusionment stems most from a belief coach Mike D’Antoni and interim GM Glen Grunwald do not trust him. He is surprised that after all the Knicks gave up to trade for him, he has not been asked for more input on personnel decisions, as Deron Williams has with the Nets. “The organization makes believe his opinions don’t matter,’’ the source said.

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Reading between the lines, Anthony is saying the New York Knicks ain't big enough for both D'Antoni and him. 

This isn't a trade demand. It's a firing demand.