The NBA season is moving into the back end of the December schedule and as the calendar turns to the new year, trade rumors will start heating up big time and with names like Omer Asik and Iman Shumpert already being talked about, names like Kenneth Faried, Carlos Boozer, DeMar DeRozan, Dion Waiters, Jason Thompson and Zach Randolph could also be in play at the deadline.
Omer Asik is the biggest name out there are he likely will be traded after he lost his starting job and his minutes were cut after Dwight Howard was signed and while the Rockets have remained steadfast on their price tag, that could change as the deadline gets closer. Reports came out that the Blazers, Pelicans and Sixers are interested in a deal and NBA.com also reported that the Cleveland Cavaliers could also be in the mix for Anderson Varejao, but it remains to be seen whether the Rockets will give him up without a first round pick involved.
The Rudy Gay trade opened things up for a number of teams and the Raptors could continue dealing, including with DeMar DeRozan, as GM Masai Ujiri is looking to rebuild from the ground up and the Gay move could be first in a long line of moves for the franchise. Dion Waiters has been mentioned in trade rumors for weeks after he had a reported blowup with Kyrie Irving as well as Tristan Thompson and that could lead to a deal. The Cavaliers reportedly talked to the Bulls, Knicks and other teams about waiters, but so far there have been no takers on the former first round pick.
The Knicks have looked into a number of trades involving Iman Shumpert, including one for Kyle Lowry on the Raptors as well as with the Nuggets and Kenneth Faried. That deal earlier in the season was discussed between the two sides, but nothing got serious after the Knicks balked at adding draft picks and that has been the main sticking point for the team in trades. After the Rudy Gay and Derrick Williams deals, the Kings have reportedly been shopping Jason Thompson and that could be a fit for a number of teams, including the Knicks.
Danny Granger and Rajon Rondo will also be names that will come up regarding trades when the deadline gets closer and so will Luol Deng, as his contract is up after the season. Granger is in a similar situation, but since no one knows how healthy he will be after dealing with knee issues, that could hold up any potential deals. Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young are names that have continued to come up for the Sixers and they could be involved in an Asik deal, as could Jameer Nelson with the Orlando Magic.
The trade deadline is still far off, but deals are starting to come together and there could be some big moves on the horizon in 2013-14.
