The NBA trade deadline is still a couple months away, but that hasn't stopped rumors from floating around and some of the top names getting mentioned include Omer Asik, Rajon Rondo, Luol Deng, Greg Monroe and Jimmer Fredette as well as Jason Thompson and Danny Granger.
The Kings have already made a number of moves this season in trades for Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams and they may not be done dealing, as reports say they are shopping Jason Thompson and Fredette is always mentioned in trade rumors after the team did not pick up his option. Omer Asik is the top name that comes up in rumors, as he has reportedly asked for a deal and the Rockets are looking into making on before the deadline, likely coming in mid-December and some teams have emerged already, including the Philadelphia Sixers, Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks.
Rajon Rondo has been coming up since the Celtics ditched Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, but so far there has not been much movement and with the team actually playing fairly well, this talk has died down. There was of course the Iman Shumpert offer from the Knicks, but that was laughed off and while over the summer there was talk about the Detroit Pistons, they opted for Brandon Jennings instead. Speaking of the Pistons, Monroe is an interesting option, as they declined to sign him to an extension and are likely to keep Andre Drummond over him and he could be a top player to move.
Luol Deng looks likely to move as well, especially with Derrick Rose getting injured, but the Bulls have also expressed interest in keeping him and signing him to an extension after those talks were tabled before the season started. Asik and Deng are two of the top names in rumors and a number of teams likely would be interested if the Rockets and Bulls seriously shopped them around. The Kings look a bit better after getting Gay and Williams, as they have upgraded their talent immensely and they could continue dealing with Thompson as well as Fredette.
The teams agreed on a seven player deal, with the Kings sending John Salmons, Greivis Vasquez, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes all to the Raptors for Gay along with Quincy Acy and Aaron Gray and the main reason for all the players moving id due to Gay's salary. Last season Gay was traded from the Grizzlies to the Toronto Raptors and the team was looked at as mostly a placeholder until they figured out a deal and clearly that has happened now.
Thompson could be an option for the Knicks as well as other teams and he has a decent salary and team control with $5.6 million this season and he has been solid on the boards as well. This season he is averaging 7.1 points and 5.6 rebounds and would be a solid addition for anyone looking for a big man in the middle. Asik is likely to get dealt after his minutes were cut since Dwight Howard came to Houston and his numbers have suffered greatly after averaging double figures in points and rebounds last season.
