NBA Trade Rumors: Yao on The Move? Three Potential Deals for the Houston Rockets

This morning Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported that the Rockets were in talks that would move their 7'6" injury prone center. 

But why would anyone even want Yao? 

Well... Yao has a $17 million expiring contract and you get $8 million in savings due to the injury insurance part of the contract. This can provide huge cap relief to teams.

Adrian reported that several had contacted the Rockets about Yao and the Rockets were looking to get a potential ridden or an already proven player in a deal.

So here are three potential deals.

Andre Iguodala

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PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 27: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action during the game against the Miami Heat at the Wells Fargo Center on October 27, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

The Trade: Andre Iguodala and Elton Brand for Yao Ming, Jarred Jeffries and Patrick Patterson and a first round pick.

Why Houston does it: Well in this trade Houston is trading three players it doesn't use, at all, for two established players. 

Andre Iguodala is a guy who does everything: he defends, he scores, he assists, he rebounds. You name it he does it. He would be the perfect fit in Houston and make them easily the deepest team in the league.

Elton Brand is one of the best rebounder in the game and to have him coming off the bench would be the highest of luxuries for Houston. Just imagine Houston's bench

PG: Kyle Lowry/Courtney Lee/Ishmael Smith

SG: Courtney Lee/Terrence Williams/Chase Budinger

SF: Shane Battier/Terrence Williams/Chase Budinger

PF: Elton Brand/Chuck Hayes/Jordan Hill

C: Brad Miller/Jordan Hill/Chuck Hayes

Yeah, that unit could start for half the teams in the NBA. 

Why Philadelphia does it: In this trade Philly gets 24 million dollars of expiring contracts, but the catch with Yao is well, here's what Adrian (I don't know how to spell his last name) Woj said "The lure of acquiring Yao for potential suitors is the $8 million in savings that insurance will provide for his $17.7 million expiring contract this season. Some teams are considering re-signing Yao on a short-term deal with hopes of restoring him to playing health, while others see his contract as a cost-saving measure."

They will save money and free up cap space because Houston takes on two bad contracts and they get Patrick Patterson who has great upside is in his rookie year and they get one maybe two first round picks.

Kevin Love

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PHOENIX - DECEMBER 15: Kevin Love #42 of the Minnesota Timberwolves high fives teammate Martell Webster #5 during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on December 15, 2010 in Phoenix, Arizona. The Suns defeated the Timberwolves 128

The Trade: Kevin Love, Lazar Hayward and Darko Milicic for Yao Ming, Patrick Patterson, Chase Budinger and two first round picks.

Why Houston does it: Well I think Houston does this for obvious reasons, they get a star in Kevin Love and a defensive presence in the post in Darko Milicic. Both good fits for Houston. Lazar is just in their to make the deal work.

Why Minnesota does it: Minnesota is rebuilding, but not doing a very good job of it. Everybody knows Kevin Love wants to and should be out of Minnesota. Yao Ming provides a 17 mil expiring contract and Patrick Patterson is a young guy with a lot of potential. Chase Budinger is a proven sophomore who is very athletic with a nice three point shot. 

Carmelo Anthony

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LOS ANGELES - FEBRUARY 13: Carmelo Anthony #15 of the Rookie Team stands next Yao Ming #11 of the Sophomore Team during the Got Milk? Rookie Challenge, part of the 53rd NBA All-Star weekend, at Staples Center on February 13, 2004 in Los Angeles, Califor

The Trade: Carmelo Anthony, JR Smith and Al Harrington for Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming, Patrick Patterson, Jarred Jeffries and two first round picks.

Why Houston does it: Well obviously Houston gets a superstar in Carmelo Anthony and they get two quality role players in JR Smith and Al Harrington. With Kyle Lowry playing the way he is Brooks is expendable. 

Why Denver does it: Denver gets rid of Melo who has wanted out for a while and they get rid of two contracts with JR and Al. 

They get a young point guard who is a proven scorer and might be able to keep Denver in the playoff race. Denver will probably look to trade Chauncey Billups and Aaron can take over the starting role.

They get Yao's contract which will give Denver a lot of cap relief. Denver might consider resigning Yao but I doubt the take the risk. They also get Jarred Jeffries contract which is a 6 mil expiring contract. Jeffries is also a pretty good defender.

They get Patrick Patterson who was the 14th overall pick in this years draft. He has a great upside and is just what Denver is looking for, a young big guy with potential.

Conclusion

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LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 26: Yao Ming #11 of the Houston Rockets looks to rebound during their opening night game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on October 26, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges

I'd say it's most likely Yao will be traded and then resigned by the Rockets in the offseason when he is a free agent this upcoming off season.

Personally I really like the Iguodala deal, the Rockets get just about everything they are looking for in that deal. I'd expect the Rockets to also trade for a guy like Marcus Camby or Emeka Okafor. 

Tell me what you think about the deals and any other deals you have thought of.

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