The NBA trade deadline doesn't come until the date of February 20 next year, but that hasn't stopped teams from talking about potential deals and some of the top players being mentioned in December trading deadline buzz includes names like Rajon Rondo, Jimmer Fredette, Iman Shumpert, Evan Turner, Thaddeus Young as well as Omer Asik, Tyson Chandler and Luol Deng, who also have been mentioned.
The trade deadline usually has a flurry of deals and this time around the most interesting ones could come in December, as reports have the Rockets agreeing on a framework for a three team deal involving Omer Asik, while the Knicks have started to push a Shumpert deal as the team continues to struggle. Kyle Lowry has been a name that has come up in connection with the Knicks and while they were reluctant to make a deal involving Raymond Felton and Shumpert, that could change with Felton out with an injury and if the Knicks keep losing, as they feel they have to make a run to ensure that Melo stays after he can become a free agent this summer. Fredette has been mentioned as a trade candidate since the Kings did not pick up his option, but teams have not been hot on him since the summer.
Rondo has been a name that has come up and the Boston Celtics likely will hold onto him for as long as they can and while they could trade him, it's unlikely that anyone will give up abnyt6hing of significance until he shows that he can come back from his serious injury. With what has already happened to Derrick Rose, teams will be cautious about Rondo and on top of that, the Celtics have said they do not intend to trade him after dealing Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Adding to that, the team has played much better than expected and in the very weak east, they could even make the playoffs.
The team is hoping that Rondo can come back early next year and so far he has been looking good and he has been cleared for full contact according to ESPN.com. Rondo could get back into action next month and that would be about a year after he suffered his injury and with the Celtics leading the Atlantic division with an 11-14 record, adding Rondo back could mean a solid season for Boston and the way the Knicks are playing, possibly a division title when everyone expected them to be horrible. Rondo is the best player of the guards that could be available, but if the Celtics continue to play well, don't bet on him getting moved.
The Knicks are a team that is increasingly close to a deal, as they already shopped Shumpert to the Denver Nuggets for Kenneth Faried and they also have looked into a deal with Lowry and the Raptors, which would be the second time the team has dealt with them after trading for Andrea Bargnani. The Lakers have also been reportedly interested in Shumpert since Steve Blake was injured, but so far no real movement has come with the deal. Evan Turner and Thaddeus Young are two names that have come up and the Sixers are likely to make a deal this season.
