NBA Trade Rumors: Rip Hamilton and 9 Other Guys on the Move

The NBA Draft is now over and teams are looking ahead to fill in even more pieces for the start of the season if there is no lockout.

There are a lot of trade rumors going around but they revolve around the likes of Steve Nash, Monta Ellis, Lamar Odom and Dwight Howard.

There is a whole group of other guys that will fill roles on teams and make them into more of a contender than they were last season.

Here is a list of 10 of those players, including Richard Hamilton, whose names have been put out there that could be moving sometime soon.

Luke Walton

Luke Walton is not a marquee name and will never be his father.

That being said he can put up quality minutes from the bench for many of the teams around the NBA. His name will likely be thrown into a trade if the Lakers are truly trying to give up Lamar Odom.

Antawn Jamison

Antawn Jamison was supposed to be the guy to complement Lebron James and help entice him to stay in Cleveland.

Well, maybe someday he will be the yin to Lebron’s yang.

But for now Cleveland is left rebuilding and Jamison is a quality player that can be used for a trade.

The Cavaliers may use Jamison in a trade to bring in a player that can address one of their many needs.

Hasheem Thabeet

Hasheem Thabeet was a defensive menace in college. He blocked and deterred shots left and right for UConn.

It seems that it was just due to his pure size because most scouts never saw him as NBA caliber, and a lot of teams have agreed thus far. He was the second overall draft pick in 2009 and all he has amounted to is equivalent to a good player in the D-League.

Thabeet has NBA size, standing over seven feet tall and someone still may take a chance on him.

The Rockets may use him as a bargaining chip, especially if the injury-prone Yao Ming can actually get back on the court in Houston.

JR Smith

JR Smith is a player who is starting-five quality. The issue is he sits on the bench for George Karl’s Denver Nuggets.

Most NBA teams would enjoy having this guard with a knack for flair. He can make a crowd sit on the edge of their seats and what franchise does not want a player like that?

Joakim Noah

If the Bulls are to get another scorer they will probably have to deal Joakim Noah.

Noah is a valuable piece for the Bulls but they are more likely to trade him than Carlos Boozer.

Noah loves Chicago but he may just have to leave it in the near future.

Rashard Lewis

The Washington Wizards are still just trying to find their footing. They have gotten rid of Antawn Jamison, Gilbert Arenas, and Caron Butler over the last couple of years.

The Wizards have been trying to reshape the franchise since offloading all of those players’ contracts, and the next to go would seem like Rashard Lewis.

Lewis is a player who can still play but his contract puts a strangle hold on them underneath the dark clouds of the salary cap.

Look for him to get offloaded because of his contract—not lack of ability.

Courtney Lee

The Chicago Bulls tried to acquire Courtney Lee last season. Looking back on it, it’s a shame they were not able to.

Lee would have helped the Bulls in their playoff run and may have been able to be that second scorer that they lacked.

Look for trade talks about Courtney Lee to open up again and do not be surprised if he is dealt.

OJ Mayo

OJ Mayo will not be dealt—that is what the front office of the Memphis Grizzlies say, but if the right deal comes up he will certainly be moved.

This is why when reading news on the Web, his name is coming up a lot this off-season.

Will he be dealt? There is a good chance of it. But there is also a good chance he stays; it is a 50/50 chance.

Paul Millsap

Paul Millsap had a great season for the Jazz last season, starting in every game that he played.

The issue for Millsap is that the Jazz are remodeling their team and he is probably not the player around which they plan to build. This means that he is dispensable.

His quality play is making a lot of GMs take notice as they are trying to fill in the pieces to their teams.

Richard Hamilton

Richard Hamilton is mentioned in every trade rumor that involves the Detroit Pistons. This is because of his huge contract.

His contract is holding the Pistons back from making a move for big free agents and if they can get rid of him they will have the cap room in the next few summers to get big names.

Hamilton can still score and will not hurt any team he is on when on the court. He brings a veteran presence with him, and a move might just reinvigorate the former UConn star.