NBA Trade Speculation: 10 Players Who'll Get Hurt by the Lockout

A lot of attention is paid to NBA trade rumors relating to high-profile players, but the athletes who are moved as a result of such deals are often an afterthought.

In order for a team to acquire a Chris Paul, it is going to have to move a Landry Fields. In order for a team like the New Orleans Hornets to feel comfortable dealing its star player, there are a plethora of Emeka Okafors it insists be taken off its hands as well.

So while the spotlight is pointed at the Pauls and the Dwight Howards, we cannot forget about those who will become collateral damage and a means to an end for such deals to go through.

The NBA lockout is a friend to no one, but once we reach its conclusion, there are a number of players poised to get screwed.

Josh Childress of Phoenix Suns

The Phoenix Suns maintain that Steve Nash is not on the trade block, but once as their season progresses they will see holding on to to him is borderline pointless, especially considering he holds the key to getting rid of Josh Childress.

Somehow, Childress was supposed to be worth $24 million, but obviously he isn't. As the Suns begin to rebuild, the 28-year-old choke artist is worthless to them, yet he remains virtually immovable.

Although Childress is third in line for minutes at the shooting guard position, leading one to believe he cannot really get screwed, he played over 16 minutes per game last season. Think the next team that winds up with him will be that generous?

Not at all, especially considering teams that will attempt to make a play for Nash are likely to be contenders.

Childress would be doing himself a favor to get better acclimated to the bench before heading elsewhere.

Emeka Okafor of New Orleans Hornets

Emeka Okafor has three years and over $40 million left on his current contract, money that he is just not worth.

Although we cannot really chastise Okafor for his lucrative salary—it's not the player's responsibility to push the offer sheet back down the table and tell the team he's worth much less—it is cause for him to get attached to any Chris Paul deal.

The New Orleans Hornets are not going to want to deal Paul, but they are eventually going to have to. After the Carmelo Anthony trade the Denver Nuggets pulled off last season, you better believe the Hornets are going to want both assets and cap relief in return.

What assets will they receive in return? Who knows, but cap relief starts with unloading Okafor's deal, which they will undoubtedly do if and when they deal Paul.

Who would have thought that with all that potential, Okafor would wind up an afterthought and borderline hindrance in trade negotiations?

Brook Lopez of New Jersey Nets

Brook Lopez has been one of the few reasons to even watch the New Jersey Nets the past three years, and he will be rewarded by being shipped elsewhere, possibly to Orlando, as the team ascends into relevance.

The Nets want to keep Deron Williams. Williams wants to play alongside another superstar. Ergo, New Jersey is going to pursue Dwight Howard hard.

As one of the few teams that can offer a capable big man in return for Howard, be sure to put the Nets atop the list of likely destinations for the center. New Jersey—or rather, Brooklyn—fans will undoubtedly be ecstatic at the prospect of adding Howard, completely ignoring the likes of the homegrown talent they would be relinquishing.

If New Jersey obtains Howard, it means Lopez will have to take a giant step backwards. He is a heartbeat away from the postseason with the Nets. We cannot say the same if he's in Orlando.

I'd call that getting screwed.

Chauncey Billups of New York Knicks

The New York Knicks have very few appealing assets, but you better believe they are going to drain every last one of them if it means bringing them closer to boasting a superstar trio.

Billups' expiring deal is sure to be enticing to teams looking for cap relief, and it will be essential in any deal the Knicks attempt to put together for Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard or any other star who may become available.

After being dealt by his hometown Denver Nuggets, Billups surely has a bitter taste in his mouth. At 35, stability is atop the list of priorities for the point guard.

Unfortunately for Billups, stability is not something he has, and more likely than not, he will be ending the season—lockout willing—with a different team. Again.

J.J. Redick of Orlando Magic

When the Orlando Magic finally wake up from whatever dream they are currently having, entertaining Dwight Howard offers is going to be the first thing they do.

In any Howard deal, the Magic are likely going to attempt to attach an undesirable contract, specifically the deals of Gilbert Arenas and Hedo Turkoglu. Arenas' deal may prove impossible to move alongside Howard's, leaving Turkoglu to be the likely candidate.

With Arenas still on the payroll, Orlando's backcourt is immensely crowded, a conflict it will look to resolve in the same trade.

As any team will already be taking on a bad contract in Turkoglu, it is unlikely any organization allows the Magic to include Chris Duhon or Quentin Richardson, and Orlando trading Jameer Nelson is out of the question.

That leaves Redick, who is fairly young and can shoot the three. While most would welcome a move out of that mess in Orlando, Redick is a fragile player. A significant change could disrupt his rhythm, rendering him near incapable and setting him on the path to becoming a journeyman.

Not to mention he seemed poised to become the team's starting shooting guard next year, a role he likely won't assume anywhere else.

Omer Asik of Chicago Bulls

If the Chicago Bulls are serious about adding a capable shooting guard or getting rid of Carlos Boozer, it is going to cost them Omer Asik, a price that they may be willing to pay.

In Asik's first year, he only played about 12 minutes per game, but his defensive prowess was clearly evident. The 25-year-old out of Turkey has the potential to become a dominant inside presence, a notion the rest of the league is aware of.

Currently, with Joakim Noah and possibly even Kurt Thomas—should Chicago retain him—in front of him, Asik is in a no pressure situation, which means he can take his time developing his game. However, this very fact arguably makes him expendable.

The Bulls need a shooting guard, and they also wouldn't say no to ridding themselves of Boozer's bloated contract. As they are unwilling to give up Luol Deng, Asik is poised to become collateral damage for the greater needs of Chicago.

Who knows what kind of unfavorable situation he could potentially find himself in from there?

Brandon Roy of Portland Trail Blazers

The acquisition of Raymond Felton is going to have consequences, especially for the likes of Brandon Roy.

The Portland Trail Blazers have had a surplus of perimeter players for quite some time now, but Felton, as a prolific floor general, makes it seriously crowded. Felton's added offense makes Roy and the more than $68 million left on his contract expendable, meaning it won't be long before he is on the chopping block.

It may seem impossible to screw a player earning that much money, but the Blazers, now with a superior point guard, are headed toward contention. If Portland moves Roy, the odds are it will be to a team looking to build for its future.

After spending five seasons with the Blazers as they try to stave off mediocrity, Roy is no longer a necessity, and there is a better than good possibility Portland battles for one of the top spots in the West without him.

Not exactly a picture-perfect scenario for the 27-year-old.

Landry Fields of New York Knicks

As previously noted, the Knicks are thin on assets, especially when it comes to players who are able to impact an organization's future, which is why Landry Fields is virtually out the door.

Any deal the Knicks make next season is going to have to include not only Chauncey Billups' expiring contract, but also the likes of the surprising Fields. Toney Douglas and Iman Shumpert could wind up on the block, but when it comes to them, it is either/or, whereas Fields' inclusion is basically guaranteed.

Fields played in all 82 regular season games last year, starting in 81 of them, and the starting job is his to lose heading into next season. A starting role is not a luxury he is likely to have anywhere else, though—not right away, at least.

On a team nearly void of assets, Fields' potential will seem that much better, especially if the incoming player in question is forcing his way into orange and blue.

As we look ahead toward next season, Fields seems poised to become the latest promising talent to fall victim to New York's pursuit of a Big Apple "big three."

Anthony Morrow of New Jersey Nets

Anthony Morrow continued to put up stellar numbers last season, and he should thrive alongside Deron Williams next year, yet this may not exactly serve as good news for the 26-year-old.

Currently, Morrow is appealing to a number of teams for his scoring capabilities, but imagine how he will seem after spending a half season benefiting from the passing talents of Williams.

Brook Lopez may be poised to get screwed after the lockout, but not as much as Morrow. Both he and Lopez will have to be a part of any package for Howard, but if that falls through, Lopez is likely safe. Morrow, on the other hand, could be used to assemble an offer for Josh Smith.

The Nets are going to do whatever it takes to convince Deron Williams to stay. If that means trading a plethora of young talent for Howard, then so be it. If it means trading for the volatile Smith to give Williams a running mate and to entice Howard to sign via free agency, then so be it as well.

In either scenario, though, Morrow is gone. He might as well starting packing now.

Lamar Odom of Los Angeles Lakers

The reigning Sixth Man of the Year is one of the most versatile players in the game and an asset at both ends of the floor.

Unfortunately for Lamar Odom, though, he is currently viewed as more of a means to obtain another superstar to pair with Kobe Bryant than anything else right now.

In any deal for Dwight Howard, Odom is gone. In any deal for Monta Ellis, Odom is also gone. In any deal for Andre Iguodala—yes, you guessed it—Odom is gone.

Odom has done a number of great things for the Los Angeles Lakers, none more significant than softening the supposed crippling blow of losing Shaquille O'Neal. After seven seasons, though, the Lakers seem ready to part ways with the 31-year-old.

Odom may have a lot left to give, but by the end of next season, purple and gold will be but colors to the forward, not a lifestyle.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.