The NBA trade deadline is coming and rumors are starting to pop up more often and with names like Jimmer Fredette, Thaddeus Young, Beno Udrih, Greg Monroe, Spencer Hawes and Omer Asik available, some of those players could be the biggest steals of the deadline along with options like Jeff Green and Evan Turner.
The Houston Rockets have Omer Asik as their biggest trade chip and they could look to move him after previously engaging in talks with the Boston Celtics. General manager Daryl Morey spoke about how the team could elect to keep him through the deadline until his contract ends after next season, but that could be a bluff and if the right deal comes along, he won't hesitate to trade the center. While there has been a lot of talk before the deadline, there is a good chance none of the big name players will get dealt, meaning teams should be on the lookout for steals and players like Fredette, Young, Udrih and Monroe could make a huge impact if certain teams acquire them before the deadline.
Fredette has been wasting away with the Kings over the past couple seasons and after the team elected to not pick up his option, he is set to be a free agent and now could get traded finally after rumors came up last season and over the summer. Fredette isn't the greatest shooter or scorer, but he has been stuck behind a number of players at his position in Sac-town and he could be a fantastic bench option for playoff teams like the Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs, LA Clippers or Indiana Pacers.
Jeff Green is an option to get moved with the Celtics, as Danny Ainge likely will want to clear out as much cap space as he can before next season and if he keeps Rajon Rondo, which means trying to move players like Green, Gerald Wallace and Kris Humphries. Udrih came up in trade rumors a couple weeks ago after publically clashing with Mike Woodson and now that the Knicks are heading towards the deadline at well under .500, he could be a player to move. Udrih could be a very good option for teams looking for point guard depth and he likely would not cost much either after being the third man at PG for NY.
The Detroit Pistons would love to move the huge contract of Josh Smith, but it is more likely that they will move Greg Monroe and this comes after the team did not give him an extension in the offseason. Andre Drummond looks to be the centerpiece for the future over Monroe and that means the Pistons could move him heading into the deadline. The Sixers are coming into the deadline as likely players and they could move Thaddeus Young, Evan Turner or Spencer Hawes and those moves could be steals for certain teams, as all three are talented even if they haven't quite lived up to their potential. Turner is expected to be a target for a number of teams.
