NBA Rumors Roundup: Chris Paul to Knicks, Dwight Howard to Clippers and More

The NBA rumor mill is churning in anticipation of the 2011-12 season getting underway.

Paul Millsap is suddenly a hot commodity on the trade market, while the league's oldest player in Kurt Thomas is going to draw more interest than many could have fathomed.

With a shortened offseason, all clubs interested in making changes to the roster will have to evaluate decisions with a careful eye, but time is of the essence.

Is your favorite player changing uniforms?

Glen Davis

Davis is an unrestricted free agent, and it's looking increasingly unlikely that he's going to return to Boston where he's spent his entire career.

The club drafted stretch forward JaJuan Johnson in the first round, and as previously noted, there will be no shortage of suitors interested in bringing Davis aboard.

The Detroit Pistons targeted "Big Baby" in the summer of 2009, and it's possible that the club looks to re-engage in talks with him now as the team sorely needs to improve the front line alongside Greg Monroe.

Kurt Thomas

Thomas is still producing at 39 years old and unlike most aging veterans around the league, Thomas will likely get the luxury of selecting his next destination.

After spending last season in Chicago, the Bulls are interested in re-signing him, but the club won't be without competition, as Dallas, New York and Miami are all expected to be in the hunt as well.

He'd make for a great veteran for any of the clubs listed, but each is likely pegging a different role for him, and that could be a major factor in his decision.

C.J. Watson

Shooting guard is an area where the Bulls need to upgrade from last season, but despite names like Jason Richardson, Jamal Crawford and Arron Afflalo being tossed around, the next starter might already be on the roster.

K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune writes that Watson could serve as the team's starter at the position next season, and the club could look to ink a veteran point guard like T.J. Ford to serve as Derrick Rose's backup.

This is an interesting scenario because the Bulls have to keep cap flexibility going forward with Rose scheduled to hit restricted free agency in 2012, and it wouldn't be surprising to see it come to fruition.

Rajon Rondo

Boston fans are sure to be up in arms when hearing that the team might be willing to trade him in the "right deal" according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, but let's make something very clear.

The parameters of that deal would have to be exactly to Boston's liking, and there's little reason to trade a young, skilled point guard tied up with a long-term contract without getting a top 10-15 player in return.

The Celtics need to get more scoring alongside Paul Pierce to sustain success, but the team isn't going to trade an asset like Rondo just to make that happen.

Al Jefferson

It sounds as if Paul Millsap might not be the only member of Utah's current front court who might be on the trading block.

With the surplus of size along the low block for the Jazz, the club might be interested in dealing Millsap and/or Jefferson, and if either are traded it wouldn't be all that large of a surprise.

Jefferson has two seasons and $29 million owed to him over the course of his current contract, so if a team with cap space to absorb that deal expresses interest, it may be in the best interest of a rebuilding Jazz team to part ways.

Paul Millsap

Millsap's name is becoming a very popular one for teams looking to fill the power forward position in an efficient manner.

With less than $14 million owed to him over the next two seasons, he'd come at a much cheaper cost than some of the free agents available, and Millsap could provide a serious upgrade for a team looking to make a move.

He'd be a very good fit with a team like the Pacers, and the Jazz could look to move him in an effort to open a clear path to playing time for Derrick Favors.

Brandon Roy

There might not be as many amnesty cut casualties as some fans were originally expecting to see this season, but one name that continues to pop up is Roy's.

The Oregonian reports that Portland is "likely" to use its amnesty clause on Roy, and despite the production he once brought to the franchise, there's just no way to justify the approximate $70 million still owed to him over the next four seasons.

Both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Golden State Warriors will likely be looking to make a play for him if he is indeed waived by Portland.

Mike Miller

Speculation has also run wild about the potential for the Miami Heat to cut Miller after he struggled during his first season with the team.

While nothing is set in stone, if the club does choose to break ties from the shooter, the New York Knicks are expected to pounce on him, and that makes a lot of sense considering how he'd fit in Mike D'Antoni's offense.

He's going to be a very valued commodity—despite an injury-plagued 2010-11 season—if he does hit free agency, and the Knicks could have company in the pursuit of his services.

Dwight Howard

There are 29 teams around the NBA likely to do whatever it takes to land Howard on the roster, as he's the type of player who comes around once in a generation.

Although not every team in the league has expressed interest, there are logical landing spots for the big man, and one of those locations certainly includes Los Angeles.

However, it's not with the team some might think. The Clippers—not the Lakers—are said to be very high on Howard, and willing to trade anyone outside of Blake Griffin to bring him aboard.

The Clippers have enough talented youth to entice free agents for consideration, and have enough assets on the roster to swing a deal should the club choose to do so.

Chris Paul

This is the rumor that just won't be going away at any point soon.

Adding significant fuel to the fire that's already burning brightly, ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that Paul will "gladly" take less money in free agency after the 2011-12 season to play for the Knicks and receive an opportunity to play with his friends Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire.

However, despite New York being Paul's "first choice," Broussard also writes that Paul would consider signing a long-term extension with the Los Angeles Clippers, and a team with a core of Paul, Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon would be a very dangerous one.