NBA Trade Rumors: Latest Gossip Before 2015 All-Star Weekend

The NBA All-Star Weekend is like the calm before the storm that is the trade deadline.

There are bound to be a number of critical moves after the brief hiatus, some of which could alter the landscape of the playoff race in the daunting Western Conference or the wide-open Eastern Conference. Naturally, there are already rumors circulating around the Association regarding potential swaps. 

Here is a look at a few of those rumors.

Brendan Haywood

David Liam Kyle/Getty Images

Joe Vardon of Northeast Ohio Media Group provided an update on the Cleveland Cavaliers’ plans with Brendan Haywood: “The Cavs are shopping Haywood now—his salary this year is $2.2 million—in their pursuit of a backup point guard or post player to fortify the roster in pursuit of a title this season.”

Vardon also explained that the Cavaliers don’t have any salary-cap space and can only add players through trades or exceptions to the salary cap. Haywood’s $10.5 million salary for next year is not guaranteed, so he is a potential trade target for teams looking for salary relief in the near future. 

Haywood was averaging 1.6 points and 1.5 rebounds per game this season before Wednesday’s contest, so the Cavs’ best chance to land a quality player in return would be to find a seller that is out of the playoff race but intrigued by the fact that Haywood’s contract is not guaranteed next season. 

It is not a surprise that Cleveland wants to bolster the bench considering all five starters were averaging double figures in the scoring department going into Wednesday’s game, while not a single bench player could make that claim. The goal is an NBA title, and the Cavs may require a more potent bench to accomplish it.

Arron Afflalo

Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLosAngeles.com noted that there are a number of teams interested in the Denver Nuggets’ Arron Afflalo:

The NBA is not exactly loaded with game-changing shooting guards, so it is no wonder that some contenders are interested in landing Afflalo. He is averaging 14.5 points per game and is a threat to connect from behind the three-point line and stretch the floor.

Ironically, Afflalo still seemed to be adjusting to his time in Denver earlier this season and could be on the way to yet another team, via Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel: "I came here sort of having to fit in a little bit, and there was going to be an adjustment period. Thirty games seem to be a long adjustment period, or two months, because I had high expectations for myself. But I look at it like a marathon."

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

However, just because there is interest in Afflalo doesn’t mean the Nuggets will get the first-round pick they apparently desire. As Shelburne noted, he has a player option for next season, which means there is no guarantee that he would return to whichever team traded for him. That makes giving up a first-rounder quite risky. 

The question these contenders (and the Sacramento Kings) will have to answer is whether that risk is worth the improved depth at the shooting guard position Afflalo would bring.

Boston Celtics

Jim Mone/Associated Press

Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald passed along an update on the Boston Celtics:

"

But it’s fair to assume the club wouldn’t mind weakening its roster and, at the same time, strengthening its future over the next nine days. With the Feb. 19 league trade deadline bearing down, sources say Danny Ainge and his lieutenant, Mike Zarren, have continued to work to find warm and caring homes — and a draft pick — for some of the veterans who are helping them be competitive.

As it stands, NBA execs are telling us that Tayshaun Prince has the greatest immediate value on the market. He’s on the last year of his contract ($7 million), and, despite a recent hip issue, he’s shown he can still play.

"

Bulpett also mentioned Brandon Bass and Marcus Thornton as potential trade assets the Celtics could flip to accelerate the rebuilding process, but it is Prince who appears to have the most value.

While Boston may not have any title hopes this season, it is still very much alive in the playoff race in the watered-down Eastern Conference. It shocked the conference-leading Atlanta Hawks at the buzzer in Wednesday’s game and now has four wins in the last five contests.

However, trading away all these players would likely put an end to those playoff hopes, even in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics will have to decide whether a run at the No. 7 or 8 seed this season is more important than improving the team in the long run, although the fact that they already swapped point guard Rajon Rondo should be an indication of how they are thinking. 

If the goal is a Larry O’Brien Trophy in the foreseeable future instead of a first-round playoff exit, making trades to add future assets is the right move.

Follow me on Twitter:

Follow @ScottPolacek