NBA Trade Rumors: Each Team's Most Enticing Package for Their Ideal Trade Target
The All-Star Game is right around the corner and we all know what that means—wait, no?
Need a hint?
Just kidding, of course it is time for trade rumors!
Yes, every year, as if by some weird ritual, the NBA All-Star Game always stirs up the wildest trade rumors.
Well, like always, I am here to take some of the fun to my own laptop and now you can find it on your laptop screens.
However, you did not begin reading this because you want to hear me talk about random subjects—you want trades and I am not one to disappoint.
Atlanta Hawks
1 of 30
Trade Target: Steve Nash
Offer Sheet: Mike Bibby, Jeff Teague, Marvin Williams for Steve Nash and Goran Dragic
This trade will give the Hawks, already practically guaranteed a playoff spot in the weak Eastern Conference, a solid chance to make some noise while there.
What they have now is not working and in this trade they will receive a huge upgrade over Bibby in Nash and instantly become major contenders.
While they also trade away Teague, they receive a great backup in Dragic who is very explosive.
Overall, this trade will be good for both sides and in my opinion I do not see a clear winner in this trade.
Boston Celtics
2 of 30
Trade Target: OJ Mayo
Offer Sheet: Nate Robinson and Kendrick Perkins for OJ Mayo and Hasheem Thabeet
This will undoubtedly cause some big arguments.
Memphis needs to get rid of OJ Mayo—that is without a doubt—and Thabeet has been a huge disappointment so far.
Kendrick Perkins recently declined an extension with the Celtics and one has to wonder whether he has any intention of staying there.
While it is obvious that with him on the roster the Celtics are championship contenders, he still chose to decline the money.
This cannot simply be brushed off because if championships don't sway a player, only one thing can—personal achievement.
Maybe he believes that on a less powerful team his attributes will shine above the rest and he will make a name for himself.
This is all speculation, but I know I was puzzled when Perkins decided to decline the contract from the defending Eastern champs.
Charlotte Bobcats
3 of 30
Trade Target: Deron Williams
Offer Sheet: Gerald Wallace, Boris Diaw, Desagana Diop and Gerald Henderson for Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko.
Yes, I am really serious about this.
This trade could be a great trade for all involved, especially considering the recent speculation that coach Jerry Sloan quit the Jazz because of Williams' attitude.
This trade would give the Bobcats the roster they need to make the playoffs, and for the Jazz, it would restore the locker room equilibrium, as well as give them a new look.
The Jazz need a fresh start and the Bobcats need change—seems like a match made in heaven to me.
Oh, and am I the only one who wants to see Williams try to disobey the coaches when Michael Jordan is watching? I'm laughing just thinking of it....
Chicago Bulls
4 of 30
Trade Target: Andre Iguodala
Offer Sheet: Luol Deng for Andre Iguodala
This trade might look very one-sided, but it actually is great for both sides.
Philly will get a young player who is very consistent and very versatile and who is, up until now, having a better season than Iguodala.
The Bulls, on the other hand, add another multidimensional young scorer to their team and watching him and Rose run on the break will be a truly great spectacle to watch.
The Sixers talk about shipping Iggy every year and it is now time for them to come through on this deal and go for it.
This would give both teams some postseason presence.
The Sixers would enter as a low-seeded young underdog and the Bulls would be in the top five and looking to win.
Cleveland Cavaliers
5 of 30
Trade Target: Shawn Marion
Offer Sheet: Antwan Jamison and Leon Powe for Shawn Marion and Deshawn Stevenson.
To the Dump to the Dump to the Dump Dump Dump!
That is, or at least should be, the motto for the Cavs. While they could get some young stud from some team, at this point what difference would that make?
This team is not going to be even close to the playoffs for the next three-to-five years, no matter what this trade deadline brings.
At this point, they have to ship everyone off and wait for free agency.
Sorry Cleveland fans—the championship will have to wait at least another decade.
On the Dallas side, this will be the big wake-up call to how badly the Mavs want this championship.
Dallas Mavericks
6 of 30
Trade Target: Andre Iguodala
Offer Sheet: Brendan Haywood and Shawn Marion
Believe it or not, but it would be easier for the Mavs to acquire Iggy than Gerald Wallace and that is what they should go for.
This trade will greatly benefit the Sixers and will make the Mavs even scarier than they already are.
The Sixers would get a skilled center and defensive forward to help them grab the lower seed.
That being said, it is not the best deal for the Sixers and will most likely be used as a backup plan only.
Denver Nuggets
7 of 30
Trade Target: No 'Melo
Offer Sheet: Carmelo Anthony and Aaron Afflalo for Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry, Toney Douglas, Bill Walker and draft picks.
Here is one of the standard 'Melo trades and the one that I find most likely.
As of now, everything we've heard suggested that the Nuggets want to get even on the 'Melo trade. In my opinion, it will not take long for them to realize that this will simply not be possible.
They will have to settle for less and they will most likely either miss the playoffs or just barely slip in at the No. 8 seed.
If 'Melo stays, then all that will happen is that the Nuggets will be another version of the Suns from a year ago, when they were looking to deal Amar'e and also wanted to break even.
Well, Amar'e left and now I have to watch Phoenix lose to the Kings.
If the Nuggets have a brain, they would trade 'Melo for anything remotely fair and this is more than that.
Detroit Pistons
8 of 30
Trade Target: Shawn Marion
Offer Sheet: Rip Hamilton and Ben Wallace for Shawn Marion and Brendan Haywood
I might have said this before, but some teams can only be fixed by free agency and not just by swapping players.
Well, the Pistons are one of those teams and they need to just get rid of players right now in order to make sure they have some cap room when free agency and the draft rolls around.
Dallas wants a ring and this could very well be one of their last years of being contenders, due to the age of some of their star players.
The Mavs can finish second in the West, and if they do, they need a veteran cast to lead them on. Rip along with Wallace will provide that lift for them.
While it is not the best trade for the Mavs, it will be plan B.
Golden State Warriors
9 of 30
Trade Target: Nene Hilario
Offer Sheet: Andris Biendrins, Reggie Williams, Louis Amundson for Nene Hilario and Ronaldo Balkman
This trade could put the Warriors in a position where they could either make the playoffs or hurt the upper seeds by beating them.
The Nuggets, on the other hand, get some serious depth and maybe make up for the great loss of 'Melo.
These players will still give the Nuggets a relatively good roster and maybe they could sneak in as a lower seed after 'Melo leaves.
Either way, I could easily see this trade working because of how badly the Warriors need to lose depth at their big men positions and how badly they need an All-Star level talent there.
Houston Rockets
10 of 30
Trade Target: Gerald Wallace
Offer Sheet: Aaron Brooks, Yao Ming and Chuck Hayes for Gerald Wallace, Nazr Mohammed and Boris Diaw.
The Rockets have long found themselves struggling with the issue of Yao Ming and, as of lately, with the issue of Aaron Brooks.
Yao Ming might never be the same player he once was and the Rockets have to realize that and accept it. The squad they have cannot wait forever to see the playoffs and maybe a great move like this could solve their problems.
They would get Gerald Wallace, who will be a great help to them and they will also get Mohammed and Diaw, both of whom can contribute off the bench very well and possibly even start on this team.
The Bobcats would get a guard with great potential in Brooks and in Hayes they get a big tough guy who plays great defense.
Indiana Pacers
11 of 30
Trade Target: Anthony Randolph
Offer Sheet: Dahntay Jones for Anthony Randolph
Very simple trade here with not too many strings attached.
Neither of the players involved are getting the minutes they deserve and that most likely has to do with the fact that they are playing the wrong position.
The Knicks can use a guard more than they need a big man and the Pacers could use a big guy much more than another guard.
This trade would simply make perfect sense and would actually be a great help to both of the teams.
Los Angeles Clippers
12 of 30
Trade Target: DJ Augustin
Offer Sheet: Baron Davis and first round pick for DJ Augustin and Boris Diaw.
This trade looks extremely one-sided on paper, but when the first pick is thrown in it gains a certain bit of balance.
The Bobcats need picks and all the Clippers need is up-and-coming young talent.
Also, Davis has a couple more years left in the tank and will carry the Bobcats reasonably well until their future picks blossom or until they pick up a strong free agent.
This draft pick could undoubtedly give them a great bargaining chip for later.
This is all about team goals—the Clippers want the playoffs and the Bobcats want success in the playoffs.
Needless to say, one goal is a whole lot simpler to accomplish...
Los Angeles Lakers
13 of 30
Trade Target: Rip Hamilton
Offer Sheet: Ron Artest and Luke Walton for Rip Hamilton
This trade would simply be every single thing the Lakers could ever ask for.
LA is having real problems with Ron Artest right now, especially on the offensive end of things, and come playoff time they cannot have easily exploited problems.
Well, with this trade they are getting an experienced player who already had a hand in leading a team to a title and who I am sure would not mind leaving Detroit to go for the ring again.
Detroit, on the other hand, wants to get rid of Rip any way they can and this would allow them to pick up Artest for him and maybe Ron will find himself more at home there.
I mean, it's not like Detroit can get any worse—unless they start infringing on Cleveland's territory.
Memphis Grizzlies
14 of 30
Trade Target: Andre Iguodala
Offer Sheet: OJ Mayo, Hasheem Thabeet and Gravis Vasques for Andre Iguodala
The Grizzlies don't want Mayo and the Sixers have never been overly fond of Iggy, so it seems as though it is a match made in heaven.
The Sixers could also use just one more big and if Thabeet can at least be somewhat of a defensive presence on the team, they will be successful.
The Sixers are looking to make a push for the playoffs and so are the Grizzlies. This trade would relieve locker room tension in Memphis and end the trade speculations in Philly.
One could call it a simple player swap, but this could be good for both teams as both have a trend for disappointment.
Miami Heat
15 of 30
Trade Target: Jerryd Bayless
Offer Sheet: Carlos Arroyo, Jamaal Magloire, Juwan Howard for Jerryd Bayless.
This trade would be the best possible option for Miami at this point.
The players they currently have on their roster, as well as the salary they are paying them, will not be useful to get a better prospect.
This trade gives them a great young option at the point guard position and that, in my honest opinion, is their biggest weakness.
It remains to be seen what exactly Miami is looking for, but to me it looks as though their center position is pretty solid, at least from a defensive standpoint.
That being the case, they need a point guard who can run the floor with them and they will find that Bayless fits that role very well.
Milwaukee Bucks
16 of 30
Trade Target: Nene Hilario
Offer Sheet: Drew Gooden, Carlos Delfino and first round draft pick for Nene Hilario
Nene Hilario has publicly stated that he is not very happy with the Nuggets' association and where they are heading.
That being said, the Nuggets are in hell right now.
Their star player wants to leave and their next best player is also not happy where he is. The sad fact is that in a couple of years, if everyone who wants to leave right now leaves, the Nuggets will become the bottom feeders of the NBA.
There is no way around it and they need to do whatever they can for their future, which means completely abandoning any idea of them even sniffing the title.
It's over Nugget fans—it's over.
Minnesota Timberwolves
17 of 30
Trade Target: OJ Mayo
Offer Sheet: Corey Brewer and Sebastian Telfair for OJ Mayo and DeMarre Carroll
Wow, Mayo sure is popular these days.
Well, when a skilled young player is rumored to be available, teams tend to jump on him and Mayo is the human trampoline.
Teams want him and the Wolves need scoring very badly, so it would not be a surprise if they decided to go out there and get him.
The Grizzlies, as I already mentioned, need to get rid of Mayo and clear the locker room of tension. This will do that, as well as bring in some new fresh faces.
New Jersey Nets
18 of 30
Trade Target: Carmelo Anthony
Offer Sheet: Troy Murphy, Devin Harris, Ben Uzoh, Derrick Favors and first round draft picks for Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony, Melvin Ely and Shelden Williams.
After seemingly withdrawing themselves from the 'Melo hunt, it seems as though the Nets are right back in it and they came back strong.
This is a great offer and it has been circulating around the popular news outlets and it is definitely very plausible.
The trade would lessen the wounds for the Denver fans and maybe shorten the window of their mediocrity that will follow Anthony's departure.
It remains to be seen how this develops, but I would not be surprised if an email popped up any minute telling me that a huge 'Melo deal was just completed and 'Melo is going to Brooklyn.
New Orleans Hornets
19 of 30
Trade Target: Gerald Wallace
Offer Sheet: Trevor Ariza, Willie Green and first round draft pick for Gerald Wallace
I want to prepare everyone who is still reading for an overload of Wallace shots in the next couple of slides.
He is definitely a hot commodity and teams all around the league would love to add him to their squads—the Hornets will join in.
The Hornets will almost certainly not make a trade in the remaining days, but if they do, it will be for Wallace.
It is not very likely that the Bobcats will accept, but you just never know these days.
At this point, I would not be taking this too seriously.
New York Knicks
20 of 30
Trade Target: Carmelo Anthony
Offer Sheet: Danilo Gallinari, Eddy Curry, Toney Douglas, Bill Walker and draft picks for Carmelo Anthony and Aaron Afflalo.
Again, this is a repeat of my earlier slide on the Nuggets, and in my opinion this is still the most likely scenario for 'Melo.
I discussed all of this before, so I will move on.
Oklahoma City Thunder
21 of 30
Trade Target: Samuel Dalembert
Offer Sheet: Nick Collison, Royal Ivey and draft picks for Samuel Dalembert.
The only thing truly missing from the Thunder is a reliable center. Dalembert would be perfect for them and they won't need to give up much.
The Kings are not going anywhere and have some very good young players and prospects who are also at the center position.
There is a very good chance Dalembert will find himself in a new uniform before the deadline and if the Thunder do succeed, they could very well pass the Lakers for the No. 3 seed in the West.
Orlando Magic
22 of 30
Trade Target: Gerald Wallace
Offer Sheet: Gilbert Arenas for Gerald Wallace and DeSegana Diop
Again, we have the always popular Mr. Wallace here.
The Magic would be absolutely scary if they traded for Wallace right now, but they would almost be as scary simply without Gilbert Arenas on the squad.
Arenas does not fit there and I feel like Wallace would be great.
He would give them solid defense and a versatile offensive game. His stats have dropped this year, but he is still All-Star level talent who is having one of his down years which usually follow amazing seasons.
I think he will regain his form, and in my opinion, he is just tired of losing.
This will be a very interesting trade angle.
Philadelphia 76ers
23 of 30
Trade Target: Gerald Wallace
Offer Sheet: Andre Iguodala for Gerald Wallace
It is the opinion of many sports fans that the Sixers need to focus on defense and toughness in order to be successful.
Well, they get both of those attributes with Wallace and I could argue that they are getting neither of them with Iggy.
Iggy is a great player, there is simply no doubt about it, but I think when Wallace is at his best, he is better.
This trade would give Philly a very clear identity and really focus them on the playoffs.
Phoenix Suns
24 of 30
Trade Target: Tyrus Thomas
Offer Sheet: Steve Nash, Hakim Warrick and draft picks for Tyrus Thomas, Gerald Henderson and DeSagana Diop.
Dear Phoenix Suns, I want to welcome you to rebuilding.
It looks as though the Suns might finally begin a new era of basketball. Tyrus Thomas is a great young player who has a lot of potential, but struggles with inconsistency.
Steve Nash is not getting any younger, but he is still one of the best point guards in the NBA and can make everyone who plays around him much better.
Gerald Henderson has tons of potential and looks like he could be a star one day.
However, the Bobcats already have young guards with potential and they could get more this offseason. This trade would get them to the playoffs and allow them to compete when there.
Portland Trailblazers
25 of 30
Trade Target: Devin Harris
Offer Sheet: Andre Miller and picks for Devin Harris
The Blazers need a young point guard.
They need a young scorer on the court to run their offense. If the Nets strikeout on 'Melo, the season becomes a failure.
They have a terrible team and they need 'Melo on it. If he is not, they have nothing to lose and should dump whatever they can because they will then only have the offseason to look for parts to pick up.
Sacramento Kings
26 of 30
Trade Target: Jeff Teague
Offer Sheet: Omri Casspi for Jeff Teague
The Kings need a backup point guard and the Hawks need another good shooter who has some height. This trade could be both unexpected and brilliant at the same time.
I don't think most people are expecting it, but it is a real possibility.
The trade deadline brings about some very crazy thoughts and this could be one of them. Both players are young so there is no trade-off there and both show great potential, so this seems like a good match.
This should give the Hawks a nice look for the playoffs while Teague will proudly be watching at home as a King.
San Antonio Spurs
27 of 30
Trade Target: None
Offer Sheet: None
Some things just need to be left alone.
Toronto Raptors
28 of 30
Trade Target: OJ Mayo
Offer Sheet: Reggie Evans, draft pick for OJ Mayo
This is assuming that OJ Mayo is heading out of Memphis.
In my opinion, Toronto won't be able to get him or any other target, but if they do this, it would be the only way they could work it out.
Again, it's a long shot, but it's all they got.
Utah Jazz
29 of 30
Trade Target: Deron Williams
Offer Sheet: Deron Williams and Andrei Kirilenko for Gerald Wllace, Boris Diaw, DeSagana Diop, Gerald Henderson and draft picks.
I wrote all of this before, but just to remind you—Deron Williams needs a new team and Kirilenko should be upgraded in Utah.
Washington Wizards
30 of 30
Trade Target: Gerald Wallace
Offer Sheet: Kirk Hinrich and draft picks for Gerald Wallace
The Bobcats need a point guard and this trade would give them a solid option.
The Wizards have a great core of young point guards and they do not need Hinrich. The Bobcats also will be hunting for draft picks during this deadline and the lottery pick from the Wizards would work.
The Wizards, despite their record, are very close to being a playoff team. A trade for Wallace would easily complete their team.
This is not as big of a long shot as it looks on paper.
