5 Hottest 2012 NBA Draft Rumors out There Right Now

The 2012 NBA draft is just a few short days away, and some of the draft's hottest rumors are beginning to look more and more like possibilities.

Rumored mega-deals, selections and trade-ups have been common over the past two weeks or so, but Thursday is the day when we'll see if the rumors hold true.

The NBA draft is a day that has a significant impact on the future of each NBA franchise, and one wrong move could cost a team a chance at contention for the next several seasons.

Many of these rumors have the potential to drastically change the balance of power in the NBA, and it'll be interesting to see which of them prove to be more than just rumors by the time Thursday rolls around.

Dwight Howard to Houston?

Add another team to the list of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes, as the Houston Rockets are planning on making a series of deals to add the game's best center.

The Rockets are looking to move both pick 14 and 16 in order to get into the top-10. If the Rockets can turn their current two picks into two top-eight picks, there's a good chance that Orlando Magic GM Rob Hennigan would be intrigued.

Of course, that wouldn't be the entire deal. The Rockets would have to include a few other valuable pieces to put the deal over the top.

I'm not so sure I'd make this deal if I'm the Rockets. First of all, that seems like a whole lot to give up just to acquire Howard. Sure, he's one of them most dominant low-post players of the past decade. Even still, trading away two valuable first round picks on top of proven talent is a lot.

Secondly, there have been reports that Howard wouldn't even sign a long-term deal with Houston if he was traded there. There's 'no chance' that he stays there for more than one season, making the absurdly large package for him a giant waste.

If I'm Hennigan, I make this trade in a heartbeat. This deal could begin a huge rebuild in Orlando, and one that could have similar success to that of one that Oklahoma City underwent a few seasons back.

While Hennigan may not want to pull the trigger on a Howard deal so early in his tenure, it could very well end up being the best move for the team.

Golden State Warriors Are Shopping All Four Picks

The Golden State Warriors are looking to improve, even at the expense of all four of their draft picks.

One plan is to package the No. 7 overall pick with one of their second round picks to acquire Andre Iguodala from the Philadelphia 76ers. They would then use their remaining second round pick on a big man and then use a mid-level exception to try and sign Jason Kidd, Raymond Felton or Kirk Hinrich.

The other plan would be to trade all four of the picks to either Charlotte or Washington to acquire either the No. 2 or No. 3 overall pick, respectively. With either pick, the Warriors would be prepared to select Michael-Kidd Gilchrist. Then, the team plans on using its mid-level exception on a Darell Arthur, Reggie Evans or Kris Humphries.

The prospect of having four picks in one draft leaves the Warriors with many avenues to explore, though I would simply keep all the picks if I were GM Bob Myers.

If I had to make a deal, I would rather do the first plan I mentioned. Iguodala is a superstar in this league, and it would only cost two picks to get him. Using the mid-level exception to pick up a veteran point guard would also be a great move.

The idea of trading four picks just to select Kidd-Gilchrist scares me a bit. While he is one of the most talented players in the draft and is one of the very few that most profile as a superstar, there's always that sliver of uncertainty when handling young prospects.

No matter what happens with the Warriors' picks on Thursday, Golden State is in great shape and has the opportunity to really turn their franchise around.

Is Luol Deng Available?

The Chicago Bulls have had preliminary discussions with several teams regarding forward Luol Deng, but no progress has been made in talks with the Golden State Warriors, as previously reported.

The primary reason behind the Bulls interest in dealing Deng is salary-cap related. With the increased flexibility in cap space, the Bulls could draft a young player that they can keep on a rookie contract. This player would pair up with a healthy Derrick Rose to potentially form a strong young duo.

If they were to keep Deng, along with Omer Asik, the Bulls would be in danger of becoming a victim of the luxury tax. That would make finding a temporary replacement for Rose very difficult.

Even though the Warriors have been the primary team rumored, that deal is a long shot. The Warriors are above the salary cap and would have to send back salaries close to Deng's $13.3 million. Needless to say, the Bulls don't want that.

Exploring a deal to rid themselves of Deng's contract is a smart move by the Bulls. If they plan on contending while also getting a bit younger and a little more inexpensive, then Deng is the guy that has to go. He's owed a lot of money and has some trade value.

Lottery teams looking at Deng should be weary of the torn ligament in his wrist, as it may require surgery at some point.

Harrison Barnes at No. 2?

The Charlotte Bobcats have several options for their No. 2 overall pick, but one name that has just popped up as a possibility is University of North Carolina forward Harrison Barnes.

Barnes worked out for Charlotte last week, and new head coach Mike Dunlap was impressed with the workout.

The Bobcats' interest in Barnes could very well be fueled by Michael Jordan's connection to the Tar Heels, although that would seem a foolish reason to draft Barnes at No. 2.

While he's a very talented player, it would be really difficult to pass up the likes of Michael Kidd-Gilchrist or Bradley Beal with that pick.

Coming off of a 7-59 season—the worst winning percentage in NBA history—the Bobcats need to be sure that they're making the right selection at No. 2. After missing out on the consensus No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis, the Bobcats need a future superstar with their pick.

Barnes, who scored 17.1 points per game in his last season with the Tar Heels, is mostly a jump shooter. There are questions regarding his ability to put the ball on the floor and create space. This is a quality that a typical NBA superstar possesses.

Of course, there's still time for him to learn. Regardless, making this selection based off of Jordan's connection to UNC would be just another silly decision for the hapless Charlotte Bobcats.

Jared Sullinger, the Second Round Pick?

Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger was once thought to be a lottery pick, even a top-10 pick in many mock drafts.

Unfortunately for him and his draft stock, numerous team doctors red-flagged Sullinger because of his back.

The team doctors tested Sullinger's back, which caused him to miss two games last season, and determined that his back issues could potentially shorten his career.

Sullinger has all the talent in the world, but teams may be weary of spending an early pick on a guy that may not be a part of their long-term plans.

San Antonio Spurs forward DeJuan Blair had a similar issue. Blair does not have either of his ACLs, and teams were scared away on draft day. Despite his talent level, he was not drafted until the No. 37 overall pick.

Since being drafted, Blair has played in 227 of 230 possible games.

Sullinger's back should definitely cause some teams to use caution when thinking about drafting him early in the first round. Talent-wise, he's a lottery pick. When you take into account his potential for injury, his draft stock definitely takes a hit.

That being said, I don't think he's a second-rounder. While Blair had a similar problem, Sullinger is in a different league as a prospect. Sullinger should be drafted in the early 20s.