NBA Trade Rumors: Odds for These 5 Players to Get Dealt Before Trade Deadline

An array of NBA stars have made their way onto trading block, many of whom will eventually get dealt.

With the shortened season, there will be a sense of urgency to get deals done quickly because the deadline will be rapidly approaching and organizations will want the most time possible to integrate their newest acquisitions into their system.

Moving forward, we must keep our eyes on the best players available. Never before has such an abundance of talent been readily available, and it will be intriguing to see if, and where, the top athletes get dealt.

Rajon Rondo of the Boston Celtics

Hardly anyone could have foreseen the Boston Celtics making Rajon Rondo available, but that is indeed the case we have here.

Boston apparently offered up Rondo and Jeff Green to the Oklahoma City Thunder immediately after the playoffs, hoping to land Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins in return. While such a deal was illegal in principle, as Green is a restricted free agent and players cannot be dealt back to the same team until July at the earliest, it did serve as a sign of things to come in regards to Rondo.

The Celtics are also prepared to use Rondo to land Chris Paul, although the New Orleans Hornets do not appear to be very interested in him, leaving Boston to find a third team to make the trade work.

Rondo is very talented, but Boston's best bet to get adequate value in return for the wily point guard rested with Paul. If New Orleans isn't baited by him, it is unlikely the Celtics will find a team willing to relinquish a star in return.

It doesn't help either that Rondo is pretty much the only youthful talent Boston boasts, and the team's willingness to deal him doesn't exactly instill votes of confidence in his leadership abilities.

He may as well come with a buyer beware sticker taped to his forehead.

Odds of Rajon Rondo Being Dealt: 100:1

Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors

Monta Ellis trade talk picked up steam prior to the lockout, and despite Mark Jackson's proclamation that he wants the combo guard on the team, negotiations are likely to regain momentum.

Ellis was linked to potential deals involving the Los Angeles Lakers and the Philadelphia 76ers just before the work stoppage. He also generated interest from the Chicago Bulls and Memphis Grizzlies in addition.

Stephen Curry and Ellis did not coexist as seamlessly as the Golden State Warriors had hoped, and Ellis' appearance in numerous trade rumors makes it clear which player the team is prepared to favor.

One of the few roadblocks in dealing Ellis is receiving adequate value in return. The Warriors need defense, but cannot exactly sacrifice much of Ellis' 25 or more points per game to fulfill that need. 

Andre Iguodala may be their best bet to make the transition as smooth as possible, and if those talks do not pick back up, Ellis could stick around in Golden State, at least for a while.

Odds of Monta Ellis Being Dealt: 23:1

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic

The Los Angeles Lakers have had their eye on Dwight Howard for quite some time, and that attraction has only intensified.

While the Lakers continue to dominate headlines regarding the star big man, their crosstown rival Clippers are somewhat quietly preparing to do whatever it takes—sans relinquishing Blake Griffin—to obtain Howard. The New Jersey Nets are also bound to come into play as well.

The Orlando Magic would obviously love to hold onto Howard, but they cannot deny the reality of their situation any longer. They are drastically above the salary cap and have only a handful of promising players aside from Howard.

Dealing Howard presents an opportunity to gain some young talent and possibly right of the contract wrongs they currently possess. That being said, while dealing the center is the responsible thing to do, it would certainly not be the easiest decision so Orlando could turn a blind eye to all the rumors currently floating around.

Odds of Dwight Howard Being Dealt: 8:1

Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks

Josh Smith's explosive play on the court is apparently not enough to overshadow his attitude deficiencies for the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks began to "gauge trade interest" in the forward prior to the draft, and their willingness to move him is unlikely to disappear.

Orlando is a potential destination for Smith, and the Nets and Houston Rockets could come into play as well, as they are all teams that top the forward's preferred list of destinations.

Boston is also a team that Smith is interested in, but unless Atlanta is interested in a sign-and-trade for Glen "Big Baby" Davis, such a move remains a long shot.

At this point, it has become abundantly clear that Smith will be on the move, unless the market for him completely cools. 

Odds of Josh Smith Being Dealt: 5:1 

Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets

Now that Chris Paul's apparent intentions have been made public, the Hornets have no choice but to field offers for the point guard, unless they find the possibility of losing him for nothing next summer comforting.

The New York Knicks are bound to make a strong push, and it has also become clear that the Lakers and Clippers are set to enter the fold as well. Paul would be expected to sign an extension with the Clippers, but the Lakers have remained conspicuously absent from his list of teams.

Trading Paul is going to be tough to swallow for the Hornets, but it beats the alternative, even if it means settling for a low-ball offer put forth by the Knicks.

Paul's departure from the Hornets is set to transition from theory into reality, and New Orleans would do itself a favor to remember anything is better than nothing.

Odds of Chris Paul Being Dealt: 3/2

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