The NBA season has finally started and heading into the year, some trade rumors and options for teams may include names like George Hill, Jeff Green, Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge, Kevin Martin, Chase Budinger, Quincy Miller, Josh Smith and Rajon Rondo, as some of those players are headed towards free agency and could be moved at the trading deadline or even before that.
This year a number of big name players could hit the block, including Rajon Rondo, Marc Gasol, Zach Randolph and LaMarcus Aldridge, as those players are all hitting free agency. That doesn't mean those players will be traded, but there is a good chance they will come up in trade rumors no matter what happens. Gasol likely will not be traded, as the Grizzlies want to try and re-sign him and they also see him as the key player for the team if they want to make the playoffs again this year.
Rajon Rondo has been mentioned as a name that could move and Jeff Green is also a target that could see some attention at the deadline. The Celtics don't expect to be good this season and while they want to keep Rondo, they may end up getting a deal that's too good to pass up. Rondo comes in after playing in 30 games last season and that followed his ACL surgery from the year before. Rondo is heading towards free agency and will get paid and the Celtics have the money and the cap space to do it if they want to keep him in Boston.
The team has an insurance policy in the form of Marcus Smart, as he could be the new point guard if Rondo leaves in free agency. The Celtics may also look at a Jeff Green trade, as he has been mentioned in rumors since last year and he could also be a player that moves. The NBA trade deadline is not for months, but speculation always runs rampant in the NBA and this summer along with Kevin Love, Rondo was the most discussed player and he has the mantle as the top one that could move this year.
According to Pro Basketball Talk, Michael Carter-Williams was being shopped heavily by the Sixers last summer and that came after he won the rookie of the year award. Grantland writer Zach Lowe reports that the Sixers likely were hoping to get a deal with Williams's value higher than it might ever get. Williams had a strong season with 16.7 points, 6.2 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game, but some wrote that off as a player putting up solid stats with a terrible team, which the Sixers were last season.
The Detroit Pistons may look at a Josh Smith trade this season along with Brandon Jennings depending on how things play out and the Sacramento Kings could be an option, as they were looking hard at Smith this summer and it comes as the Pistons are hoping to keep Greg Monroe next summer in free agency and moving Smith could be the first part of getting that deal done.
Monroe, Drummond and Smith played together last season for stretches and that was difficult at times and now the Pistons may look at breaking up that trio. Last season Monroe averaged 15 points and nine rebounds per game and he was very healthy, playing in all 82 games. Monroe is basically betting on himself, as he has only missed major time two years ago and in his other three seasons in the NBA, he has played in 80, 81 and 82 games.
