NBA Trade Speculation: Dwight Howard and 5 Super Stars Who Could Be Moved
With the Dallas Mavericks beating the Miami Heat in the 2011 Finals, the NBA offseason is now underway. And now teams will try to make the proper adjustments to better their ball clubs going into next season.
With Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen going to the Celtics in 2007, Chris Bosh and LeBron James going to the Heat in 2010, and Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups moving to the Knicks this past season, there has been an evident tendency to deal superstars. The league's best players are more willing to be traded in order to win games than to stay with their respective team to turn it into a winning situation.
Dwight Howard and Steve Nash are two of several players who might find themselves on the move this offseason, as organizations try to improve their respective rosters to compete for an NBA championship.
Here are the five superstars that could potentially be traded this offseason.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder
1 of 5
Although the general consensus is that Russell Westbrook will be a member for the Oklahoma City Thunder next season and for years to come, he had a postseason to forget this year.
The Thunder were arguably a more talented, complete ball club than were the Dallas Mavericks when the two teams met in the Western Conference Finals. Besides the fact that both Kendrick Perkins and Serge Ibaka being incapable of guarding Dirk Nowitzki, the Thunder were also brought down by the play of Westbrook.
He was under the radar for most of the postseason, and at times there was much unwarranted criticism of the young star. But at the end of the day his production was weak to say the least. Despite averaging 23.6 points per game, Westbrook also shot 36 percent and 20 percent from three-point range. He also managed to dish out 4.8 assists while committing 4.8 turnovers in the process.
Westbrook is a player that is just 22 years old, and will make a name for himself in this league by the time its all said and done. Yet he also might just not be the right fit for a team who already has a better scoring threat in Kevin Durant (led league in scoring in regular season and playoffs).
Monta Ellis, Golden State Warriors
2 of 5
Just before Marc Jackson was offered a head coaching job with the Golden State Warriors, according to ESPN, the rumor was that Monta Ellis could be on the move in a trade that involved Philadelphia 76ers star Andre Iguodala.
Although Jackson has denied any interest in the deal, it is one the organization will highly consider going forward. The Warriors pride themselves on their ability to score the basketball and run out in transition, but as it showed last season, that won't be enough to win games in this league.
Jackson himself said that the Warriors will have to play defense next season in order to compete in this league. A player like Iguodala brings a defensive tenacity to a ball club and he could bring the defense that Ellis doesn't have. Ellis is a great, prolific scorer in this league, but with Steph Curry already a strong scoring threat it wouldn't be such a difficult move to make.
Andre Iguodala, Philadelphia 76ers
3 of 5
Andre Iguodala is a superstar that is high on the radar in this offseason, with the Philadelphia 76ers reportedly talking to both the Los Angeles Clippers and Golden State Warriors.
Earlier this month, ESPN reports claimed that the Warriors would give up Monta Ellis to the 76ers in exchange for Iguodala. The All-Star forward has been a member of the 76ers for his entire career, but winning has been difficult in Philly.
Other teams that could use him are a team like the NBA champion Dallas Mavericks, who have an aging Shawn Marion at the small forward position as well as an aging Peja Stojakovic and an injury-prone Caron Butler.
Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
4 of 5
After playing his first two seasons in the league with the Phoenix Suns, Steve Nash went on to play several years in Dallas, and now has played his last seven seasons back with the Suns.
Nash is a force to be reckoned with at point guard, as last season he led the league in assists with 11.4 per game, just under his career-high in the 2004-05 when recorded 11.5 per game.
He is a great player that has done much for the city of Phoenix over the course of his 14-year career. At the end of the day, he is missing one thing from his resume that would put him on another level of greatness: an NBA championship.
Nash could possibly be traded to a championship contender like the Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder. Who knows, maybe even a return to Dallas alongside Jason Kidd could be a possibility for the multiple-MVP award winner.
Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic
5 of 5
The story of the Orlando Magic over the last several seasons: a team that has come so far but has never been able to get it done.
Their one NBA Finals appearance against the L.A. Lakers in 2009, where the Magic lost to the Lakers in just five games. Kobe Bryant led the way scoring big against the Magic, who seemed to be intimidated by the Lakers in the matchup.
Having just finished his sixth season with the Orlando Magic, Howard has proven his worth. Last season he posted a whopping 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. In the 2011 NBA playoffs, it was as if no one wanted to help out, as Howard took over with 27 points, and 15.5 rebounds per game on 63 percent shooting.
The Magic would do anything to keep the guy in blue and white, but as far as Howard's view on the situation, there's no doubt he has to consider the option of playing elsewhere.
