The NBA trade deadline is coming and with that brings new rumors and names like Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol, Omer Asik, Kyle Lowry, Josh Smith, Thabo Sefolosha, Pierre Jackson and Danny Granger have been getting some of the latest deadline buzz and as the February 20 date gets closer, reports will start coming out more and more and teams like the Lakers, NY Knicks, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers and Houston Rockets could get in on the action.
The Chicago Bulls have already made a major move in trading Luol Deng to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a money saving trade for Andrew Bynum and now there are reports that the team could trade Taj Gibson. According to the Chicago Sun Times, a number of teams have looked into Gibson, as they feel the Bulls might be willing to part with the young star since Derrick Rose is out and Deng is now gone. Gibson has been playing very well this season for the Bulls and he is averaging 12 points and six rebounds and while he has a new contract extension that kicked in, he isn't overly expensive at $8 million next season.
The Bulls reportedly could also trade players like Mike Dunleavy and Kirk Hinrich, while the LA Lakers, Washington Wizards and Charlotte Bobcats are the teams that inquired about Gibson. The Bulls could be looking to trade players to help open up some financial space for a max contract offer to Carmelo Anthony if he becomes a free agent.
Josh Smith, Pau Gasol, Omer Asik and Thabo Sefolosha all have come up this week in trade rumors and the Suns could be in the mix for Gasol, but that has been put on the back burner after he was injured. The Pistons would love to trade Smith and his contract, while Omer Asik has been on the trading block all season for the Rockets after they signed Dwight Howard. ESPN.com reports that the Thunder have though about a trade for Sefolosha, but so far no imminent deal is on the horizon.
The Knicks could end up being active at the trading deadline after rumors have come up earlier this season involving Kenneth Faried and Kyle Lowry and now reports have the team eyeing Rajon Rondo once again. According to USA Today, the Knicks have looked into the idea of trading for Rondo despite the fact that the Boston Celtics have said he is unavailable, writing that the team could package players like Amare Stoudemire and Iman Shumpert in a deal for him. It goes on to say that even if the Knicks are willing to part with a number of players in an effort to ensure Carmelo Anthony stays, the team likely cannot pull off a deal since the Celtics will want draft picks in any move, which is something the Knicks do not have.
