NBA Trade Deadline 2012: How Rumored Deadline Deals Could Turn MVP Race

LeBron James appears to be the front-runner in this season’s MVP race, having arguably the best season of his career in his second year with the Heat. However, a big shake up at the deadline could alter the MVP race a bit.

Should a team like the Clippers move to acquire a shooting guard replacement for the injured Chauncey Billups, Chris Paul would have some pressure taken off him and possibly vault his way up the MVP charts.

Kobe Bryant is having a defining year in his career at age 33, but the Lakers aren’t the same dominant team they used to be. If Los Angeles can acquire some back court help (Kyle Lowry is rumored, as well as Ramon Sessions) the Lakers can climb up the Western Conference ranks a bit. That would catapult Bryant into the MVP race.

Or perhaps the Lakers might move to acquire Dwight Howard. The Magic are said to be more willing to deal Howard as of late, and if he is dealt to a contender like L.A. one of three things might happen: Howard's MVP candidacy gains more steam, Bryant's case grows stronger or they both fall out of the race because they play with each other and the Lakers would have no clear MVP.

Speaking of Howard's MVP candidacy, he appears to be on the outside looking in in Orlando. Whether or not he becomes more relevant, however, depends on where he goes. Going to a non-contender like New Jersey will hurt, but going somewhere like L.A. or Boston will most certainly help. 

Last season’s MVP Derrick Rose’s numbers are down a little bit, but is still in the hunt to repeat. If Chicago can move the underachieving Carlos Boozer for someone like Pau Gasol, the Bulls might surpass Miami as the NBA's most revered team and Rose might be able to overtake LeBron in the hunt.

But perhaps the biggest underdog of the group at the deadline is Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo, who could strongly benefit if he is either dealt to a contender or Danny Ainge manipulates Boston’s roster enough.

If the Celtics can tweak their roster enough to compete with the upper echelon of the East, say, by dealing the expiring deals of Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen for better talent, Rondo might find himself as a bigger player in the MVP conversation.

Subsequently, if Rondo is dealt himself to a better contender, (like Dallas, San Antonio, Indiana or Philadelphia) Rondo has an outside shot at stealing the MVP trophy.

The trade deadline is always a mystery, so we'll just have to wait and see.