NBA Trade Rumors: Biggest Names to Emerge on the Trading Block

Now that the lockout is over, trade talk can begin in earnest. There are a number of big names that are on the trading block.

Here are some of the biggest and the teams they could end up going to. 

Paul Millsap

Millsap is a name that has popped up in recent days, and it's one that I can't for the life of me understand. For some reason, the Jazz are reluctant to really let him show his worth. Every time someone goes down, he steps in and shines like the sun. 

One intriguing landing spot for him might be the Hornets. Millsap would work well with Chris Paul and would be a sign to Paul that the Hornets want to compete. If they have any hope of making a move to keep Paul, this would be a nice start.

However I haven't heard that this has been discussed. 

One team that has been discussed is Indiana. The Pacers were said to be interested in free agent David West, but the younger Millsap would fill the same role, while being younger and cheaper to boot. 

Monta Ellis

Ellis has become something of a redundancy in Golden State with the emergence of Stephen Curry.

Two names have been frequently raised in conjunction with Monta Ellis. One is Chicago, which just isn't going to happen. The Bulls are a player away, and while Ellis would fit fine as that player, the problem is they'd have to give up another player to get him. They'd be digging one hole to fill another. 

The far more realistic probability is Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala, the dynamic all-around small forward. This would be a straight-up trade and it would give both teams something they need. 

It would give Philadelphia a go-to scorer and it would give Golden State a defensive presence to bring Marc Jackson's new defensive mentality to the team. 

Chris Paul and Dwight Howard

Paul and Howard are the two biggest names on the list. There are predictably unrealistic reports about both going to the Lakers. There is a much more realistic possibility that they could both go to the Clippers and Paul has indicated he would be amenable to that scenario. 

Where this gets interesting is that while ESPN's Chris Broussard points out the Clippers would prefer Howard, they could have both, and getting one would almost assure them of getting the other. A three-team trade is a definite possibility. 

In fact, they could work out a three-team trade that could be sensational, and that passes muster on the ESPN Trade Machine. 

New Orleans would receive Chris Kaman and Maurice Williams, the Orlando Magic would receive Emeka Okafor, Eric Bledsoe and Ryan Gomes, and the Los Angeles Clippers would receive Chris Paul and Dwight Howard. Additionally they'd be able to offer both of them max contracts.

Either the Magic or the Hornets would be able to receive either DeAndre Jordan or Minnesota's first-round pick as well. 

Neither the Lakers nor the Knicks could offer as much for either player.

The best is yet to come, though. The Clippers would still have enough money left, $8.5 million, to sign to sign the likes of Andrei Kirilenko or Tayshaun Prince. 

So, which team offers a starting five of Paul, Eric Gordon, Kirilenko, Blake Griffin and Dwight Howard? That's a virtual All-Star team.

That's enough to make a player even want to play for Donald Sterling!