NBA Trade Rumors: A Player From Each Team Who May Have to Pack His Bags
The NBA trade deadline is creeping closer.
Feb. 24 is only two-and-a-half weeks away, putting pressure on teams that want to make a move to improve their title chances down the stretch.
Other teams want to dump contracts instead of letting free agents walk at the end of the season without getting anything in return.
Others want to rearrange rosters to open up options in the free agency market.
Up until this point, the trade market has been quiet in terms of deals done. There has been plenty of chatter, and here is some more.
Here are the players from each team that need to have the moving company on speed dial between now and Feb. 24.
30. Boston Celtics: Luke Harangody
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It's not likely that the Boston Celtics will make any moves. There isn't a hole on the roster, and they already look like one of two or three championship favorites.
With Marquis Daniels out for at least a month after his scary spine injury in Sunday's game against the Orlando Magic. That could be the only hole Boston looks to fill and giving up Harangody would be a small loss considering the team's depth at forward.
But it has equal depth at guard to offset the loss of Daniels.
29. San Antonio: Nobody
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What do you do to improve a team that's winning 84 percent of its games?
This team has production at every position, depth at ever position and incredible chemistry. The Spurs have phenomenal veteran leadership and have made great strides to implement youthful talent.
There's no reason to make an in-season change.
28. Oklahoma City Thunder: Daquean Cook
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Oklahoma City isn't going to shop any of their players. But that won't stop another team from inquiring about a player's availability.
Daequan Cook could be a player team's express interest in and the Thunder would consider dealing. He's played only 12 games for the Thunder and only 13.4 minutes per game.
He's only shooting 30.6 percent from three, but that number could improve with more playing time and more responsibility.
27. Milwaukee Bucks: Earl Boykins
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It doesn't look like the Bucks have any plans to move anyone, but, if they wanted to, Earl Boykins is expendable.
He's struggling to find a consistent role on this team but shows flashes of production that another team could be interested in.
Boykins is a veteran point guard presence that could come off the bench.
26. Miami Heat: Nobody
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There's really no reason for the Miami Heat to make any changes. They're clicking as is. Maybe they could use an upgrade point guard, but who would they be willing to give up?
Dwyane Wade can always bring the ball up the court and run the offense as he does at times.
The Heat have enough size with the addition of Erick Dampier. If they don't need anyone, they won't rid themselves of anyone.
25. Atlanta Hawks: Jason Collins
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Seven-foot centers are very valuable even if they are of the same production as Jason Collins. He's still a giant body to put in to eat minutes against another team's biggest players.
A contender could come calling for Collins' services. Atlanta could look into sending him off if the right considerations are coming back.
24. Dallas Mavericks: DeShawn Stevenson
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Dallas has been rumored to consider dealing for Carmelo Anthony to offset the injury of Caron Butler.
Stevenson is expendable is Dallas ends up signing Anthony.
Stevenson could be an attractive piece for other teams. He has the talent to make a difference for a contender.
23. New Orleans Hornets: Nobody
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Unless the Hornets come up with some blockbuster deal that allows them to dump David West's contract and get equal production in return, they'll stay put.
And that's not going to happen.
Contract talks with West are struggling.
But that's no reason to shop your second best player, especially when fighting for a home playoff series.
22. Chicago Bulls: Luol Deng
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Many were disappointed that Luol Deng didn't make the NBA All-Star game. So why would Chicago possibly deal him?
To get Carmelo Anthony, of course.
The deal had been in talks, but Deng's contract reportedly slowed down talks.
If Denver ends up having trouble moving Anthony as the trade deadline approaches, don't be surprised if the deal resurfaces.
21. Charlotte Bobcats: Gerald Wallace
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Gerald Wallace seems to perpetually on the trading block. Somebody's got to deal for him by the deadline, right?
He's ready to step in and give a team a little bit of everything. Maybe whoever loses out on Carmelo Anthony will pick up the next best, trade rumored small forward.
Wallace can join a team and fill a void without changing its identity too much.
Anthony brings much more upheaval.
20. Golden State Warriors: Stephen Curry
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Just because Golden State owner Joe Lacob apologized to Stephen Curry for bringing his name up publicly in regards to trades means that anything has changed.
If Lacob was considering trading Curry before saying so publicly, he likely still is.
Curry could draw tremendous interest from many teams around the league considering his ability and youth.
19. Toronto Raptors: DeMar Derozan
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It's pretty clear that the Chicago Bulls are looking for another piece.
The talks center around finding a shooting guard and rumors have discussed DeMar Derozan.
Derozan has incredible leaping ability but offers a complete game, sans outside shooting.
His athleticism and ability to make plays around the rim could boost Chicago.
18. Washington Wizards: Rashard Lewis
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What happened to Rashard Lewis?
He went from valuable piece on a contending Orlando Magic team to an expendable player shipped to Washington.
Now the Wizards are ready to part ways with him.
We know that Lewis can play and provide outside shooting from a forward position, which can help stretch a defense.
17. Sacramento Kings: Samuel Dalembert
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Any contender looking to "rent" a big man for the rest of the season should look in Samuel Dalembert's direction. His contract expires at the end of the season allowing any team to avoid long term commitment.
The only problem is that the Kings want an expiring contract in return, making the move tricky. They've made it clear that Dalembert is on the market if anyone can meet their demands.
16. Portland Trailblazers: Andre Miller
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As well as LaMarcus Aldridge has played for the Trail Blazers, this team isn't going far without Brandon Roy and Greg Oden.
Andre Miller is signed for a team option next season, and Portland might be better off getting rid of Miller's contract now and looking for a youthful replacement or just cap space.
15. Phoenix Suns: Steve Nash
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Even with the Phoenix Suns trying to cool off trade talks about Steve Nash, his name is still out there.
The Suns continue to wade in mediocrity and don't look like a team that will push into the playoffs.
The Steve Nash era is over in Phoenix.
If he's going to win a ring, it's going to be elsewhere.
14. New York Knicks: Eddy Curry
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Eddy Curry's expiring contract is going to be thrown in to any deal that the New York Knicks make. He's obviously not living up to his potential as a player but can provide value in the form of salary cap space.
Curry has been rumored to be part of the deal with the Denver Nuggets that would bring Carmelo Anthony to Madison Square Garden.
13. Los Angeles Clippers: Chris Kaman
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Any team looking to get in the free agent sweepstakes in 2012 might want to acquire Chris Kaman now.
He has played at an All-Star level in the past, and his contract expires after next season.
However, acquiring a injured player isn't something that many contender want to do.
Any team looking into future rebuilding might want to crunch the numbers.
12. Philadelphia 76ers: Andre Iguodola
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Andre Iguodala is the most attractive player that the 76ers have to offer and seemingly need to make a move to continue being playoff bound in the Eastern Conference.
Philadelphia needs to look to its future, though.
There are other players on their team that can do similar things to Iguodala in the future, such as Evan Turner.
Getting a player and a draft pick from somebody looking for a third option might be the best plan for the 76ers.
11. Cleveland Cavaliers: Jamario Moon
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Jamario Moon provides any suitors with options. His contract expires this season but has a team option for 2011-2012.
Moon makes $2.97 million this season and is an affordable option for a team's backcourt.
Cleveland has to think about breaking its roster up and replacing its players with new talent.
10. Detroit Pistons: Richard Hamilton
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Richard Hamilton had sat the bench since Jan. 10 before finally getting some minutes Feb. 5 against Milwaukee.
Hamilton responded with 15 points in 20 minutes.
If any team looking into Hamilton and wondering about his production had its questions answered.
He's still a viable option with valuable championship experience. He needs a new home, and Detroit should give it to him if given the chance.
9. Orlando Magic: Jason Richardson
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The Orlando Magic have lost three of their last four games and have slipped to third place in the Southeast division.
Panic time may be near putting another trade on the horizon. Even though Jason Richardson just arrived from Phoenix earlier this season, he could be on his way out again.
Orlando could use some more size and could afford to part with their shooting guard.
8. Utah Jazz: Andei Kirilenko
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Andrei Kirilenko offers a ton as a trade option.
He has an expiring contract, is a long and productive defender and is shooting a career high 37.5 percent from three-point range.
The best part about Kirilenko is his transition into a team player. At one point not too long ago, he could be difficult for the coaching staff. Not anymore.
The Jazz could be looking to shake things up.
7. New Jersey Nets: Devin Harris
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6. Houston Rockets: Jared Jeffries
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5. Los Angeles Lakers: Ron Artest
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Conflicting reports continue to come from the Staples Center in regards to Ron Artest's future. If he wants out, the Lakers had better get him out. A disgruntled Artest presents all sorts of possibilities, and none of them are positive.
There should be a good market for Artest who is still a premier defender with outside shooting ability.
Even taking less than market value for Artest might be smart for Los Angeles.
3. Indiana Pacers: Danny Granger
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Larry Bird and the Indiana office continue to stay put with Danny Granger. However, teams such as the Nuggets, the Jazz, the Lakers and more could be looking for a small forward and could make an offer too good for the Pacers to pass up.
One way or another, it's doubtful that Granger returns to the Pacers next season. Indiana could free up even more cap space by moving him now. He'll make more than $12 million next season and gets a raise in both of the next two seasons.
2. Memphis Grizzlies: O.J. Mayo
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Everyone looks at O.J. Mayo and seems rare potential. He hasn't lived up to it yet but that has made him little less valuable in many teams' eyes.
The Grizzlies may be looking to move him because of his lack of production and recent drug test-related suspension.
Plenty of teams will line up to make a deal.
1. Denver Nuggets: Carmelo Anthony
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Has there been a more exhausting trade rumor mill than the one surrounding Carmelo Anthony? By the time he is actually dealt, Anthony will have been rumored to be going to a dozen different teams.
Somebody, whether it's the Knicks, Rockets Mavericks or someone else is going to get the deal done. Anthony doesn't want to be in Denver and the Nuggets know they're best served by moving him during the season.
