NBA Trade Rumors and Speculation: Most Likely Deals to Be Made This Season
By (Featured Columnist) on January 24, 2013
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No words. Harry How/Getty Images
So far, teams have been active in talks but we've heard relatively few sources report actual deals on the table. Talk is cheap, but without any actual talk of deals on the verge of being consummated, it seems prudent to speculate on which deals have a chance of occurring before the Feb. 21 trade deadline.
There's been speculation surrounding Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol out in Lakerland, talk that the Houston Rockets may be looking to make a big splash, and some more ethereal speculation regarding some names that have been mentioned heavily throughout the season as possible trade candidates.
Let's evaluate some of these speculative deals and attempt to discern how much weight could be given to each particular scenario.
L.A. Lakers' Dwight Howard to Brooklyn Nets for Brook Lopez
Remember when Dwight Howard was indisputably the best C in the NBA?
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
Jarrod Rudolph of Real GM reported that the Brooklyn Nets were prepared to make another run at Dwight Howard. The Nets were heavily in contact with the Orlando Magic last season before a Brook Lopez injury all but killed a potential deal.
The Nets have come out backing Lopez, as a source associated with the Nets told Stefan Bondy the NY Daily News that "It's not the same as it was last year. We don't need Dwight."
Could that be the actual sentiment around the league regarding the three-time Defensive Player of the Year? Or should we even buy into the words the unidentified source told Bondy?
The thing that lends weight to the idea that this could actually occur is Mikhail Prokhorov's big dreams. Prokhorov guaranteed a Nets title by 2015. While Lopez is arguably out-playing Howard this season, the fact remains that until this season, Howard had been unquestionably the best center in the Association.
The Lakers have no assurance Howard will re-sign as a free agent, and Howard just told Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld that the situation will not be addressed until the summer.
Dwight Howard wouldn't talk free agency. "That is my choice at the end of the season, but right now my focus is on tonight." Sound familiar?
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 23, 2013
Bad movies usually have sequels, and the "Dwightmare" saga is about to come out with Part II.
Truly, the Lakers will be wise to get something in return for Howard, and though Brook Lopez is on a monster contract, the Lakers have never shown any reluctance to spend big dollars in order to win.
Lopez is averaging 18.5 points per game this year and 7.4 rebounds per night, while also blocking a career high 2.1 shots per game. Comparatively, Howard isn't doing much more with Steve Nash feeding him the rock (17.1 points per game, 12.3 rebounds and 2.5 blocks).
The Lakers could actually be upgrading by obtaining Lopez, despite the general sentiment that Howard's play will return to the level it was at in Orlando.
Brooklyn, meanwhile, will obtain the more exciting player and one whom will propel the Nets into contender conversations, regardless of whether the move makes them true contenders.
Dwight Howard to Houston Rockets
Tired of seeing this, the Rockets want it in their red.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
The Houston Rockets were one of the dozen or so teams that expressed interest in Dwight Howard last summer when the Orlando Magic were looking to deal him. In fact, the Rockets may have even offered the Magic a better package than the eventual four-team trade that occurred.
Houston was reported last summer to be offering Kevin Martin, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris, Chandler Parsons, Royce White (ugh), Jeremy Lamb and Terrence Jones in exchange for Dwight Howard and several bad contracts (Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon, Glen Davis and Hedo Turkoglu, in whichever combination).
The Rockets still have all of the mentioned players with the exception of Kevin Martin who was magically transformed into the NBA's fourth leading scorer, as Daryl Morey took advantage of Oklahoma City's desperation to obtain something for a player they couldn't afford to keep.
Now James Harden is seeking a second fiddle, and Dwight Howard would be perfect for that. Howard served as Orlando's No. 1 option, but in Houston, he would be a perfect complement to a true No. 1 talent in Harden.
The Rockets could put together a very favorable package for Howard, and if Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak chose the right pieces, it could strengthen the Lakers considerably.
A similar deal could involve sending Chandler, Cole Aldrich, Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik in exchange for Howard. The deal would dismantle the Rockets starting line up, and ultimately zap the team of depth, but long-term they could easily fill the roster out this summer as they'll still be far under the league's salary cap.
The Lakers would actually be the true victors of such a deal, obtaining the promising Omer Asik and potential future All-Star Chandler Parsons, while also obtaining Jeremy Lin.
Lin could benefit from the tutelage of Steve Nash and would be a good fit in Mike D'Antoni's offensive system. Aldrich is trade filler but would be a good big body off the bench.
The Rockets lineup would look about like this after the trade:
PG- Toney Douglas
SG- James Harden
SF- Carlos Delfino / Royce White (Sure..)
PF- Marcus Morris / Terrence Jones
C- Dwight Howard / Greg Smith
This lineup wouldn't be so great and backing it up would be players that were borderline unrosterable, but Daryl Morey made a strong push to do that this summer. So, there's no guarantee he might not undo the great work he did by obtaining James Harden with a putrid blockbuster like the one concocted above.
Insane? Yes.
Possible? Still, yes.
It would be insane because there's likely a slim chance Howard would stay in Houston, and still possible because Morey may not be quite as deft with trades as the James Harden coup would lead people to believe.
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