With NBA trade rumors likely to heat up after Dec. 15, below are five names likely to be moved between Dec. 15 and the February deadline. Included are Boston Celtics star Rajon Rondo, and Phoenix Suns players Goran Dragic and Gerald Green.
Players who signed deals over the summer ineligible to be traded until Dec. 15, making trades unlikely to happen until after that date. Until the trade deadline expires in February, expect to hear the following names mentioned in discussions:
1) Rajon Rondo
The Celtics star has been linked to rumors for years, and this season won't be any different. It's a deep market for point guards, but the veteran is only 28 years old and he's almost averaging a triple-double now one full season removed from ACL surgery: 9.3 points, 10.5 assists and 7.4 rebounds per game.
The two things working against Celtics president Danny Ainge finding a trade partner for Rondo is: 1) he's expected to test free agency, which makes it unlikely a team will mortgage their future on a player who can walk for free in the summer, and 2) why would a team give up valuable assets for a player who's likely to become available in July anyways?
The names most prevalently linked to Rondo are the Sacramento Kings and the Houston Rockets.
2) Goran Dragic
All signs pointed to Phoenix keeping Dragic until the team signed backcourt-teammate Eric Bledsoe to a contract extension. Phoenix is now experimenting with playing three 1-guards on the court, but it's uncertain how that will work this season and Dragic has already indicated it's difficult appeasing three guards with one ball.
Dragic can opt out of his contract, and if Phoenix thinks they cannot re-sign him - or if they simply don't want to spend the money on him - then moving him before the February deadline makes sense.
The Los Angeles Lakers and Houston are two teams that have been linked to him, although Los Angeles is more likely to pursue him in the offseason as an unrestricted free agent.
3) Gerald Green
Phoenix needs size in the frontcourt, and Green has been steady enough since last season to command some decent assets in a trade. He's on an expiring contract, and some teams - such as the Chicago Bulls and the Lakers - are in need of a wing player who can stretch defenses and score. He's been a journeyman, but this season - 14.4 points in just over 20 minutes per game - proves last season wasn't just a fluke.
4) David West
It makes sense. Indiana might be doing better than expected, but that isn't going to carry over into February. The Pacers will drop games and Pacers president Larry Bird will shop West to a team who needs a veteran power forward to help give them a boost (likely off the bench) in the postseason.
The Eastern Conference is weak, but I don't see Indiana making the playoffs. West is 34 years old and has a player option after this season - why doesn't Bird dump his contract and start looking toward the future?
5) Roy Hibbert
This is my wildcard. Indiana is 7-10 right now, which is better than expected heading into the season, but I see them dropping more games than winning them this winter. Without Paul George, Indiana's best bet is to have a fire sale and dump West and Hibbert.
There's a market for Hibbert (SEE: Cleveland Cavaliers). He's at times seemed unhappy in Indiana, and he has a player option on next season. If Bird thinks there's any chance of Hibbert bailing in July, then I don't think he hesitates to ship out Hibbert to a playoff-contending team to recoup at least a first-round pick to give George some quick help for next season.
Honorable Mention: Michael Carter-Williams. Philadelphia purportedly has been shopping him, the only reason he isn't No. 4 or 5 on my list is there's a saturated point guard market come this summer.
