The NBA trade deadline is coming and rumors leading up to the date have a number of big names on the market, including Goran Dragic, Greg Monroe, Kenneth Faried, Lance Stephenson, Kevin Martin, Brook Lopez, Arron Afflalo, David West, Roy Hibbert, Jose Calderon, Reggie Jackson, Taj Gibson and Wilson Chandler among other players that could move and teams like the for LA Lakers, NY Knicks, Houston Rockets, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls could be interested.
The trade deadline would have had Rajon Rondo and Kevin Love as targets if they were with their old teams and now that they are already gone, players like Goran Dragic, Greg Monroe and Reggie Jackson could be targets ahead of free agency. Dragic is expected to be a target, as Marc Stein reports that the Suns could consider trading him after signing Eric Bledsoe and Isaiah Thomas in the offseason. Monroe is less likely to move, as the Pistons have been asking for a first round pick and he wants to keep his Bird rights.
Jackson is heading into restricted free agency coming up next summer and he could be moved by the Thunder if they think they can't sign him next summer. According to Pro Basketball Talk, Jackson could be a target next summer for the Knicks and Lakers, while the Nuggets, Rockets and Bulls could look at him as an option at the deadline. The Thunder likely want a decent pick for Jackson since he could be a potential starter, but they also don't want to risk losing him for nothing.
The Rockets look like a target for Jackson, as they have wanted to upgrade over Patrick Beverley and that also makes Jose Calderon, Tyler Ennis and Deron Williams options. The Rockets could be more motivated to make a deal now, as they have lost Dwight Howard for a month and may need some offensive support. Jackson has been getting shopped by the Thunder hard since Dion Waiters came over, as Jackson has not been getting nearly as many minutes with him on the roster.
The Rockets also may look at Jose Calderon, Jeremy Lin, Pablo Prigioni and Arron Afflalo, as all of those names are on the market as well. The Miami Heat have been looking at trade deals as well and Lance Stephenson could be a potential option fi the team makes a major move. The Knicks have tried hard to trade Calderon this year and it comes as he has two years left on his deal and that could make him hard to move. Prigioni has also been shopped, but teams have not been hot on him yet as the deadline gets closer.
The Chicago Bulls are reportedly shopping Taj Gibson and teams like the Rockets, Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat could be interested in picking him up. Other big men on the market include Roy Hibbert, Davis West, Kenneth Faired and Brook Lopez and they also could be targets. The nets have long been shopping Deron Williams, Lopez and Joe Johnson this year as they try and retool and they also could be an option for Stephenson with the Hornets. The deadline should be a flurry this year.
