The NBA offseason is moving along and the 2014 trade deadline could be very active this year, as names like LaMarcus Aldridge, Klay Thompson, Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green, Kevin Love and Marc Gasol could be on the trading block come the wintertime and teams like the Boston Celtics, Blazers, Minnesota Timberwolves, LA Clippers, Grizzlies and NY Knicks could be interested in making deals.
The NBA trade market has Love at the top of the list right now, but it looks like a deal will be getting done this summer or early in the fall for him. The Cavaliers, Chicago Bulls and Golden State Warriors are at the top of the list right now and as they negotiate the deal, other teams are getting their ducks in a row. According to ESPN.com, players like Aldridge, Gasol and DeAndre Jordan are names to watch, as they have the chance to be free agents next summer and that could set off some bidding from teams heading into the deadline this year.
Aldridge is likely to stay in Portland, but after trade rumors came up last year and during the summer, there is a good chance they will pop up once again. Aldridge had a fantastic season and helped the Blazers win a playoff series, but he wants a max contract and with the team also needing to sign Damian Lillard, they may have to come up with another plan. Aldridge had back to back 40 point games in the playoffs and factored into the MVP race and he should be in line for a mega deal once he hits free agency and it remains to be seen if the Blazers can afford him, although they did offer a huge contract extension this offseason.
Jared Sullinger, Jeff Green and other players on the Celtics could be moved and that comes with Rajon Rondo trade talk as well. The team has been rumored to get involved in the Kevin Love trade as a third team, but so far that has not happened. The team has moves they can make as they try to build and they are hoping that Marcus Smart can come in and contribute right away.
Love has been and will remain the top trade target in the NBA and if a deal does not get done this summer or during the deadline, the free agent frenzy for him will be ravenous. Klay Thompson is the top name the Wolves want from the Warriors and they have so far been reluctant to put his name in the deal. Andrea Bargnani has a chance to get traded, although Phil Jackson has said that he thinks he can be a solid player for the team this season.
Love has the Bulls, Cavaliers and Warriors chasing him right now and he will set everything off and once he moves the dominoes could start falling. Love will be a free agent next summer without a deal and now the Bulls and Cavaliers are battling in the central division for his services.
