NBA Trade Speculation: 10 Players We'd Love To See on a New Team

Last summer NBA free-agency took over the sports world because of all the speculation and anticipation that led up to LeBron James' "The Decision," which also affected many other high-profile free agents' decision of where to sign.

Now, there is no NBA due to the lockout.

I should probably just be asking for a season to happen, but instead I'm going to be greedy.

The following slides consist of 10 NBA players we'd love to see in a different uniform when the lockout ends and the NBA gets underway.

Dwight Howard

It seems like Dwight Howard could, or should, no longer be on the Orlando Magic at any point after the lockout terminates.

The Magic have tried to re-sign Howard, but it doesn't seem like he's in any rush to get that extension done prior to him being a free agent.  So, the Magic should not do what the Cleveland Cavaliers did with LeBron James, and they should attempt to get any value they can from Howard and trade him to the team with the best offer.

Besides, Howard has done pretty much all he can in order to help the Magic win a championship—well, other than hit his free throws.  He doesn't have the necessary pieces around him to get a ring.

Maybe Dwight would be better off in Chicago as a Bull.  Just a thought.

Carlos Boozer

Speaking of Bulls, Carlos Boozer was the team's big free-agent signing prior to last season, and that didn't work out as planned.

Boozer helped the team get to the Eastern Conference finals before getting ousted by the seven-time champion Miami Heat (that was a joke).  But I still have nightmares about Tyler Hansbrough getting in Carlos Boozer's face throughout the first round of the playoffs against the Indiana Pacers.

Before the playoffs ended you weren't sure if the fans were chanting "Booz" or just "Boo!"

Maybe the lockout is best for Boozer, and he'll take his talents overseas.

Chris Paul

Chris Paul has been mentioned in trade speculation for years now, and nothing ever gets done.

According to The New York Post, CP3 raised a toast at Carmelo Anthony's wedding last year and said, "We'll form our own Big Three."  Well, part of that has happened, but the part where CP3 is with them is still just a dream.

It's time for CP3 to be traded, whether it's to New York or another place, but he needs to leave the Big Easy ASAP.

Andrew Bynum

Look at that expression on Bynum's face.  If that doesn't scream "it's time for a change" then I don't know what does.

It seems like Bynum has taken everything that he's had in LA for granted.  But, maybe when he gets traded to a franchise like the Minnesota Timberwolves he'll realize all of the right things he should've done when he was with the Lakers.

The time will come, sooner than later, when Andrew Bynum is not in a Lakers uniform.

Rajon Rondo

I'm tired of hearing about how Rajon Rondo is the best point guard in the NBA.  That title is Derrick Rose's for the next 10 years.

Rondo has been surrounded by three future Hall of Famers his entire career.  Yes, he can pass the ball very well, but he has no shot.

Put Rondo in a lineup similar to the Houston Rockets and then tell me he's the best point guard in the league.  Or even put him in the lineup that Derrick Rose started off with in the NBA.  Oh yeah, Rose was the No. 1 overall pick.  Rondo certainly was not.

Kudos to the Celtics for drafting him into the perfect situation.  Anywhere else, who knows what kind of career he would've had up until this point?

LeBron James

Well, well, well.  If it isn't LeBron James.  The same LeBron James that said the Miami Heat will win seven championships after he, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all signed with the Heat last summer.  I guess it's easier said than done, King James.

Well, we know everyone north, south, east and west of Miami would like to see LBJ with a different team, and we know he's not welcome back home in Cleveland.  Maybe his best option is to take up Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll's offer and start playing some football.

Maybe then LeBron will finally win one of those championships he's been talking about.

Russell Westbrook

Russell Westbrook took some heat last year during the playoffs for taking too many shots when the game was on the line, especially because he had one of the best scorers, if not the best, in the league on the floor with him in Kevin Durant.

It's obvious to anyone who watches basketball that if Oklahoma City had to choose between Westbrook or Durant that Durant would be the choice.  Maybe OKC is going to have to make the decision soon.

In that case, Russell Westbrook may be running the point somewhere else other than OKC.

Steve Nash

If I were an NBA player, there aren't many other places I'd like to play in less than Phoenix.  It seems as if the Suns always take one step forward and then two steps back.

Steve Nash is always on the block but never dealt.  For all that Nash has done for the Suns organization, other than win a championship, it's time the organization does him a favor and finally trade him to a championship contender.

Maybe Nash is the missing piece in Orlando.

Monta Ellis

It seems like Monta Ellis has had beef with the Golden State Warriors organization for quite some time.  Before the 2009-10 season, Ellis said that a partnership with himself and Stephen Curry would not work...before Curry even stepped on the floor.

Monta is a stud in the NBA, but Golden State may have a nice alternative with Curry, the young shooter out of Davidson.  It may be time for Monta to take his talents elsewhere.

Ellis is another player that would fit in very nicely with Derrick Rose and the Chicago Bulls offense, as long as he plays some defense.

Kevin Love

Kevin Love has been a beast on the boards in his first three years in the NBA.  Unfortunately he was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves, an organization with very little hope.

It's time for Love to take his talents to the West Coast, right near where he played his college ball for the UCLA Bruins.  Maybe Love and Lakers center Andrew Bynum could change locations.  I bet the Lakers fandom would gladly accept that swap.  As for the Timberwolves fans, it'd be just adding salt to their wound.

Honorable Mention: Shaq

Shaquille O'Neal.  The man of many self-proclaimed nicknames.  The most dominant player to ever play the game.  And above all, my favorite player of all time.

I would love for Shaq to come back, no matter how well he plays.  He's as entertaining off the court as he is on the court.

Even though Shaq didn't "win a ring for the King" or one with the Boston Celtics his last year in the Association, he still went out on top.  Shaq's retirement press conference was the best press conference I've ever witnessed.  It was filled with nothing but happiness and entertainment, of course. 

Shaq, to put it simply, was the man when he played and I'd love to watch him one more year.