NBA Trade Rumors: Players Who Will Cause Trouble If They Aren't Traded Away

Chris Paul has found a new home, rendering him a happy camper, but the same cannot be said for his former fellow trade-block inclusions.

Should the New Orleans Hornets have opted not to move Paul, he would have been extremely unhappy, and become an even larger distraction for the organization than he already had. A number of other players on the chopping block are no different, as they, like Paul, have run their course with their respective team.

Loads of attention is paid to the deals that do go down, but little thought is given to the ones that don't. This is somewhat strange, as the aftermath of failed deals has the potential to impact a franchise more than successful ones ever could.

For every failed trade, there is at least one disgruntled athlete who runs the risk of causing major trouble for the teams they never left.

Monta Ellis of Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors shopped Monta Ellis hard prior to the lockout, and if speculation continues, he may want out even more than the team wants to get rid of him.

Ellis was most seriously linked to the Los Angeles Lakers, in a deal for Lamar Odom, and the Philadelphia 76ers, in a deal that would have involved him swapping places with Andre Iguodala.

Unlike Stephen Curry, the Warriors clearly aren't shy about including Ellis in potential trade packages. Ellis' inclusion in numerous bouts of trade-chatter proves that Golden State's loyalties lie more with Curry than him. If they continue to shop Ellis without pulling the trigger, the star guard will easily become disconcerted and makes waves throughout the organization.

In regards to the combo guard's future with the franchise, the Warriors need to make up their mind—before Ellis loses his.

Josh Smith of Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks began to gauge trade interest in Josh Smith before the NBA locked its doors, and now that the league is once again open for business, the possibility of reconciliation between the two parties seems impossible.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported after the lockout was lifted that Smith still believed he had run his course in Atlanta.

All has been quiet on the Smith trade front, as teams are likely waiting for the Dwight Howard saga to fall into place. Unless talks pick up soon, Smith is a lock to begin the season in a Hawks uniform.

Starting the season in Atlanta is one thing, but being forced to finish it there is another. The Hawks have made no secret of their desire to move the volatile athlete, and if the trade deadline passes without him being dealt, expect his attitude to become abundantly heavy.

If the versatile forward isn't dealt by the deadline, Atlanta's team dynamic will be far from an enviable one, as an unhappy Smith will lead to an unhappy, and possibly struggling, Hawks team.

O.J. Mayo of Memphis Grizzlies

Michael Heisley told The Commercial Appeal that the Memphis Grizzlies are not actively seeking to trade O.J. Mayo.

The announcement came after a potential Mayo to Indiana Pacers deal was squashed yet again.

Memphis Grizzlies can maintain all it wants that it is not "actively" shopping the shooting guard, but that doesn't mean he could not be had for the right price. Mayo has made countless appearances in trade talks over the past two seasons, and given the two-way impact he can make, it is unlikely that changes.

Last winter, Mayo stated he had no hard feelings toward the Grizzlies organization after they engaged in trade negotiations, and he has now said he is at home in Memphis after the latest botched deal, but how long can this upbeat attitude of his last?

The Grizzlies take a hot-and-cold approach when it comes to Mayo's availability. On the one hand, he can be stubborn, but on the other, he has the potential to play at a star level.

This brutal game of indecisiveness cannot be easy on Mayo, and if his name creeps into the rumor-mill once again—and past events suggest it will—he could become irate and cause trouble for an otherwise conflict-free franchise. 

Rajon Rondo of Boston Celtics

While it was all in pursuit of Chris Paul, the Boston Celtics' inclusion of Rajon Rondo in trade negotiations was not only surprising, but potentially damaging to the team's future.

Rondo is the lone young star on an aging Celtics team, which would imply that he is also the most coveted. However, it recently became clear that he wasn't as coveted as most, though, and despite Danny Ainge's insistence that he isn't shopping the point guard, the damage has already been done.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, Boston presented New Orleans with as many as eight different trade packages for Paul. As if that wasn't enough, Chris Broussard of ESPN brought to light that the Celtics dangled Rondo to the Oklahoma City Thunder after last season, but to no avail.

Now that Paul is a member of the Clippers, the Rondo to New Orleans talk is dead, but don't be surprised if trade rumors regarding the point guard aren't. Rondo has never been one to keep his feelings in check, and he has to be feeling at least slightly frustrated.

The Celtics' willingness to include Rondo in negotiations speaks volumes about his how they see him. Boston's desire for another prolific playmaker indicates that they do not see Rondo as a pillar in which they can build around.

So, unless the Celtics wind up finding a new home for Rondo or he exhibits a willingness to be the team's Plan B, the elusive point guard stands to become very unhappy very quickly. 

Kevin Martin of Houston Rockets

Kevin Martin, a cornerstone for the Houston Rockets franchise, was apart of a veteoed three-team trade that would have landed Chris Paul with the Lakers.

The NBA voided the deal, which had Martin and Luis Scola landing with New Orleans while bringing Pau Gasol to Houston. Although the trade never went through, it seems that Martin is now through with the Rockets.

The soft-spoken, easy-going Scola took the proposed deal in stride according to The Associated Press, but Martin, on the other hand, was a different story.

In response to the failed trade, the shooting guard said that Houston's general manager, Daryl Morey, had "showed his cards," which is far from an encouraging sentiment. 

Martin is clearly unhappy. He is supposed to be a driving force for the organization, not being used as trade bait. If his resentment fails to subside, it will make for a long season in Houston.  

The Rockets took a risk including the offensive-savvy Martin in the failed three-team deal, but they may be taking an even larger one by holding onto him now.

You can follow Dan Favale on Twitter here @Dan_Favale.