NBA Trade Rumors: Playing Fact or Fiction with All the Latest and Hottest Rumors

Dwight Howard and Chris Paul are the leading names in NBA trade rumors that are swirling fervently in anticipation of the 2011-12 NBA season finally getting underway.

It took almost no time for the mill to get churning with teams looking to upgrade in a variety of ways, and there could be several big names on the move prior to the 2012 free-agent frenzy.

With an expedited offseason because of the lockout, there are bound to be a lot of rumors without any sort of substantial grounds behind them, and that's why we're here to debunk those that just don't make any sense.

NOTE: The "fact" or "fiction" verdict refers to whether the rumor has legitimate legs and is a possibility to occur, not a prediction of where the player will ultimately land.

Marcus Thornton Re-Signing with Sacramento

Thornton surprised many around the league upon coming to Sacramento and lighting up the score sheet on an nightly basis, but he's always had the ability to score in bunches.

It's been widely believed that the Kings have a distinct interest in re-signing the restricted free agent, and with a plethora of cap room available, the club should be able to do exactly that.

Verdict: Fact

Tayshaun Prince to the New Jersey Nets

The Nets have a ton of cap space to play with, and the belief is that the club is going to exhaust every option to be competitive this season and make it into the postseason.

Although the team didn't get what it had hoped out of Travis Outlaw last season, Prince isn't the same player he was earlier in his career, and they should set their sights a little higher.

The team has him on the radar, and it remains a possibility that he signs.

Verdict: Fact

Kurt Thomas to the New York Knicks

It's no secret the Knicks are looking to fill the void in the middle in a rather cheap manner, and offering a one-year contract to a veteran center is the best way to do that.

Although the team has been associated with several other veterans, Thomas' name is one that reappears on a consistent basis, and there's potential for the Knicks to make him the starter, something other interested teams might not be able to provide.

Verdict: Fact

Allen Iverson to the Boston Celtics

Iverson is itching for one last chance to return to the league and salvage whatever is left of his stock, and he's open to playing "anywhere" in order to get the opportunity he's seeking.

There's a definitive need for the Boston Celtics to upgrade the scoring in the second unit, but on a veteran team with solid chemistry and a limited championship window, there's no need for the team to go down this road right now.

Verdict: Fiction

Mike Miller to the New York Knicks

Miller's arrival in New York would be directly tied to whether or not he is an amnesty cut casualty by Miami, and there are conflicting reports about the team's plans on that front.

The Knicks will show some interest in Miller should he become a free agent, but realistically, there's just no way the club has the cap space now or in the future for the shooter if they're serious about landing Chris Paul.

Verdict: Fiction

Chuck Hayes to the Boston Celtics

The Celtics won't be major players in the free-agent market as the team has limited funds available, but there's no doubt that Boston will be looking to add some depth in the middle to complement Jermaine O'Neal.

One free agent who would fit well with the team's style of play and wouldn't come at a ridiculously outlandish cost is Hayes, and the team is thought to have him at the forefront of its radar.

Verdict: Fact

Paul Millsap to the Indiana Pacers

Millsap is signed for the next two seasons at a very reasonable rate, and with less than $14 million owed to him over that span of time, he represents an excellent trade target for a team that needs help at power forward but is unwilling to spend lavishly.

The Indiana Pacers fit that description perfectly, as the club has a ton of cap space to play with and a definite need to upgrade at the position.

Now that he's believed to be on the trading block, perhaps the Pacers will give him a look as suggested by Bob Kravitz of the Indianapolis Star.

Verdict: Fact

Mike Dunleavy to the Detroit Pistons

Dunleavy isn't someone who is going to make headlines on the open market, but he could certainly find some success if he winds up signing with a team that can provide a clear-cut role for him going forward.

Although the Pistons are thought to be taking a "close look" at him with Tayshaun Prince likely to leave via free agency, it doesn't make a ton of sense for the team to sign him if the club can retain restricted free agent Jonas Jerebko.

Verdict: Fiction

Jamal Crawford to the Indiana Pacers

Crawford is one free agent who would fit a variety of rosters, and he's played the same role throughout his career no matter what team he's been a part of: volume scorer.

Pacers beat writer Mike Wells believes that he could definitely be on the Pacers radar. The team needs to find a player who can score off the dribble, and Crawford certainly fits that description.

Verdict: Fact

Brandon Roy Likely to Be Cut Via the Amnesty Clause

There's been much made about the amnesty clause included in the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, and there has been an inordinate amount of speculation about those players who could be let go from their current teams.

Roy's knee condition isn't suddenly going to improve, and with nearly $50 million guaranteed to him over the next three seasons (and a $19 million team option after that), the cap flexibility Portland would receive is the better long-term asset than keeping him on the roster.

Verdict: Fact

Grant Hill to the Knicks

Hill is not going to have much trouble finding work despite being 39 years old, but that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who has monitored his play over the last few seasons.

He's showed surprising durability during the latter stages of his career, and although Phoenix is definitely interested in re-signing him, he's also drawing interest from the Knicks once again this offseason after the team had previously attempted to make a run at him.

Verdict: Fact

Samuel Dalembert to the Miami Heat

Dalembert is a defensive-minded center who can definitely make his presence felt in the middle for the right club, but it's going to be a tough sell for him to accept the mid-level exception rather than garner a more lucrative extension from another team.

Although he did say that it would be "fantastic" to join the Miami Heat, Dalembert acknowledged that he's keeping his options open, but there's no question joining LeBron, Wade and Bosh appeals to him.

Verdict: Fact

Metta World Peace and the Amnesty Clause

There is some belief that the Lakers have considered using the amnesty clause on Metta World Peace considering how poorly he performed for the team last season, but that appears to be a subject of concern that will be put to the side for the time being.

It would make sense for the team to see if he can produce at a higher level than he illustrated last season before axing him from the roster, and the team has a couple of other realistic candidates in Luke Walton and Steve Blake as well.

Verdict: Fact

Jamal Crawford to the New Jersey Nets

As previously alluded to, Crawford is going to be highly sought after by a number of teams, but the Nets have the cap space available to make him an offer that he might not be able to refuse.

Although he could be a contributor for the team, it doesn't make much sense for him to head there considering the presence of both Anthony Morrow and rookie Marshon Brooks on the roster.

Although the idea is intriguing, the Nets may have more pressing issues to address.

Verdict: Fiction

Tracy McGrady to the Chicago Bulls

This isn't the first time we've heard this rumor. Prior to the 2010-11 season, the Bulls were giving a long look to McGrady, but the team ultimately decided to pass on him following a workout.

Now a free agent once again, McGrady has reportedly expressed a desire to play for the Bulls as he likely realizes the team is very much in contention for a title, but he might not be the upgrade at shooting guard that the club is looking to pursue.

Verdict: Fact

Caron Butler to the Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers need to find a way to bridge the gap at the small forward position until Al-Farouq Aminu is further along in his development, and targeting a veteran looking to rebuild his stock around the league makes plenty of sense.

In addition to Butler, Los Angeles also reportedly has Tayshaun Prince on the radar, but Butler would be a much better fit as he injects an element of defensive intensity into a staring unit that isn't exactly stocked full of it.

Verdict: Fact

Marc Gasol Re-Signs with Memphis Grizzlies

Gasol might be at the head of several wish lists this offseason for teams desperate for an upgrade in the middle, but it's going to be impossible to lure him out of Memphis.

The Grizzlies are reportedly planning to match any offer that the restricted free agent receives, and with an unreal amount of cap space available, it really shouldn't be a challenge for something to get done rather quickly.

Verdict: Fact

Rajon Rondo for Russell Westbrook

There was a report that Boston offered Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green to Oklahoma City after the postseason in exchange for Russell Westbrook and Kendrick Perkins, but the Thunder weren't interested in making such a trade.

In addition to the fact that the trade would've been an illegal one, the Thunder would be absolutely foolish to accept this package, as it's an obviously one-sided offer in Boston's favor.

Verdict: Fiction

Nick Young to the Chicago Bulls

Young unquestionably appeals to the Bulls as the team needs to find a way to increase production from the shooting guard position, and the club could use his scoring skills to help round out the offensive attack.

However, Chicago doesn't have the cap space available to make him an offer that the Wizards would be unwilling to match (he's a restricted free agent), and the team would be foolish to jeopardize any long-term financial flexibility in handing out a lucrative deal to Young.

Verdict: Fiction

Rajon Rondo to the Indiana Pacers

The Rondo sweepstakes are in the stages of full-blown madness, and Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that a new team has entered the ring: the Indiana Pacers.

However, the Pacers would need a third team to facilitate such a deal, and if the Celtics are going to trade Rondo, it's going to be for a clear upgrade at the position (Chris Paul), not just to get his contract off of the payroll.

Verdict: Fiction

Nene to the Houston Rockets

The Rockets are said to be preparing to go "all out" in order to bring Nene into the fold, and his presence down low would be especially important for a team that's likely to lose Chuck Hayes to unrestricted free agency.

Additionally, rookie big man Donatas Motiejunas will spend the entire season in Poland rather than joining the Rockets, so the team has to focus on adding size with legitimate talent if they're hoping to compete in a stacked Western Conference.

Verdict: Fact

Nene to the Miami Heat

The Miami Heat would love to add Nene to put him in the middle of a front line between LeBron James and Chris Bosh, but the team just doesn't have the funds available that other interested teams do.

As arguably the top free agent available on the open market, he's drawing interest from at least six different teams (including the Heat), making it really tough to believe that his chances of winding up in a Miami uniform are for real.

Verdict: Fiction

Tyson Chandler to the Nets

Chandler is doing his best job of posturing in free agency despite the transaction window yet to officially open, and he's already said that he doesn't expect to be back in Dallas.

He could be attempting to drive up the price for the Mavericks and forcing Mark Cuban's hand in paying him after coming off of a career season, but there's no doubt that New Jersey is ready to swoop in with a sizable offer for the center and the club is poised to make a major splash.

Verdict: Fact

Josh Smith Still Wants to Be Traded

The Hawks were surveying interest in Smith's services around the league prior to the 2011 draft, and it seems that the lockout hasn't changed much along those lines as he's still angling to get out of town.

With two seasons and about $25 million left over the tenure of his deal, there might only be a limited number of teams that could potentially take on his contract unless the Hawks are willing to absorb some less-than-desirable (expiring) contracts in return.

Verdict: Fact

Chris Paul to the Los Angeles Clippers

Could Paul actually sign a long-term extension with the other team in Los Angeles? ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that the answer to that question is yes.

The Clippers have enough young talent already on the roster that the team could really make a legitimate offer to land Paul via trade, and the front office has to be enticed by the idea of pairing Paul with Blake Griffin going forward.

Verdict: Fact

Chris Paul to the Boston Celtics

When Rondo's name was put on the block, it made no sense that the club would just move him to make a deal. It was clear that should the team pull the trigger on a deal, it would be for a substantial upgrade.

Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated reported that Danny Ainge is targeting Chris Paul as that upgrade, but Chris Broussard of ESPN threw buckets of ice water on those flames when he said that the point guard would be unwilling to sign an extension in Boston.

Verdict: Fiction

Chris Paul to the New York Knicks

This is the one that we're all going to be tracking throughout the season, and although it's going to be tough to pull off such a move from a mathematical perspective, stranger things have certainly occurred.

Joining the Knicks is "by far" Paul's first choice when it comes to selecting his new team, and that would make sense considering he stood up and toasted to his future with Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire at Anthony's wedding in the summer of 2010.

Verdict: Fact

Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Clippers

Could the Los Angeles Clippers pull off both Dwight Howard and Chris Paul? ESPN's John Hollinger believes there's a chance of that happening, and it's an absolutely frightening scenario for the rest of the league to contemplate.

Los Angeles could look to make a blockbuster trade for Paul in the middle of the season, and then sign both Paul and Howard to maximum level contracts (or close to it) in the summer of 2012 to form an absolutely terrifying trio with Blake Griffin.

Verdict: Fact

Dwight Howard to the New Jersey Nets

The Nets are believed to be preparing a substantial offer to land Howard, but this isn't really anything we didn't already know.

The team has an underwhelming center to offer as the centerpiece in return, and there are simply better offers that Orlando can get out there.

It's going to take more than Lopez and a couple of draft picks to land Howard in New Jersey, but the Nets should explore any avenue it takes to get him onto the roster, as it would give Deron Williams a very significant reason to sign on the dotted line.

Verdict: Fact

Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers

The chatter surrounding Howard potentially landing with the Lakers isn't going to die down at any point soon, and it's a rumor that will always have legs until the situation is resolved with Orlando's big man.

Although Jim Buss has showed a strong reluctance to part with Andrew Bynum in any potential trade in previous seasons, he's now willing to let go of No. 17 in the "right deal," and there's no doubt in anybody's mind that his comments allude to landing Howard.

Verdict: Fact