NBA Rumors: 5 Established Players Teams Must Deal for the No. 2 Draft Pick

The Charlotte Bobcats moved down to No. 2 in the 2012 NBA draft after the New Orleans Hornets jumped up to the top spot, but apparently the franchise is not finished dropping in the order. 

Multiple sources have told CBS Sports that the Bobcats are attempting to trade the No. 2 pick in an attempt to bring in more established talent than the unfinished prospects they could take after Anthony Davis is off the board. 

The move makes sense for the Bobcats, who are way more than a great rookie away from contention. However, which teams would be willing to make the deal with Charlotte? 

These five established players not only make sense to trade away, but must be dealt if their respective teams are going to get better. 

Michael Beasley

Team: Minnesota Timberwolves

Position: SF/PF

Age: 23

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 11.5 points, 1.0 assists, 4.4 rebounds

Even though it seems like Michael Beasley has been a disappointment, we are not too far removed from his entrance into the league after a stellar year at Kansas State. The forward remains a terrific scorer who plays lackluster defense and is brimming over with potential on the boards. 

Beasley is never going to earn significant minutes with the Minnesota Timberwolves though. He is stuck behind Kevin Love at power forward and Derrick Williams at small forward. 

If the Charlotte Bobcats are willing to accept Beasley in a trade (which they should because he would provide them with a nice scoring punch and a lot of upside), they would lose little and gain the ability to draft Bradley Beal to fill in the major hole in their lineup. 

Tyreke Evans

Team: Sacramento Kings

Position: PG/SG/SF

Age: 22

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 16.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.6 rebounds

Ever since he joined the exclusive 20-point, five-rebound, five-assist per game club as a rookie, Tyreke Evans has declined each and every year that he has remained with the Sacramento Kings. 

Evans is a versatile player and the Kings have taken advantage of that, throwing him onto the court everywhere from point guard to small forward. They might have tried to make him play center at one point before being shut down by the 6'6" combo guard. 

While Evans is indeed versatile, Sacramento is hindering his development by constantly switching his role. With all the backcourt depth it has, the team should offer his services in exchange for the No. 2 pick. 

That would guarantee them the ability to draft Thomas Robinson, a luxury they likely will not have at No. 5 in the 2012 NBA draft. 

Rudy Gay

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

Position: SF

Age: 25

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 19.0 points, 2.3 rebounds, 6.4 assists

Here is a quote from Fox Sports' Sam Amico about a potential trade with the Memphis Grizzlies: 

"

There’s been talk that the Bobcats might be willing to move the No. 2 pick to Memphis in a package for small forward Rudy Gay, but according to sources, it’s just been talk. “It seems the rumors about Gay (being on the trading block) are true,” one source said. “And the Bobcats are one team that could take on his salary. But a trade would be complicated.”

"

However, the Memphis management vehemently denies the validity of this source. Here is one more quote, this time from Michael Heisley, the former owner of the franchise: 

"

We’re not looking to trade Rudy Gay. We’re not shopping him around. Period. Do we sit around and say ‘What if we traded Rudy, who could we get?’ No. Right now, Rudy is part of the future of this team.

"

It is hard enough to take these type of statements seriously at this time of year. Right before the draft, everyone is on the block and everyone is off the block at the same time. Sometimes, quotes like this are nothing more than smokescreens for veiled plans. 

I have even more trouble believing Heisley here because he recently sold the team and is not going to be in charge for much longer. 

James Harden

Team: Oklahoma City Thunder

Position: SG

Age: 22

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 16.8 points, 3.7 assists, 4.1 rebounds

As dynamic as James Harden may be, the Oklahoma City Thunder seriously need to consider shopping him during this offseason. In a few years, they will not be able to afford Harden, Serge Ibaka, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. 

Both Harden and Ibaka are going to command max contracts, especially Harden in this shooting guard-starved league. 

Harden is also more of a luxury for the Thunder than Ibaka is. While the latter's defensive skills are irreplaceable, Harden is another scorer on a team with two great ones. As efficient as he may be, he can be replaced. 

Shipping the beard off to the Charlotte Bobcats would give the Bobcats an obvious go-to scorer while enabling the Thunder to draft a number of players who would fit in nicely with the current roster. 

The Thunder could choose Bradley Beal and replace Harden's scoring punch from the 2-guard position with another fantastic offensive player. They could go with Andre Drummond and hope he lives up to his massive potential. He has to be better than Kendrick Perkins. 

However, the best option would be drafting Thomas Robinson and adding the low-post scoring threat that they are currently missing. 

Andre Iguodala

Team: Philadelphia 76ers

Position: SF

Age: 28

2011-2012 Per-Game Stats: 12.4 points, 5.5 assists, 6.1 rebounds

When is Andre Iguodala not on the trading block? I'm convinced he has been there ever since he was first drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2004. 

Iggy is a versatile player and one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA, but he is not without scoring prowess of his own. He would help the Charlotte Bobcats in every facet of the game and immediately become the player to build around. 

With the No. 2 pick, the Sixers could simply draft Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, a prospect with a game eerily similar to the one that Philadelphia has grown used to by watching Iguodala run up and down the court. The one fundamental difference is that MKG has a much higher ceiling and could easily make the Sixers forget about Iggy.