NBA Rumors: Breaking Down the Latest Blockbuster Deals and Moves

With a number of significant moves already being made, it's going to be difficult to keep track of just where all these free agents could be heading to and just what's going on in the latest trade rumors.

To help you out, we've created this guide to assist you in following who's going where and what trades are the most likely to happen. With the free-agency period set to begin tomorrow, a number of deals have already been struck as well as a number of trades being in the works and are actually beginning to grow legs.

Significant names are already on the move with a few key role players either re-signing with their present teams or taking their talents elsewhere by joining a new squad. Contenders and developing teams alike have already made their fair share of noise in this brief free-agency period and moves have already been made before we can even begin on this short journey.

So in order to assist you and keep you up to date, take a look at which free agents are already expected to sign and how trades involving a few superstars are working out.

Where's Chris Paul Going?

It's the never-ending story with Chris Paul. One day, he's halfway to New York and the next he's getting ready to go to Boston, but wherever does he take us to now on this journey?

He's taking us all around the country actually. On the West Coast specifically, the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers as well as the Golden State Warriors could be a part of a trade involving Paul. The Clippers and Warriors possess two key chips in Eric Gordon and Stephen Curry, respectively, that the New Orleans Hornets covet, but they're both players that the two organizations aren't going to let go.

Instead, the Warriors are offering Monta Ellis and the Clippers are offering the services of Chris Kaman and his expiring contract, Eric Bledsoe and Mo Williams. The Boston Celtics are also attempting to work a trade and have extended Rajon Rondo, Jeff Green and two first-round picks to the Hornets, but there's been no word back from New Orleans on if they're willing to work something out.

Perhaps the most enticing deal would have to be that of the Los Angeles Lakers who are actually attempting to work a third team into a possible trade involving Chris Paul. A Yahoo! insider reports that the Houston Rockets are willing to work out a deal with Paul going to the Lakers, Pau Gasol going to the Rockets and Kevin Martin, Luis Scola and a few draft picks heading to New Orleans.

It's all speculation by this point and your guess is as good as mine when concerning this powerful figure in Paul. A lot of teams are attempting to move some things around in order to obtain him, but it turns out that they might have to just wait until the summer of 2012 before a deal actually gets made.

Amnesty Casualties

After speculating that the Portland Trail Blazers' Brandon Roy and the Miami Heat's Mike Miller would turn out to be the first casualties of a team utilizing the amnesty clause, it turns out that two other teams beat them to the punch while Portland and Miami made risky moves in keeping their injured players.

It does turn out, however, that two players who were thought to be candidates for the amnesty clause are on the verge of being let go with the San Antonio Spurs set to utilize it on Richard Jefferson while word is just now coming in that the Cleveland Cavaliers will become the second team to use it by cutting point guard Baron Davis.

Both of these cuts aren't surprising in the least, as Davis isn't in the Cavaliers' future plans with the team electing to start rookie Kyrie Irving at the point guard and the Spurs looking to fix a mistake that ended up rewarding Jefferson with $40 million.

While Davis isn't too drastic of a loss considering that he only spent 15 games with the team after a midseason trade, Jefferson is a difficult one to swallow for the Spurs as they expected so much more out of a player that they were giving over $8 million per season. It's just a good thing that team realized after one season and not years from now.

Jefferson started at small forward last season and only averaged 11 points, four rebounds and an assist per despite playing in 30 minutes per game. The 44 percent he hit from beyond the arc was the lone bright spot as the Spurs came to their senses quick enough to cut Jefferson before he became even more of a problem later on.

More Trade Speculation!

If there's anything I love more than a trade, it's good ol' fashioned trade speculation and we've had a lot of it since the lockout ended a week ago.

It's hard to believe that the lockout ended only a week ago and that we are now one day away from the time to begin signing free agents and making trades and only two weeks away from opening day on Christmas.

A number of teams are still inquiring about trades and that includes the likes of Chris Paul, who needed an entire slide just so we could compile the amount of scenarios that are surrounding him. Unlike Paul, who is staying at the center of trade rumors, the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard is doing the smart thing by staying out of them and continuing to proclaim his loyalty to the Magic.

The best thing to come out of Orlando this lengthy offseason is Howard stating that the Magic are "by far" his primary choice to play with next year.

Among others that may be on the move include the Los Angeles Clippers' Chris Kaman, who is set to be traded by the team if DeAndre Jordan agrees to the $40 million five-year offer that he was offered a few days ago. Kaman has already been in trade offers, including one that could potentially bring in Chris Paul. With his contract set to expire next season, the Clippers are going to look to make a trade happen before Kaman walks away as a free agent next summer and leaves L.A. with nothing in return.

The New Orleans Hornets also find themselves at the center of trade rumors once again with free-agent David West being at the center this time, as a number of contenders including the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks are possibly looking to make a sign-and-trade happen.

Free Agents on the Move

The free-agency period doesn't even start for another seven hours and yet free agents are already finding themselves on the move, including a number of key players who were desired by a few teams.

We'll just go through a quick run through of who has gone where and for how much thus far.

Greg Oden

Greg Oden still may not be ready to play yet, but the Portland Trail Blazers aren't ready to admit defeat yet as the big man recently agreed to sign the qualifying offer that the team gave to him earlier in the year.  

The qualifying offer is for only one year and it has Oden making nearly $9 million. This will definitely be the last chance for Oden to prove himself, as 82 games in four years still has yet to break the Blazers' spirit that he can turn into the No. 1 pick that they hoped he would become.

Shane Battier

One of the top perimeter defenders on the block, Shane Battier is all set to leave the Memphis Grizzlies and will be the first free agent to take his talents to South Beach this offseason after announcing his decision via Twitter.  

Battier's deal is reportedly worth $9 million over a three-year period as the player who has yet to make it out of the second round in his 10-year career will most likely play a significant part as another stellar defender on the championship-bound team.

Eddy Curry

Battier wasn't the only one joining the Heat today, as former Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks center is reportedly set to sign a one-year deal with Miami tomorrow.

Curry was out of the league last year and may have been out of it for the past three seasons, as he only played in 10 combined games in the two years before his year without a job. Reports are saying that he's lost over 50 pounds and that the team would sign him back if they deemed him fit to play.

Caron Butler

The Chicago Bulls are now 0-for-1 in their search for a shooting guard as the Dallas Mavericks small forward is set to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers for a deal worth $24 million over a three-year period.

Butler fills in a huge need for the Clippers at small forward and now heads up an impressive frontcourt consisting of himself, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

Tracy McGrady

Electing to leave the Detroit Pistons, Tracy McGrady has reportedly struck a deal with the Atlanta Hawks on a contract that lasts one year and pays him the veteran's minimum.

McGrady still might have something left in the tank after a few years filled with injuries, as he'll look to contribute off the bench on a team that will probably make a few more moves before the offseason's over—regarding Jamal Crawford, in particular.

A Few More Free Agents

Just to add a few more lesser-tier names that will most likely be on the move or signing contracts tomorrow.

Tayshaun Prince

It turns out that Tayshaun Prince is loyal to the cause and will be re-signing with the Detroit Pistons on a deal reportedly worth $27 million over a four-year period.  

Prince has been with the Pistons since he was drafted 23rd by the team in the 2002 NBA draft.

T.J. Ford

After much speculation that he could be the next backup point guard in Miami, Indiana Pacers point guard has decided to strike a deal with the San Antonio Spurs in a deal that's worth a little more $1 million.

Ford will be looking to make up for a dismal and unmotivated year with the Pacers where he had the worst year of his career and played in only 41 games.

Jason Kapono

The former three-point shootout champion has been absolutely dismal in the two years he has spent with the Philadelphia 76ers and Jason Kapono will now find himself with a contender after signing for the veteran's minimum with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kapono played in only 24 games last year and averaged five points per on 25 percent shooting.

Shannon Brown

The Los Angeles Laker who captivated audiences with high-flying spectacles will now be taking his talents to the open-court specialists in the Phoenix Suns after signing a deal that would pay him $3.5 million over a year period.

Brown will continue backing up at shooting guard, but may find himself in a more significant role with Jared Dudley being the projected starter.

Jamaal Magloire

Spending the last few years in obscurity with the Miami Heat, Jamaal Magloire will be heading home to play with the Toronto Raptors next season.

Don't expect too many minutes for Magloire as he'll be used for garbage time and not much else.

Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Ending it with a bang is the Indiana Pacers' Mike Dunelavy, who will continue to play an obscure role on his new team in the Milwaukee Bucks.

Dunleavy agreed to a ludicrous deal that's set to somehow award him $7.5 million over the next two years.