The NBA season is now moving into 2014 and that means trade talk will start heating up as it gets closer to the trading deadline in February and some names that could be moved and that should come up in rumors, buzz and reports includes players like Omer Asik, Ryan Anderson, Jimmer Fredette, Chris Copeland, Jodie Meeks, Andre Miller and Iman Shumpert.
The Houston Rockets are a team to watch at the deadline, as they were unable to unload Omer Asik in a deal they liked in December after engaging in talks with the Boston Celtics and he still is one of the top candidates to get moved in February. Many predicted that the Rockets would shop the center after the team signed Dwight Howard and that is what has happened, as Asik has had his minutes cut and he has lost his starting job as well. Last season Asik averaged 11 rebounds and 10 points per game, but this year he is averaging just four points and near seven rebounds and he has barely played compared to last season when he started all 82 games for the club.
Asik has reportedly asked to be traded on multiple occasions and one of the deals that had been proposed earlier in the offseason was with the New Orleans Pelicans for Ryan Anderson. Howard played with Anderson when the two were in Orlando with the Magic and Anderson won most improved player that season and now a move could help both sides, as the Pelicans need help down low and Asik has not been able to contribute much to the Rockets with the way Kevin McHale and Daryl Morey are using him. The Rockets want some picks in return and that could make a deal tougher, but the team looks to be motivated and a deal could happen at the deadline.
The Pacers have been mostly quiet when it comes to trade rumors, even with the expiring contract of Danny Granger, but one name that has not been mentioned as much is Chris Copeland, who the team signed away from the Knicks last season. The Pacers have an emerging star in Lance Stephenson and with Copeland not contributing much so far this year, he could be trade bait for teams around the league, including someone like the Pelicans or the Kings. The Pacers have been one of the best teams in the league this season and anything that adds more firepower to the roster would be deadly in the east.
The Miami Heat have been linked to Jordan Crawford and Brandon Rush this season with the injury issues and age of Dwyane Wade and Ray Allen and the team could try and add some depth near the deadline. Jimmer Fredette is not a name that will help Miami much, but on Pro Basketball Talk they propose a trade that involves Rush going to the Heat and Fredette moving to the Jazz and that would be a big move for Fredette after he has not been able to get into the rotation in Sacramento. Andre Miller and Jodie Meeks are names to watch, especially in Denver, as Miller has been having his minutes cut and after being a healthy scratch this past week he had a blowup with head coach Brian Shaw.
