NBA Trade Speculation: 10 Players Who Aren't but Should Be on Block

In an attempt to endure this ugly lockout, NBA fans have immersed themselves in trade and free agency rumors, many of which have become repetitive, and it's high time we strayed off the beaten path.

Players like Monta Ellis, Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala have dominated trade rumor and speculation headlines since the NBA finals concluded, and are among athletes we know to openly be on the trade block.

After sifting through countless rumors regarding these players, and others, one begins consider if there aren't more names who belong beside them. 

Why are the Atlanta Hawks shopping Josh Smith and not Joe Johnson?

How come the Miami Heat are not considering dismantling their "Big Three" in order to become a more balanced attacking team?

And why aren't there more 2012 free agents who are likely to bolt for greener pastures being shopped?

With these questions in mind, let's take a look at 10 NBA players who aren't on the trading block, but should be. 

Ben Gordon of Detroit Pistons

It seems like a decade ago that Ben Gordon averaged 20.7 points and 3.5 rebounds, and played almost 37 minutes per game, yet in fact it was during the 2008-2009 season.

Why does it seem like so long ago?

Gordon's production has dropped incredibly over the past two seasons to the point where he averaged only 11.2 points and 2.4 rebounds in 26 minutes per game last year. No, they aren't terrible numbers, but when you consider the guy is due over $37 million the next three seasons, one would expect better.

Detroit is focused on moving Richard Hamilton and his bloated contract, yet he provides an even bigger scoring punch and is only on the hook for two more seasons, the second of which he would prove to be a huge trade asset for his expiring deal.

Gordon is quick and can put up points in bunches at times, which is why he may not prove to be immovable, but the Pistons should deal him sooner rather than later before his production drops off anymore. He is only 28 and seems to have more than peaked, becoming an unnecessary liability for the rebuilding Detroit franchise.

If the Pistons want to move Hamilton that's fine. But they should move Gordon first because he has the potential of becoming an even more expensive non-factor.

Joe Johnson of Atlanta Hawks

When the Atlanta Hawks inked Joe Johnson to a six-year, $119 million deal last summer, he became one of the hardest players in the NBA to move.

But that doesn't mean the Hawks shouldn't try.

After averaging 21.3 points, 4.9 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game in 2009-2010, Johnson decreased in every department for 2010-2011, putting up 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, four rebounds and 0.6 steals per game. Those numbers are still solid, but are they $119 million solid? No.

The 30-year-old Johnson has proved to not be the strongest option on offense for Atlanta, and may have given an indication this past season of what's to come. And spoiler alert, it's nothing good.

Instead, the Hawks have been focusing their energy on trying to find a new home for forward Josh Smith and his ego. Such a search is not unwarranted, yet when Smith is younger, cheaper, more athletic and has three-years less left on his contract, isn't his ego worth putting up with?

Last season, Smith averaged 16.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. His stock, sans attitude, is on the rise while Johnson is set to become a liability somewhat soon.

Johnson's contract could prove impossible to move, but it's worth it to Atlanta to try.

These days, the Orlando Magic are thought to be willing to do anything to try and entice Dwight Howard to stay, so maybe the Hawks should give them a call.

And with the money Atlanta would save trading Johnson, they could stand to invest a few dollars in an attitude adjustment for Smith.

Ray Allen of Boston Celtics

Ray Allen had a solid season for the Boston Celtics, averaging 16.5 points and one steal per game while shooting over 44 percent from beyond the arc.

And this is exactly why the Celtics need to move Allen.

At 36, Allen, like the rest of Boston's core, is aging fast and there is no better time to trade him than now. He can still produce, thus capable of being statistically valuable to a number of teams, and his contact expires at the end of next season, making him a commodity in terms of cap space as well.

And like it or not, Allen may be the most expendable of the Celtics' "Big Four." Paul Pierce has the outside covered and Kevin Garnett is still a very strong force down low. Not to mention Jeff Green could fill some of the offensive void left by Allen.

Boston, as a whole, is aging fast, and the window of opportunity for this group is closing or it may have already closed. The Celtics need to get younger to keep themselves in a position to contend beyond next season. Allen still has some trade value and if the Celtics can get a young talent by including him in a deal, they need to at least explore it.

Who knows, maybe Boston can get pry Rudy Gay and his large contract away from the Memphis Grizzlies, offering draft picks and cap relief in the form of Allen, plus some fillers. Gay, listed as a forward, would be more than capable of assuming shooting guard duties.

Regardless though, if the Celtics want to put themselves in a better position for the future, Allen is a name they should begin shopping.

Jason Kidd of Dallas Mavericks

Jason Kidd helped the Dallas Mavericks win an NBA title this past season, yet it may be time that the team look for a new home for the 38-year-old point guard.

Last season, Kidd averaged 7.9 points, 8.2 assists, 4.4 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He has one year left on his contract worth $8.5 million, which is bound to be of use to some team looking to shed some cap after next season.

Kidd can still perform, but the Mavericks have a younger and capable J.J. Barea, whom they could re-sign to pair with Jason Terry. Additionally, age has to be of concern in the backcourt, where Kidd's partner, Terry, is 33.

Dallas would be smart to use Kidd's expiring deal, and the fact he can still make an impact on the floor, in an attempt to either get some help at the small forward or center positions.

Tyson Chandler and Caron Butler are both free agents who the Mavericks would love to have back, but it is unlikely they retain both. Kidd could be an integral part of a package that gets them younger and more athletic at one of those positions.

It may be hard for Mark Cuban and the Mavericks to make a move like this coming off a championship season, but they should move Kidd while he still has some trade value to ensure their contention for beyond next season.

Robin Lopez of Phoenix Suns

Robin Lopez is a player the Phoenix Suns need to explore a trade for because of how much it could further their rebuilding process.

Steve Nash is bound to draw league-wide interest but he says he likes Phoenix and if he is okay not playing for a contender, than the Suns should feel no guilt about wasting away some of his final days.

Lopez has been a disappointment for the Suns up until this point. Last season he averaged 6.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in just under 15 minutes per game. He has not shown he is an exceptional inside scorer or defender, and has not exhibited the versatility that his twin brother, Brook Lopez, possesses.

Some may be asking how a player of Lopez's caliber could draw the amount of interest that could substantially help the Suns rebuild, and it is a valid question. 

Lopez is 7'0", and is bound to draw some interest just because of that sheer fact. The NBA is a center starved league and many would jump at the chance of acquire a seven-footer. Additionally, there are teams who may buy into a hereditary theory and believe he could eventually become a similar player to his brother.

Additionally, he is not overpaid, and is slated for 2012 restricted free agency, making him a low a risk acquisition. And let's not forget the Suns already have Marcin Gortat, Channing Frye, Hakim Warrick and incoming rookie Markieff Morris to cover the inside game. This makes Lopez extremely expendable. 

The Suns need a young outside shooter because Vince Carter is neither young nor consistent, and Josh Childress is rapidly proving he was a mistake.

The New York Knicks are known to be interested in Steve Nash, but they are also hungry for a center, and New York happened to draft guard Iman Shumpert out of Georgia Tech, a player that Phoenix strongly coveted. He would certainly provide the outside scoring punch the Suns crave.

This surely will not be the only option available to the Suns either.

Lopez has the potential to help Phoenix as a trade asset more than he ever could on the court, and for that very reason, he needs to be put on the trading block.

Rudy Gay of Memphis Grizzlies

Rudy Gay has been a name that has appeared in some trade speculation, yet the Memphis Grizzlies maintain that he is not on the trading block.

But he should be.

Last summer, the Grizzlies inked Gay to a five-year, slightly more than $80 million contract. Before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury, he was playing up to his pay-grade, averaging 19.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks per game,

Gay's injury was believed to be a crippling loss for Memphis, but as it turned out, it wasn't. Marc Gasol, Mike Conley and Zach Randolph led the Grizzlies to an impressive playoff run that has caused some to deem Gay as expendable.

While it may make sense for Memphis to hold onto Gay and just integrate him into this balanced attack the Grizzlies have developed, moving his contract could prove to be of great benefit to them.

Plenty of teams would be willing to part with valuable assets in exchange for Gay, and with the prospect of getting into a bidding war to keep Gasol still very much alive, such financial relief would be welcomed.

Additionally, moving Gay will open up some much needed cap space for Memphis as we progress toward the lucrative free agent class of 2012. Or, the Grizzlies could attempt to include Gay in a deal for one of the members of said free agent class whose teams may be willing to part with them if the right deal comes along.

Either way, Gay has proved to not be a necessity to Memphis' success, and moving him creates plenty of options for the Grizzlies to push their team toward contention.

Chris Paul of New Orleans Hornets

Chris Paul is a potential member of the highly anticipated 2012 free agency class, making him a player that the New Orleans Hornets should be shopping.

Last season, Paul averaged 18.7 points, 9.9 assists and 2.4 steals per game, and was a one man wrecking crew against the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round of the playoffs.

While Paul has given no inclination that he is likely to leave, he has given no indication he will stay either. As currently constructed, the Hornets are not winning any titles, and New Orleans has not been linked to any other strong players to pair alongside Paul that puts them at that level.

Deron Williams will not be shopped by the New Jersey Nets, and this is understandable given his situation is a necessary risk for the team as they fight to become relevant. Holding onto Paul is an unnecessary risk for the Hornets though because as hard as it may be to admit, he is likely going to leave.

We cannot underestimate the gravity of meaning that his toast at Carmelo Anthony's wedding last summer holds, especially now that Melo is in New York. And let's not forget the plans Chris Bosh, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade made together a few years ago. Look at how that turned out.

If history has taught us anything it is that if Paul wants to play for the New York Knicks, he will. And New Orleans cannot sit back and allow themselves to be burned. 

The Hornets either need to pry every asset they can away from the Knicks in return for Paul, or trade him to a suitor who is willing to relinquish something of value in exchange for essentially renting the star point guard's talents.

Case and point: New Orleans, as painful as it may be, needs to put Paul on the block.

Unless the thought of becoming the 2012 version of the Cleveland Cavaliers appeals to them.

Manu Ginobli of San Antonio Spurs

The San Antonio Spurs are already known to be shopping Richard Jefferson and Tony Parker, and they should add Manu Ginobili to the list.

Ginobili, 34, averaged 17.4 points, 4.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season, stats that do not automatically warrant him to be shopped. However, the Spurs are in a similar situation as the Celtics, and need to find a way to get their aging core younger.

San Antonio is already looking for new homes for two key players in Jefferson and Parker, thinking it would be easier to move them sooner rather then later. The Spurs are right, although Jefferson will prove to still be a challenge. This is why it is him who should serve as the reason San Antonio shops Ginobili now as opposed to later on.

By this logic, many may think that Tim Duncan and his expiring contract should be moved as well. It is an option for the Spurs because his $21.3 million salary coming off the books would be enticing to many teams, but his legacy makes it a sticky situation. Plus the Spurs will definitely be interested in signing him at a discount next summer.

Oh, and there is the fact that his salary coming off the books helps them make a play at some of the 2012 premiere free agents.

Ginobili on the other hand, has two years and over $27 million left on his contract, and would prove easier to move than Jefferson. Yes, he can be more productive, but it is time for the Spurs to admit they have to blow up the roster.

And if they find a way to move Ginobili, Jefferson and Parker, think of all the cap space they clear. They could make a killing in next summer's free agent market, possibly making a play for two, new CBA permitting, max-level stars while bringing back Duncan at a discount.

Could you imagine Dwight Howard and Duncan sharing the low-post while catching passes from Deron Williams or Chris Paul? 

Me neither.

Not as long as Ginobili is not among the aging, pricey stars the Spurs are shopping.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic

Although speculation has been running rampant regarding Dwight Howard, he has not officially been put on the trade block by the Orlando Magic.

Orlando has made it clear that they are willing to do whatever it takes to keep Howard, having been linked to such players as Josh Smith. However, bigger name stars like fellow slated 2012 free agents Deron Williams and Chris Paul are names that have not appeared on the Magic's radar.

Orlando is restricted from pursuing superstars that would require them to relinquish a large number of assets because they simply do not have assets. This limits them to players whose teams are simply looking to dump their salary, and in Smith's case, attitude.

A large part of the Magic's game plan seems to be banking on the fact that Howard is going to show Kevin Garnett like loyalty at this point of his career and opt to stay with the team that drafted him.

And this could prove to be a big mistake.

Sure, the Magic are willing to take on any contract to better the team, evident by the acquisitions of Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu last season, but they are in no position to make a major splash in the market.

If the Atlanta Hawks prove to be willing to move Joe Johnson and his outrageous contract and the Magic find a way to strike a deal landing both him and Smith, then there chances increase greatly.

However, I'm pretty sure we have a better chance of seeing LeBron James demand a trade to the Cavaliers.

The Magic cannot bank on Howard's loyalty. The past few seasons do not warrant this. He has simply had to carry the team on his back since day one, and if Orlando lets this drag out until free agency, they are setting themselves up for disaster.

It is time for Orlando to rebuild. Any team, would probably give up any player the Magic request while agreeing to take on a bad contract or two in addition (see Turkoglu and Arenas) for Howard and his 22.9 points, 14.1 rebounds and 2.4 blocks per game. This is an opportunity Orlando cannot afford to pass up at this point.

What happens if they let Howard walk in free agency? Orlando would then be left with a gaping hole in the middle, but not one in the salary cap.

Make no mistake about it, the Magic are better off putting Howard on the trade block instead of waiting for an even more tragic ending to this saga.

LeBron James of Miami Heat

The Miami Heat may have made it to the NBA Finals in only the first year of their "Big Three" experiment, but it might be time to take this experiment in another direction.

The Heat desperately need to sure up the middle, and while they could dangle Chris Bosh as bait to some teams, LeBron James would give them much more in return.

That being said, there is only one trade that would be worth it to Miami to trade James, and it is for Dwight Howard. The Magic are not intent on trading Howard, yet an offer of LeBron is one they would be sure to accept.

James had another terrific season in his first year with the Heat, averaging 26.7 points, 7.5 rebounds, seven assists and 1.6 steals per game. He is most certainly not on the trade block, but let us ask ourselves, if it means landing Howard, why not?

Hands down, James is the best player in the NBA, yet a "Big Three" of Howard, Bosh and Dwyane Wade is a more balanced attack than what the Heat boast now. LeBron and Wade, while effective together, play too similar a style of ball.

Howard and Bosh however, are two big men who play very different games that would compliment each other perfectly. A Bosh and Howard pairing would prove to be greater than pairings of the same caliber we have seen in the past, like Tim Duncan and David Robinson. And it would certainly prove to be more prolific than the current Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol tandem in Los Angeles.

Is such speculation improbable?

Yes.

Is it illogical?

No.

Trading LeBron for Howard makes sense for Miami, and while we shouldn't hold our breath for it to come to fruition, it should be noted that the Heat could be passing up a golden opportunity.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @DannyFavs2033.