NBA Trade Speculation: The Best Landing Spot for 7 Major Names on the Block

Every season, disgruntled stars and overpaid players seem to be shopped around the league. Sometimes it's an aging vet who is seeking that elusive championship ring. Other times, the player is underperforming.

Regardless of the circumstance, trade rumors swirl every offseason.

This offseason is no different, as stars and potential stars alike are being piled on the trading block, waiting for the right offer.

Here, every major name being thrown out in trade talks finds the home he is destined to have. While it may not turn out this way in real life, the teams receiving these game-changers would sure like if it did. 

Carlos Boozer: Philadelphia 76ers

Let's all take a second and be realistic here: Carlos Boozer's contract is way too big. Carlos Boozer's defense is quite subpar. Carlos Boozer is an offensive force. These are the three facts we can state for certain about Carlos Boozer.

Despite those shortcomings, Boozer is still a high-impact player who is sure to pad any team's frontcourt.

The Bulls were irritated because he underproduced for his massive contract, but a trade to the Philadelphia 76ers would put him on a team in need of a frontcourt scoring threat, and could potentially give the Bulls Andre Iguodala. 

Iguodala will not be playing for Philadelphia next season, so if they want value, they need to strike while the iron is hot. That leaves them just a couple of choices, and Boozer is most definitely one of them.

Monta Ellis: Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic desperately need a supporting cast for Dwight Howard. 

They haven't been able to get any scoring from their bench, or even starters. In the Magic-Hawks series, Howard scored what one point under half of their points in Game 1, and more than a third of the points in Game 2. He shouldered the entire Magic offense and he can't be counted on to do that every night.

Enter Monta Ellis, the small but speedy scoring machine who is one of the craftiest and deadliest scorers in the game. Sure he's a volume shooter, but he knows how to put up gaudy numbers, and if Howard wants a partner in crime, he could be just the guy.

Orlando might not have the pieces to get Ellis, and the pieces they do have that might be valuable, Golden State probably doesn't need. The Magic would most likely have to give away Turkoglu (which they'd be willing to do), along with another playmaker from the frontcourt—maybe Earl Clark, who has yet to impress but is loaded with potential.

A deal between the two doesn't seem terribly likely, but Ellis could be the guy that gets Howard and the Magic over the hump. 

Rudy Gay: New Jersey Nets

Just imagine a Deron Williams-Marshon Brooks-Rudy Gay combo three years from now. The Nets would be serious title contenders.

New Jersey desperately needs a small forward as Travis Outlaw is clearly not the answer.

Rudy Gay clearly would be the answer.

The only issue is the Nets might not have the right goods to entice Memphis. They could offer Brook Lopez, but the Grizzlies have no need for him due to the emergence of both Marc Gasol and Zach Randolph. Maybe if OJ Mayo is traded away they could use Anthony Morrow as a decent and cheaper replacement.

For this trade to ever go down, the Nets would need to throw in some picks paired with Anthony Morrow and possibly Damion James.

Even at that, it's a stretch. 

Dwight Howard: Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks are one piece away from contending for an NBA championship, and that is the most important piece there is: a superstar. 

While the center position is Atlanta's most gaping hole, snagging Andrew Bynum in a Lakers trade won't quite do the trick, especially if they have to lose Al Horford or Josh Smith for it.

Howard won't want to come home to Atlanta unless his AAU buddy, Josh Smith, is there. So while Smith may be a major trade piece that Orlando wants in return, the Hawks would be more inclined to deal Al Horford to keep a content Dwight Howard in Atlanta.

A Marvin Williams-and-Al Horford-for-Dwight Howard trade makes plenty of sense for both sides (only for Orlando if Howard demands to be traded). The Magic may lose their second incredibly dominant center in 20 years, but at least in return they get a two-time All-Star who is truly on the fringe of becoming something more. Paired with him is an athletic wing who has struggled to live up to the hype of a second overall pick, but is serviceable nonetheless (only if he finally learns not to shoot with his heels on the three-point line—worst shot in basketball).

The Hawks then have a roster ready to compete with Miami's, and a roster that would be a force for years to come.

Andre Iguodala: Los Angeles Clippers

Now just picture this lineup: Mo Williams, Eric Gordon, Andre Iguodala, Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan.

Wow. I mean, talk about athletic. Talk about a team that will be competing with Miami and Oklahoma City for the next five to seven years. 

The Clippers and the 76ers were in serious talks for a Kaman-Iguodala deal, and Los Angeles should pull the trigger on that as soon as it comes across the table. 

With Iguodala on board, the Clippers are set to do more than routinely make poster boys out of every defender; they're on their way towards championship contention.

Wow. I can't believe I just said that about the Clippers.

Steve Nash: Los Angeles Lakers

Steve Nash is at that point in his career where the only thing that matters is winning a championship.

His two MVP trophies don't carry much value anymore, and neither does the fact that he's been so close to the finals so many times. Those are all moot points, and I'm sure Nash would agree.

If Nash and Hakim Warrick were dealt to the Lakers in exchange for say, Andrew Bynum, Los Angeles would instantly be staring back down the barrel of a championship.

Sure they're still in contention now, but put Nash at the helm instead of Fisher, and all of a sudden Kobe starts getting better looks and the Los Angeles Lakers start getting more wins.

While many Laker fans believe Darius Morris is the future at the point guard position, he is in no way ready to start now. He could be groomed under Nash his first few years until he was in the swing of things, and by that time, Nash will have most likely aged out.

If Nash goes to the Lakers, the entire NBA is in trouble for at least two more years. 

Josh Smith: Orlando Magic

Again, the Magic have another potential sidekick in their elusive quest to aid Dwight Howard.

This option is much more likely to happen than Monta Ellis, but still, the likelihood isn't overwhelming.

Josh Smith would go to Orlando with his good friend Dwight Howard, and together they'd have the best frontcourt in the league, defensively and offensively. It would be impossible to penetrate the lane, and again, the Magic would challenge the powers of the Eastern Conference.

Still, the Magic would likely give up Jameer Nelson and Brandon Bass for Smith, and considering that's their best offer, the Hawks would be hesitant to accept.

Accepting that trade would stunt the development of Jeff Teague by sending him back to the bench, and giving Atlanta a poor man's Al Horford in Brandon Bass. Considering they already have Al Horford, a reduced version of him does them no good.