NBA Trade Rumors: Looking for a Big Trade? Don't Hold Your Breath

Lately, I have found myself counting down the days until the NBA All-Star weekend overtakes us—and it has nothing to do with the anticipation of a meaningless four days filled with a litany of meaningless events.

On the contrary, All-Star weekend provides an escape from the tsunami of possible trade rumors flooding the Internet—most of which have no chance at all of being realized.

The past week alone has seen nearly every possible trade scenario dissected and discussed. The potential trade prospects for everyone, from superstars to role players, has been unpacked ad nauseum—as has the manner in which each move may tilt the balance of power in the NBA.

Don't believe the hype. This trade deadline will likely come and go in much the same manner as the one before it—quietly. As in nothing major happening and countless people wasting time with highly speculative rumors.

2008 was the last year that had any major player movement—and that year included the deals that brought Pau Gasol to Los Angeles and Jason Kidd to Dallas.

Scanning the league, there are no trades on the horizon with championship ramifications. Instead, we are left to ponder whether or not exiled Rockets forward Tracy McGrady will end up in New York.

Really? Who cares if McGrady—a player who has failed to play a meaningful minute—ends up in New York or not? It's not like his arrival is going to signal a significant change in the Knicks' pitiful course.

What's worse than the attention paid to McGrady is that there are several crucial on-the-court stories that are failing to garner half of the attention of "rumors" that could just as easily be called "lies."

The Cleveland Cavaliers are in the midst of the league's longest winning streak this season. The Lakers are facing life without Kobe Bryant, and we may be witnessing the emergence of one of the most underrated rookie classes in the history of the NBA.

That all takes a backseat to the burning question of where erstwhile Phoenix Suns center Amare Stoudemire may end up and what his departure may mean to the Suns and their chances of making the playoffs.

Not much—and to tell the truth, there are only a handful of teams that could actually benefit from the trade deadline as far as improving chances for the postseason go.

One of those teams is the Boston Celtics, who may need to ship a player like Ray Allen to keep pace with the rest of the Eastern Conference elite, which are slowly separating themselves.

San Antonio is another team who could possibly use another player to bolster flagging title aspirations. The Spurs could use reinforcements in either the wing or the paint because Richard Jefferson has failed to have the effect that was predicted on his arrival.

These are teams who could enhance their status as contenders by making a move. Any such transaction is sure to disrupt the chemistry of the team, but the move is necessary for the big picture.

What big picture does McGrady reside in? The only reason anyone would be interested in McGrady right now is due to financial reasons, because the teams who could use his services don't seem too interested.

I hate to sound like the Grinch, because I know it's human nature to speculate on a future that is more appealing to us, and we always see ourselves in a situation better than our own.

But that is no excuse for sports bloggers, beat reporters, and television analysts who know better to falsely satisfy the cravings of an eager audience with half-truths, blatant speculation, and, in the worst case, outright lies—all for the sake of some attention.

The magical date is fast approaching, and because of the lack of activity, I am left to assume all the major action that takes place will happen on the last day: Feb. 18.

I'm also willing to wager none of the major trades that have been discussed will materialize into reality, and once all the excitement dies down, we will be left to wonder what all the fuss was about anyway.