The NBA trade deadline is fast approaching and while we have already a slew of major trades, like the Rajon Rondo moving to the Dallas Mavericks and Jeff Green shifting to the Memphis Grizzlies, there are still a number of players that could potentially be in the balance over the next couple of weeks. Here are the hottest potential trades that still might happen.
Lance Stephenson To The Miami Heat Or Brooklyn Nets
We have come a long way from a year ago in the NBA when there are reports that Stephenson could wind up in a Miami Heat uniform this season but that is the reality with the Charlotte Hornets actively searching for a trade partner. Stephenson has not lived up to expectations in Charlotte but the Heat have gotten a good look at his potential in back-to-back playoff series over the last couple of seasons and they could decide he is worth bringing in as a compliment to Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade. Stephenson might never live up to the expectations that were placed on him when he helped the Indiana Pacers get to the Eastern Conference Finals but he can still be a quality complimentary piece for a playoff team.
The Nets are the other team that’s emerged as a contender. They’re planning to rebuild but they still think highly of him and would like to use him as a building block.
Greg Monroe To The Los Angeles Lakers
There have been conflicting reports as to the extent of the Detroit Pistons interest in getting a deal done with the Lakers that would involve moving Greg Monroe and possibly Brandon Jennings to Los Angeles. Monroe is in the final year of his contract and while he is a talented young big man that has averaged 15.1 points and 9.7 rebounds per game this season there is no way that Detroit can afford to let him walk away at the end of the season without getting anything in return. Whether the Lakers have enough to offer in return in order to get a deal done is questionable and the Pistons might not want to break things up in light of their recent surge up the standings, so it will be interesting to see if anything comes to light or whether this trade talk is just blowing smoke.
Deron Williams To The Houston Rockets
Houston owns one of the best records in the NBA and is considered an NBA title contender, but no team has added more new faces this season than the Rockets and they might not be done yet. General Manager Daryl Morey failed in his attempts to land Rajon Rondo and his desire to add a point guard before the deadline might end up leading him to Brooklyn and a Nets team that is desperate to move Williams. Brooklyn wouldn’t ask for much other than the salary cap relief that would come with a trade while Houston would be able to add a veteran point guard that could help solidify their depth for a potential playoff run.
Wilson Chandler To The Los Angeles Clippers
The Denver Nuggets are 3.5 games out of a playoff spot but they would also have to leapfrog both the New Orleans Pelicans and Oklahoma City Thunder in order to catch the Phoenix Suns for eighth in the Eastern Conference standings. And even if they did, they’re not strong enough to pull an upset in the first round.
There have been reports that the Nuggets are interested in moving both Chandler and Arron Afflalo for “future assets” and there would be no shortage of interested suitors if that were true. Chandler has averaged 14.2 points per game this season while Afflalo has averaged 15.5. Both have respectable contracts with player options for next year. The Miami Heat and Charlotte Hornets are two other teams rumored to be interested in acquiring Chandler or Afflalo, but the Los Angeles Clippers make more sense. They’ve been trying to bolster their bench all season long.
