NBA Trade Speculation: Five Big Man Trade Targets for the Portland Trail Blazers

The Blazers need some big men.They still have some potential in the middle, but future All Star LaMarcus Aldridge is the ONLY big man they have who isn't a big question mark.

Marcus Camby is still a solid veteran, but over the last year he has gotten old almost as quickly as Katy Perry's music. We'll see if he has much left in the tank. Marcus has always struggled with injuries.

We know the story with Greg Oden by now. Sky-high potential, but has only played in 25 percent of possible games because of injury, and is a restricted free agent when free agency resumes.

Chris Johnson actually showed a lot more talent than you would expect from someone who spent so much time in the D-League. Unfortunately though, it is difficult to get his contract insured because of the likelihood that he will blow away the first time he runs into a windstorm. He needs about an extra 25 pounds to have a chance against NBA centers.

Taking into consideration Portland's lack of cap space, they may need to make a trade to land their next starting big, or to balance out their roster and add big-man depth.

Here are five potential trades Portland could pursue when basketball activities resume.

Anderson Varejao

Varejao is a good role player, but is overpaid (4yrs/$35 million left). His skill set and contract don't really fit in with the rebuilding Cavaliers.

Trade: Camby (an expiring contract), one of their young players like Luke Babbit and some sweeteners (two 2nd round picks and $3 million) for the Fro'd Flopper and guard Daniel Gibson.

Gibson is a good three-point shooter but doesn't really fit on Cleveland's roster now. He is probably behind Kyrie Irving, Baron Davis and Ramon Sessions on the point guard depth chart, and is small for a shooting guard.

Varejao would be nice in Portland, especially off the bench if Oden is healthy. He can start at center if need be, and though his flopping may annoy patriotic Americans, his willingness to mix it up down low is a boost to any team.

Gibson is a throw-in, but could play at the 1 and 2, and add some much-needed shooting.

The Cavs shed salary (especially when you consider that Camby would likely retire or be bought out), while getting a few small assets for their trouble.

Chris Kaman

The Clippers are rumored to be dangling Kaman for an elite small forward. So far that doesn't seem like it will yield results.

According to reports, the Clippers are committed to DeAndre Jordan as their center of the future, and Kaman isn't thrilled with the prospect of being a backup. His contract is expiring, so the Clippers are likely to trade him rather than just losing him.

Potential Trade: Kaman and Brian"I-shoulda-been-a"Cook for Camby, C. Johnson, Babbit and sweeteners (two 2nd round picks and cash, get used to it).

Kaman is a legit center with a good mid-range jumpshot, and was recently an (undeserved) All Star.

Kaman, the ultimate undeserving All Star, next to Aldridge, the ultimate undeserving All-Star snub, would be nice in the starting lineup.  His injury history and downright ugliness are concerns.

I couldn't stand to have him sitting next to Oden in a suit. And I may be listening to more games on the radio rather than TV, especially if he grows his Gollum-esque hair out again.

It may not look like a great deal for the Clips, but if they can't find a bigger one they may go for it. Consider that they traded Camby, who was still one of the top defensive and rebounding centers, for Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw, who both promptly left at the end of the season.

Emeka Okafor

Trade: Okafor and bench-warmer David Anderson for Camby, C. Johnson, A. Johnson, promising European power forward Joel Freeland, and the usual sweeteners

Chukwuemeka, also known as Emeka, Okafor is your prototypical center. He is solid on offense and good on defense and hitting the glass.

While he struggled with injuries early, the last few years he has been one of the most durable centers. Okafor would be a solid addition to the Blazers lineup. He would join former Bobcats teammates Gerald Wallace and Raymond Felton.

Anderson is a throw-in that wouldn't really play. He would be neck-and-neck in a beauty contest with Kaman. Hopefully Anderson will also see the light and get a good hair cut.

This trade would most likely be if New Orleans is planning for life after Chris Paul. Okafor has a huge contract that would be an anchor on a rebuilding team.

This trade could also give them a ton of salary cap space to try to add pieces next to Paul in 2012 if they want to risk that.

The Hornets are like the Republican Presidential Candidates; there is little beyond their top two.

Beyond the great salary relief, the young players would have a chance in New Orleans to show their potential. Take away Paul, and the Hornets are thin at every single position. Any young players should get some serious run.

Robin Lopez

Alright, two potential trades to bring Robin"I-am-white-but-I-have-a-fro-and-my-last-name-is" Lopez to Portland.

Trade #1: Lopez, Josh Childress and Hakim Warrick for Brandon Roy

Trade #2: Lopez for Babbit, Johnson & Johnson, and the sweeteners

I think that if Portland trades Roy, the Suns are the best candidates to take a risk on him. The Suns' training staff has received a lot of credit, particularly for Grant Hill's post-injury success.

The Suns have a hole at the 2-guard, and if the gamble paid off it could return them to the playoffs. They would get rid of two of their own bad contracts in Warrick and Childress.

A Hoopsworld writer suggested a trade of one second-rounder and cash from New York for Lopez. This trade improves on that by adding an extra pick and young players.

The Suns have a logjam with Lopez, Warrick, Marcin Gortat, Channing Frye and rookie Markieff Morris in the post. Lopez lost most of his minutes to Gortat last season.

Lopez doesn't come without his own concerns, particularly his injury history. But it is a rare opportunity to add a young center to the core.

Al Jefferson

Al Jefferson rumors are hard to figure out. The conventional wisdom would be that, with the Jazz looking to be headed for a rebuild, and with several younger post players, Jefferson or forward Paul Millsap would be shipped out.

Whether he is worth a semi-star (Kevin Martin has been suggested) or little more than cap space, here is a trade somewhere in between.

Trade: Jefferson and Raja Bell for Camby, Babbit, Johnson & Johnson, Spanish prospect Victor Claver, and the sweeteners.

Jefferson has a reputation as a losing player. But, in fairness to him, he has not been in any good situations.

He is a very good post player, who can hit the mid-range shot. His defense is suspect, but he is a very good shot-blocker.