NBA Lockout: 10 Players Who Could Be Traded Once the Lockout Ends

The NBA lockout is depressing for many reasons but one of the reasons that really sticks out is that we are missing possibly one of the most active trading periods in NBA history.  With big players seemingly migrating to any big market and many players still being overpaid on one-year deals, trades would have been happening at an unbelievable rate. 

When the NBA lockout, is over these are 10 big-name players that could be on the trading block. 

Deron Williams (Nets)

The acquisition of Williams was based off of necessity instead of logic and it might come back to bite them.  The Nets traded a lot of talent for Williams with no assurance that he would want to stay in Jersey (or Brooklyn) for more than the two years that were left on his contract. 

Actually, by Williams' quotes, body language and apathetic on-court play, it can be assumed that he might have to be traded by the Nets next season.  It will be very captivating to see if the Nets can get back the level of talent that they had to get for their "expensive rental" of the very talented Williams.

Chris Paul (Hornets)

The only thing that kept the Hornets from being forced to trade Paul last offseason is tragedy.  Once the oil spill devastated the Gulf Coast, it's possible Paul made an emotional and sympathetic decision that he did not want to bring anymore devastation to the good people of New Orleans.  But now the oil spill has made it out of the news cycle and it is time for Paul to focus on what is best for his basketball career. 

Paul's performance against the Lakers in the playoffs may have been one of the best we have ever seen from a point guard, but the problem was he never really had any help.  It is really hard to see New Orleans adding any talent around him (since the team is owned by the league and is more likely to be relocated) and this might lead them to having to trade a disgruntled superstar.

Dwight Howard (Magic)

Howard may be saying all the right things, but it is easy to see that he really does not want his career to waste away in Orlando.  With the salary cap disaster that the Magic currently are, it is tough to see them ever being anything but a No. 5 seed in the East. 

Unless Howard is content with always being the No. 4 or 5 seed in the competitive Eastern Conference, he will probably be traded by Orlando.  Howard could end up in big markets like Los Angeles or New York.

Josh Smith (Hawks)

With the Hawks franchise being in financial ruin, the days where the team is able to shell out huge contracts seems to be coming to an end.  Instead of being stuck in NBA purgatory, it is logical for the Hawks to trade a player like Smith and get some cap relief in return. 

Smith would probably be a great fit on a fast-break team like the Suns or the Knicks and we might finally be able to see him reach his full potential.

Andrew Bynum (Lakers)

The Lakers are going to have to give up a lot more than NBDL prospects to acquire Dwight Howard.  One of the players they would have to give up to acquire someone of the talent of Dwight Howard or Chris Paul is the young and extremely talented Andrew Bynum. 

Bynum has potential to become one of the most dominant centers in basketball today, as he is able to use his height better than almost anyone in the entire league.  The problem the Lakers might have with trading Bynum is that he has always been an injury risk and teams might shy away from trading a superstar for an asterisk.

Andre Iguodala (76ers)

Would it be hard for the 76ers to trade someone who has been the face of the franchise for the last few years?  Yes, but it is probably the right thing to do. 

The Sixers are a young and very talented team and they do not need Iguodala's contract and attitude holding them back from getting even more young talent.  Iguodala may be one of the more exciting players in the league on the fast break but that is essentially all his game has.  The Sixers need more multi-dimensional team players to become contenders in the loaded Eastern Conference.

Tayshaun Prince (Pistons)

The era where the Pistons and Tayshaun Prince both had a mutual need for each other is finally over.  Prince was best when he was the lockdown defender on the classy and hardworking Pistons teams.  On the cocky, young and losing Pistons teams, Prince looks like an apathetic outcast. 

Trading Prince would also give the Pistons a lot of cap room and would give Prince the chance to be one of the best defenders in the league on a contending team.

Monta Ellis (Warriors)

The Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry combination is as illogical as it is exciting.  With Ellis and Curry, you have two star players who are almost the same exact player (Curry may be a better shooter and Ellis may be better at driving to the basket.)  It is illogical for the Warriors to keep two players on their team who need to shoot the ball as much as Ellis and Curry do. 

Ellis seems more likely to be traded since he is older and his selfish play can sometimes cost the team.  Ellis would be traded for a big man and it would give the Warriors a lot more of a balanced attack.

Steve Nash (Suns)

If the Suns have any dignity at all as an organization, they will trade Nash and let him end his career by being in contention to win a championship.  Nash somehow carried the Suns as far as they could go last season and the team was still unable to make the playoffs. 

Nash has carried the Suns franchise for years (along with Amar'e Stoudemire for a few years) and it is time for the Suns to give him the trade that he deserves. 

Brandon Roy (Trail Blazers)

The Trail Blazers made it clear earlier in the offseason that they did not want Brandon Roy and his big contract anymore.  The Trail Blazers seem to have forgotten how valuable Roy's leadership, hard work and perseverance are but they have obviously decided that he is too much of an injury risk to keep on the team.

Roy could be a great player off the bench for a number of contending teams and if he ever gets healthy again he could end up being a great point guard again.