NBA Trade Rumors: Top 10 Players Who May Be Moved and Where They're Headed

The NBA players and owners reached a tentative agreement to end the lockout, and the season is slated to begin with a triple-header on Christmas Day.

Although it will be a compacted campaign in the form of a 66-game regular season, there will be plenty of trade rumors to fill the curiosity from the fans, and some big deals could very well go down before the 2012 offseason brings a loaded free-agent crop.

Will some of the most notable names around the league finally be dealt to another zip code?

Basketball is back, and that means the rumor mill is certain to be churning at full speed.

Ramon Sessions, PG (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Sessions is going to be a popular target for teams looking to fill a point guard void in a relatively cheap way, as his future is clearly not in Cleveland.

The Cavs have Kyrie Irving as the team's point guard moving forward, and at least three teams were looking into acquiring Sessions before the draft in June.

He'd be an upgrade for several teams in a bind, and with just two seasons and less than $9 million remaining on his current contract, Sessions should have no trouble finding a new home.

Potential Destinations: Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks, Miami Heat

O.J. Mayo, SG (Memphis Grizzlies)

Mayo was nearly dealt to the Indiana Pacers at the 2010-2011 trade deadline, but after the deal was filed to the league after the deadline had passed, the agreement fell apart.

Without a defined role on a surging Memphis team, Mayo is a candidate to wind up on a different team by the close of the 2012 season. It wouldn't be surprising to see a team take a gamble on the talented scorer, as he's only signed through this season.

It will certainly be interesting to see what type of interest he garners on the trade market after a disappointing season last year, but he's a good bet for a bounce-back campaign.

Potential Destinations: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls

Mickael Pietrus, G/F (Phoenix Suns)

Pietrus made no secret about the desire for his services around the league, and he even went as far as to claim that both Boston and Los Angeles (Lakers) were interested in him.

After an injury eventually put an end to his season, Pietrus is going to be a popular target for any contending club looking to strengthen the second unit, as he's another player with an expiring contract coming off the books.

He can stretch the floor and add veteran leadership to the locker room, and it wouldn't be surprising to see Pietrus as one of the first players dealt this year.

Potential Destinations: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder

Courtney Lee, SG (Houston Rockets)

Lee hasn't really gotten an opportunity to show exactly what he's capable of doing during his young career, and it could very well take a deal out of Houston for him to unlock his potential.

Currently playing a reserve role behind Kevin Martin, Lee has shown flashes of being able to contribute to a starting lineup, and his value on the market might be greater for the Rockets than keeping him on the roster long-term.

Lee could very well help Houston rebuild the front line and bulk up the team's size, or he could serve as a scorer in the second unit on a team ready to trust him in that role.

Potential Destinations: Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Toronto Raptors

Josh Smith, F (Atlanta Hawks)

Will Smith be dealt out of Atlanta? That's the question that many fans around the league are anxious to hear the answer to, as there's definitely no shortage of interest in what he brings to the table.

Adrian Wojnarowski reported prior to the draft that the club was "gauging interest" in him around the NBA, and Smith reportedly had identified four preferred destinations should he be dealt: Boston, New Jersey, Houston and Orlando.

While Boston hasn't had any discussions about adding him, he'd make for a very intriguing fit alongside Dwight Howard in Orlando or Deron Williams in New Jersey.

Potential Destinations: New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets

Monta Ellis, SG (Golden State Warriors)

Ellis is one player who has had no shortage of rumors circling his name, but that doesn't mean that he's going to get dealt.

The Warriors showed a willingness to deal Ellis in the proper package during the offseason, but it's becoming increasingly likely that it would take an absolute blockbuster of a deal to facilitate any trade getting done.

New Golden State head coach Mark Jackson is a big fan of Ellis' game, and even went as far as to say he wants him on the team, but if he and teammate Steph Curry can't coexist in the same backcourt, the franchise will have to reevaluate its stance.

Possible Destinations: Orlando Magic, San Antonio Spurs, Chicago Bulls

Raja Bell, SG (Utah Jazz)

When Bell announced he was signing with the Jazz prior to the 2010-2011 season, it was quite curious since the deal was seemingly an odd fit for both parties.

The Jazz went as far as to put him on the trade block last season, and after some initial discussions with Minnesota fell apart, it's a possibility the team looks for new partners going forward.

Bell has some value left as a veteran defender and a hard-worker, and he would make for a great fit on a youthful team that's looking to compete for a title sooner rather than later.

Potential Destinations: Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Dallas Mavericks

Dwight Howard, C (Orlando Magic)

This is going to be the rumor that runs rampant until the trade deadline passes or until Howard is dealt to another club, and there's going to be no shortage of potential scenarios floating around his name.

It's going to be an exciting time for all teams looking to compete in the Howard sweepstakes, and as fewer and fewer people believe his long-term future is in Orlando, the Magic should be looking to exhaust every possible option in getting a deal done, which will help them rebuild into the future.

The franchise will be asking for a king's ransom in return for the iconic big man, so if the asking price isn't met, it would not be a surprise to see him in an Orlando jersey for the entire season.

Potential Destinations: New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers

Deron Williams, PG (New Jersey Nets)

Despite being dealt to New Jersey from Utah last season, the elite point guard still doesn't seem ready to make a sizable commitment to the Nets until he sees the direction of the team's future.

Williams already wrote on his personal blog that he'll be renting a house in New Jersey during the upcoming campaign rather than buying one, and that has fueled speculation that he's ready to bolt once free agency hits in 2012.

He's going to draw interest from any and every team with cap space that is looking to add a point guard, but there is definitely still a chance Williams remains with the Nets.

Potential Destinations: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks

Chris Paul, PG (New Orleans Hornets)

Where is Chris Paul going to land?

Carmelo Anthony is ready to welcome him with open arms onto the New York roster via free agency after the 2011-2012 season, but there's a serious chance he's dealt long before he's even eligible to file.

New Orleans is going to have a really difficult time signing him for the long haul, and with all of the holes all over the current roster, dealing Paul would represent a good way for the Hornets to rebuild without making it a lengthy process.

Potential Destinations: New York Knicks, Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers