NBA Trade Speculation: 5 Players Who Should Be Dealt

As of now, there is no certainty that there will even be an NBA season in 2011-12, but assuming the owners and players agree to terms that allow for games to be played this year, there are several players who need to be dealt from their current teams.

Whether team's are over the salary cap or just in need of a change, trading these players will be good in the long run for their respective franchises and will also significantly change the outlook of the league.

With that being said, here are five players that should be dealt from their current teams.

Andre Iguodala

Even though Andre Iguodala has been the best player for the Philadelphia 76ers for the last few years, it would be in the best interest of both parties to part ways.

Right now, Iguodala is under a contract that pays him $80 million over six years. He has already served three years under that contract but is still scheduled to make some serious cash.

He's currently the fifth highest paid small forward in the NBA, making as much money as Kevin Durant and more than Manu Ginobili. 

Iguodala has been good but not that good. 

Not only is he a little overpaid, but he's on a team that probably won't be able to contend with the Miami Heat, Boston Celtics or Chicago Bulls with the players currently on the roster. 

For the Sixers, trading Iggy to a contender would not only allow him to have a better chance to win but in the long run would give the team the best chance to win.

Jrue Holliday and Evan Turner are a solid, young base for Philly, but they need some more talent around them in order to be competitive in the Eastern Conference.

By trading Iguodala, the Sixers could add some up and coming young talent and in a couple of years the team could develop into a serious contender. 

For more in depth analysis on why Philadelphia should trade Andre Iguodala click here.

Josh Smith

Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks has been involved in trade talks since the NBA draft. 

The team initially seemed willing to throw their star forward's name into trade talks then but have since been far less aggressive.

While talks seemed to have calmed recently, the Hawks would be smart to continue to entertain any offers that come there way once the lockout ends.

Atlanta has seen its fair share of success with Smith in the lineup, but the combination of his contract and his current trade value make a deal very attractive.

Because of Smith's trade value, the Hawks should be able to lure one of the league's young emerging centers to Atlanta, allowing Al Horford to play his natural position at power forward. 

For Smith, a trade would mean the opportunity to play for a legitimate championship contender right now (even though the Hawks have been a fairly consistent threat in the East, they have yet to make it to the next level).

Carlos Boozer

The Chicago Bulls, despite making it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals should trade Carlos Boozer.

Chicago's biggest offseason acquisition choked in the playoffs, scoring less points per game (12.6) than he makes in millions per year ($14 million-plus).

That's never a good sign.

His performance throughout the postseason was indicative of the way in which the relationship between Boozer and the Bulls worked out.

Boozer never quite turned out the way Chicago had hoped, and even though he's only been with the Bulls for a year, a trade in the near future might be the best thing for the team.

With Taj Gibson showing the skills of a starting power forward, the Bulls could afford to use Boozer to land a shooting guard, possibly one who could become the second scoring option.

Chirs Paul

With Chris Paul's contract expiring after the completion of the 2012-13 season—assuming there's a season in 2011-12—the New Orleans Hornets should absolutely look to get some compensation before their superstar inevitably leaves.

For a few years now, everyone has suspected that when Chris Paul becomes a free agent, he will leave the Hornets and likely team up with another superstar to try and make a run at an NBA title.

The Hornet's have also anticipated this, yet the hope of keeping Paul has prevented New Orleans from dealing their superstar.

However, as that moment quickly approaches and the hope of keeping Paul becomes less and less likely, the Hornets need to finally pull the trigger on a trade.

Paul wants to play alongside another superstar and the prospect of drawing one to New Orleans isn't in the cards, so unless the Hornets want to watch their point guard leave and get nothing in return, the best thing to do would be to trade him.

Dwight Howard

The situation the Orlando Magic find themselves in with Dwight Howard is almost identical to the one the Hornets are in with Chris Paul.

In fact, it might be even more obvious that a trade is needed in Orlando's case.

As much as Dwight Howard has attempted to defuse trade speculation, his actions—like refusing to sign a contract extension—have shown that his true intentions are to leave Orlando when he becomes a free agent.

If the Magic don't want to end up the way the Cleveland Cavaliers did when LeBron James left, then until Dwight Howard's signature is on the dotted line of a two-year extension, they should be looking into getting as much value as they can by trading their center.