NBA Trade Rumors: 20 Players Most Likely to Be Moved By Trade Deadline
The seemingly inevitable Carmelo Anthony trade has been on the doorstep almost all season long. However, it just can't seem to get through. The question remains not if 'Melo will be traded, but when and to whom.
Several players around the NBA seem primed for a move, due to team needs or expiring contracts. A few rosters will surely take new shape before the Feb. 24 deadline.
Here are the 20 players most likely to be traded this season.
20. Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets
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Billups has been one of the major pieces discussed in the Carmelo Anthony trade talks. It's obvious that Denver is fine with the idea of parting ways with the veteran.
Billups has some gas left in him even at 34-years old. He's averaging 16 points and 5.3 assists per game this season.
19. Quentin Richardson, Orlando Magic
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The Orlando Magic traded away backup center Marcin Gortat a couple of weeks ago and now are shopping for a new big man to help out Dwight Howard.
Quentin Richardson is one of the players rumored to be shipped out if it helps bring back a big man.
Richardson is an above average three-point shooterl.
18. Mike Dunleavy, Indiana Pacers
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Mike Dunleavy is in the final year of his contract and is now on the trading block. His expiring contract is an attractive feature to any team hoping to clear cap space for next season.
Indiana wouldn't have much use for Dunleavy next season anyway, considering their depth at forward, making him all the more expendable.
17. Mo Williams, Cleveland Cavaliers
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Cleveland coach Byron Scott stated that defense will determine playing time through out the rest of the season. If you don't play defense, you'll be sitting.
Mo Williams isn't going to confuse anyone into thinking he's much of a defender. It won't be long before Scott and Williams are at odds and the Cavs start looking for an interested party.
The biggest obstacle? Williams' contract, which lasts through 2013.
16. J.R. Smith, Denver Nuggets
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The Denver Nuggets appear to have half of their roster on the trading block. J.R. Smith is the latest name to surface.
The Dallas Mavericks appear to be interested, meaning that Smith wouldn't be involved in the Carmelo Anthony extravaganza. Denver coach George Karl said that he wants to wait until that's over before he looks into trading Smith.
15. Kirk Hinrich, Washington Wizards
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Teams looking for help at point guard have begun to look at Kirk Hinrich, reports say. He's been a reliable court general for several years in the NBA.
But it may not be likely the Wizards will be willing to part ways with him. Hinrich's a good third guard backing up Nick Young and John Wall.
14. Luol Deng, Chicago Bulls
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The Chicago Bulls have been rumored to be a new possible suitor for Carmelo Anthony. If that's true, Luol Deng would likely be in Denver's sights.
He's long and versatile and an athletic option at small forward. With Anthony vacating that spot in Denver if traded, Deng could fill in.
13. Chris Duhon, Orlando Magic
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Chris Duhon is another player that's thought to be a prime candidate for the Orlando Magic to use to obtain a backup center.
Duhon is best used as a reserve point guard, but can play the two-guard as well. He's a veteran that doesn't make a lot of mistakes, but his best days are behind him.
12. DaJuan Summers, Detroit Pistons
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If the Detroit Pistons want to work a two-team trade with the New Jersey Nets and leave the Denver Nuggets out of it for now, DaJuan Summers is expected to be a major piece for the Detroit Pistons.
Summers isn't getting any minutes with the Pistons. He can help make a deal work it the teams decide they want new faces.
11. Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers
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Word is, the Los Angeles Clippers might think their past the Chris Kaman era. Blake Griffin is phenomenal and DeAndre Jordan is impressing with more minutes.
Maybe Kaman is the player that the Magic are looking for. Wherever the Clippers decide to send Kaman, they'll likely be looking for a starter-quality player in return.
10. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
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As strange as it would be to see Steve Nash in any jersey other than that of the Phoenix Suns, it might happen sooner than some think.
It's becoming more and more evident that the Suns aren't going to win a championship with their current roster and they probably will need a couple of seasons to put the right players in place.
Nash won't be one of them by that time. It's best to move him now.
9. Stephen Jackson, Charlotte Bobcats
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The Dallas Mavericks are in search of a small forward. Charlotte needs to start looking to the future. Stephen Jackson is a 6'8" forward that has been scoring in the NBA for a long time.
Jackson isn't amongst the elite small forwards, but he would help offset the loss of Caron Butler to a ruptured tendon in his right knee. The Mavericks need to do something fast to get back on track.
8. Anthony Randolph, New York Knicks
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Anthony Randolph is getting a fraction of the minutes in New York that he enjoyed while with Golden State in the first two seasons of his career. New York is actively shopping him for draft picks.
A possible destination is Portland, who is looking to offset the loss of Marcus Camby, who is going to have knee surgery.
7. Tayshaun Prince, Detroit Pistons
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The Detroit Pistons are on the verge of blowing up their roster and Tayshaun Prince is one of the first players expected to go.
He's a lanky defender that could use new scenery to rejuvenate his career. Prince is obviously frustrated with the way things are going in Detroit and would gladly join a contender.
6. Troy Murphy, New Jersey Nets
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According to reports, Troy Murphy is no longer with the Nets, dismissed from the team. This means that the Nets either need to pay him for nothing, buy out his expiring contract or trade him.
Option three is the likeliest scenario.
Murphy could add some forward depth to a team and provide cap space next season after his contract expires.
5. Al Harrington, Denver Nuggets
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Al Harrington has reportedly been dropped from any Carmelo Anthony trade talks. His contract got in the way of the deal going through with the Nets and Pistons.
Still, the Nuggets want to unload his contract. Harrington hasn't worked out as Denver had planned. Add that to the rest of the potential trades Denver has accumulated.
4. Gerald Wallace, Charlotte Bobcats
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Gerald Wallace is the most likely Bobcat to be heading out of Charlotte.
Dallas is looking for a new small forward, but the most recent rumors surrounding Wallace involve the Cleveland Cavaliers using the trade exception it acquired in the sign-and-trade that sent LeBron James to Miami.
The Cavs have until July 10 to use the trade exception.
3. Devin Harris, New Jersey Nets
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Devin Harris is a major part of the Carmelo Anthony trade talks that would land him in Denver.
Nets coach Avery Johnson has tried to quell 'Melo trade talks and Harris has tried to keep status quo while his name constantly comes up as a soon-to-be-gone commodity.
He has several years of near-all-star level production ahead of him.
2. Richard Hamilton, Detroit Pistons
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Richard Hamilton was supposedly on his way to New Jersey as a part of the Detroit-New Jersey-Denver deal revolving around Carmelo Anthony.
That was before Hamilton logged four straight DNP-Coach's Decisions to his stat sheet.
Whether the 'Melo deal goes down or not, it seems Hamilton had better have his bags packed for a trade.
1. Carmelo Anthony, Denver Nuggets
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It's just a question of where and when. Anthony has been linked to New Jersey, New York, Chicago and Memphis.
Nobody quite knows why a deal hasn't been struck yet. Teams can't quite get it together.
Anthony is one of the five best players in the NBA and it will be nice to be able to just watch him play instead of hearing more and more speculation.
