NBA Trade Talk: Lamar Odom and 5 Players Who Would Be Better on Another Team

Every NBA player would benefit from an end to the NBA lockout, but when the season starts, some would be better on a different NBA team.

If a swift end to the lockout miraculously appears and saves the NBA season, the topic of conversation can again return to player movement. But for some players, getting back into the NBA wouldn't be enough—some need to get out of Dodge.

Who are some of the NBA's bigger names who would benefit from a change of address? Let's take a look.

Lamar Odom

Lamar Odom's name had been mentioned in so many trade rumors during the offseason that you have to wonder if Odom wouldn't have been better served just throwing away all his Lakers jerseys and getting it over with.

First came a rumored trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves for their No. 2 pick in the draft. Then there was a rumored deal that would send him in a package for Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis. 

The third and most discussed was a swap involving Odom and Philadelphia 76ers Andre Iguodala, but that one faded away as well.

Needless to say, despite being one of the best bench players in the past few years, it seems the Lakers are eager to swap Odom away in an attempt to get younger.

If your own team doesn't want you anymore, it's hard for a player to really be appreciated for his talent. Odom would be an excellent veteran wherever he goes and hopefully, for his sake, that deal would come quickly following the end of the lockout.

Andre Iguodala

On the other side of the Lakers/76ers rumor sits Andre Iguodala, who never became the star the 76ers hoped he'd become but is still a very good player in his own right.

He'll never become a player capable of being the top scorer on an excellent squad, but in the right situation he'd be a dynamic No. 2 option. A trade to a contender such as the Lakers, the Bulls or the Magic would benefit Iguodala as a player and could help Philadelphia financially by cutting their salary obligations in the immediate future. 

The 76ers are a young rebuilding squad with a nice future but Iguodala would be better served elsewhere.

O.J. Mayo

Last February, O.J. Mayo would have become a Indiana Pacer but his Grizzlies and the Pacers were unable to finalize the deal before the trade deadline.

To his credit, Mayo stuck with his team and played well to end the season, but he would be better served elsewhere.

While Memphis already has to worry about re-signing Marc Gasol, and with the already-hefty contracts belonging to Mike Conley and Rudy Gay, Memphis can't really worry about keeping Mayo in the future.

He could be an excellent role player for a great team thanks to his well-rounded scoring abilities. Trading him quickly after a lockout resolution to a contender such as Chicago or Orlando would benefit both Mayo and the Grizzlies.

Baron Davis

Baron Davis is a candidate for use in an amnesty clause should the new CBA have one in it, but either way he would severely benefit from a trade out of Cleveland.

Davis struggles to motivate himself and play to his full abilities when he's not on a winning squad. If he could find his way to a contender, he'd probably be a far better player than he showed in the last few years. He averaged just 13.6 points and 6.7 assists last season.

With the Cavaliers' selection of Duke point guard Kyrie Irving in the NBA draft, Davis' ticket out of Cleveland is all but purchased. 

Chris Paul

It's a depressing state of affairs in New Orleans, and as a player Chris Paul would be best served if he could find a way out.

Paul has already expressed his eagerness to leave the Hornets, so New Orleans could either trade him now and get some excellent pieces back or wait for him to leave in free agency.

The Hornets have never been able to get Paul the help he needed to bring New Orleans a championship, and now they seem destined to lose David West to free agency.

That leaves Paul as the only bright spot in New Orleans. It's hard to predict how the new CBA would change the ability for teams to deal for superstars like Paul, but if he could find his way to a team with another star already on their roster, he may finally be able to make a serious run in the playoffs.