NBA Trade Rumors: Updates on Which Teams the Top Stars Are Being Linked to
After being held back from engaging in any kind of trade negotiations for months, the NBA is aflutter with rumors.
There are a plethora of players on the open block, many of whom are some of the league's top stars. As we pillage through the array of trade rumors and attempt to discover those with actual validity, it has become obvious that the rumor-mill is a mess.
Plenty of teams are interested in plenty of players, and it is getting hard to keep track of who could be going where, so let's take a look a look at whom the top available stars are currently being linked to.
Paul Millsap
Last week, Chris Broussard of ESPN broke the news that the Utah Jazz were shopping Paul Millsap.
The news came as no surprise, given that Derrick Favors, whom the Jazz are heavily invested in, plays the same position. In a somewhat surprising twist, though, the Salt Lake Tribune reported that the Jazz weren't actively pursuing a deal involving Millsap.
Such news aside, there is no denying Utah has a surplus of size on their roster with Al Jefferson, Enes Kanter, Mehmet Okur, Favors and Millsap. Size is a hot commodity in this league, and offers will likely continue to come in for Millsap.
Prior to the previous report, the Indiana Pacers were the team that the power forward was linked to the most. Count on that report not to be refuted.
Monta Ellis
Prior to the lockout, the Warriors were actively shopping Monta Ellis.
Ellis drew quite a lot of interest, the most serious of which came from the Lakers and the 76ers. The Memphis Grizzlies and the Chicago Bulls were also rumored to have interest in him as well.
Currently, all Ellis talks are on hold, as Golden State is attempting to land Chris Paul at the expense of Stephen Curry and a few others. If the Paul deal falls apart, expect Ellis' name to find its way back onto the prominent side of the block, drawing even more interest than it did before.
There isn't a team in the NBA that wouldn't jump at the opportunity to acquire Dwight Howard's services, yet the market for him remains thinner than most would have imagined.
However, this is merely a result of the Orlando Magic not officially putting him on the trade block yet. Once that happens, organizations will flock Florida's way in an attempt to woo the star center out of Orlando.
While Howard isn't officially available yet, this has not prevented some teams from already making their pitches. Teams currently interested include the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and now—in an attempt to sell Chris Paul on a move to Boston—the Celtics.
The market for Howard will only thicken from this point on, so the aforementioned teams are bound to have their work cut out for them.
For a player who Danny Ainge insists isn't available, Rajon Rondo's name has found its way into quite a few trade rumors.
The Celtics' most prized target is Paul, and the team currently has an offer for Rondo, Jeff Green and two future first-round draft picks on the table in an attempt to get him. In fact, Boston is so hell-bent on obtaining him they have even contacted the Golden State Warriors about a Rondo for Stephen Curry swap, in hopes of flipping Curry for Paul.
Golden State has Paul aspirations of their own, so such a deal is more than unlikely to go down. What is more likely to happen is the Celtics shopping Rondo elsewhere, once the dust settles and Paul is on another team.
At this point, too many bridges may have been burned for him to return.
Chris Paul
Paul's rumor-mill has been swirling more than any other player currently on the block.
New York is believed to be Paul's destination of choice, and it was even reported that he requested a trade there at one point. The Knicks lack the assets to acquire Paul but will remain in the hunt as long as they are the point guard's first choice.
If New York is to complete their big three by adding Paul, they have their work cut out for them, as there are a wealth of other teams in play as well.
The Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers and Celtics are all organizations making a strong push for the point guard, and the competition will only increase from here on.
Clearly, there is no shortage of league-wide interest in the elusive point guard.
You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.
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