The NBA All-Star game and weekend break is now over and that means the trade deadline is the next big date on the league schedule and names like Taj Gibson, Pau Gasol, Evan Turner, Kyle Lowry, Greg Monroe and Kenneth Faried could be on the trading block come February 20 and teams like the Houston Rockets, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, Oklahoma City Thunder and Portland Trail Blazers could get in on the action.
Taj Gibson has been mentioned in some rumors heading into the deadline and that comes after he signed a $30 million plus extension and the Lakers, Charlotte Bobcats and Washington Wizards have been connected as potential partners, according to Pro Basketball Talk. Gibson has been a solid player with the Bulls since he was drafted and the team could look to trade him after dealing Luol Deng earlier in the season to the Cleveland Cavaliers. Derrick Rose looks like he will be out for the year and that could spark the Bulls to start trading off some players, including Carlos Boozer, Mike Dunleavy or Kirk Hinrich.
Pau Gasol has been mentioned in trade rumors over the past few seasons and they have heated up even more this year, but heading into the deadline it looks like he will remain with the Lakers. The Phoenix Suns looked like they were motivated to make a move for Gasol a few weeks ago, but after he got injured the team backed off and now they have turned their attention to other players. The Suns have been connected to Thaddeus Young as well as other players, but Gasol could get back in the mix getting closer to Thursday.
Greg Monroe has been mentioned in rumors this season with him set to be a free agent and with the Detroit Pistons firing their head coach, they could move him. Kenneth Faried was shopped by the Nuggets earlier this season and the Knicks were a team mentioned in connection with him, while Evan Turner has been mentioned as a possible target by the Spurs.
