NBA Trade Speculation: 5 Rumored Players Who Won't Be Dealt

With the owners and NBA player's union still bickering over how much money each side gets, fans are left to muddle through any scrap of team and player news they can find.

Trade rumors tend to spark up the most interest, because ultimately they can be made up from the smallest hint of a rumor and become whatever someone wants them to be.

Some of the rumors are real, while others are just the latter. Either way it's a story.

My goal is to sift through some of this truth and rumor to give my opinion on what players are most likely to be staying put once the lockout is over. So here you go ...

Andre Iguodala

The Philadelphia 76ers have been rumored to be trying to offload their second-leading scorer last season and one of the top defenders in the league.

For a while there was talk of a Iguodala for Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis trade. There have also been rumors of him being moved to the Minnesota Timberwolves (before the draft at least) and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The rumors come and go with nothing happening, and I don't predict any teams being willing to take on Iguodala's remaining three-year $44 million contract. Especially with when the new collective bargaining agreement is signed by the players and owners.

Monta Ellis

Speaking of Monta Ellis, other than being mentioned in a trade for Andre Iguodala, Ellis has been mentioned in trade rumors with the Orlando Magic, Portland Trailblazers and more.

This all started with Ellis' agent saying that his client wanted off the Warriors, but with new head coach Mark Jackson in the fold Ellis is prepared to stay.

Now the only thing left to possibly push the elite scoring talent out the door is whether the team feels it is wise to continue to with the overly diminutive back court of Stephen Curry and Ellis.

There may be several teams that would love to have a player like Ellis to help improve their offense, but I don't see the Warriors being able to get the assets they desire in return for the star. 

Chris Paul

With Chris Paul's contract set to end after next season, people believe he will likely be shipped out to a team of his choosing in favor of the New Orleans Hornets getting something for the loss of their superstar point guard.

However, the mill seems to have run out of ideas for the one guard, and Paul appears loyal enough to finish up his contract with his current club.

After the great playoff push the team had this past season, Paul may even opt to stay in New Orleans if the team can finally offer him some legitimate help.

But, for a season at least, put the Chris Paul trade rumors on hold.

Josh Smith

Josh Smith trade rumors began popping up as soon as the Atlanta Hawks made yet another early exit from the NBA playoffs last season.

Nothing really concrete seemed to surface, but for any other trade rumor that popped up, Smith became a possible piece of the trading puzzle. 

Trading Smith away isn't an insane idea; the team is loaded up at the forward position even without him.

However, the Hawks aren't going to just give Smith away as they would like the trade to help push them over their playoff hurdles.

Carlos Boozer

In Carlos Boozer's first season with the Chicago Bulls, he proved to be valuable asset for the team's rebounding statistics. But through his injury-riddled regular season and his no-show playoff performances, Bulls fans became angry.

After the Miami Heat dispatched of the "Chicago Roses," speculation began to grow as to whether the team would end their relationship with the one glaring hole in their new-found defensive success.

Taj Gibson came on strong during the playoffs and played during several of the more important minutes of games, while throwing down some thunderous dunks on the other end of the court. 

The Boozer trade rumors hold no water, however, as the Bulls aren't ready to give up on their 2010 offseason prize in just one season. Expect to see the rebounding machine for at least one more year in the red, white and black uniform.