The NBA trade rumors are starting to heat up as the trading deadline gets closer in February and with a number of teams pushing to the playoffs and dealing with injuries, names like Omer Asik, Rajon Rondo, Evan Turner, Jimmer Fredette, Spencer Hawes, Thaddeus Young and Glen Davis have been getting the latest buzz as players that could get traded.
The Sixers have long been considered a team that could get into the trade market this season since they are rebuilding and new reports from Pro Basketball Talk have the team trying to package Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes together. Turner is playing pretty well this season and was averaging over 20 points per game for a time and since the team doesn't appear to have him in their plans for the future, he is likely to get dealt. The team also has had interest from the Phoenix Suns in Thaddeus Young and that could be an interesting move, as the Sixers are looking for draft picks and the Suns have an extra after making deals in the offseason and they are a team that is making a push to the playoffs.
The Sixers have both Young and Turner on contracts that are expiring and with Turner being a restricted free agent, he is likely to be moving teams in the offseason as well. The Sixers were mentioned in some three team trades involving Omer Asik earlier in the season, but the Houston Rockets now appear as if they will be keeping him for the time being and that could heat up as things get closer to February. Asik was putting up double-double averages in points and rebounds and he has been marginalized since losing his starting job. The Rockets are looking for picks and something significant for him and once it gets closer to the deadline the rumors for Asik should heat up even more.
Rajon Rondo made his return for the Boston Celtics and while the team is in the bottom of the division, they don't appear willing to trade the point guard and he scored eight points in his debut. The team has said repeatedly said that they do not want to trade him and that appears to be the direction that Danny Ainge is taking. Fredette is a name that has not generated much interest and the Kings are likely looking to trade him after declining his fourth year option and that means he will be a free agent and there are some teams out there that could take a chance on him. The Knicks are a team that could get active at the deadline if they keep losing players like they have been.