2007 NBA Trades That Should Happen

There are several NBA teams that could stand to make adjustments before the trade deadline approaches in February. Needing to make adjustments is one thing. Having the pieces to make those adjustments is an entirely different matter. Moreover, as the NBA is these days, matching player contracts is just as essential as matching player talent when making a trade. Therefore, making such deals can be challenges for teams' General Managers to pull off.

Here are trades that should happen this season. RealGM.com's Trade Checker verifies them as viable trades.

The Atlanta Hawks trade PF Shelden Williams and PG Speedy Claxton to the Philadelphia 76ers for PG Andre Miller.

The Hawks desperately need a veteran point guard to lead its team of young, athletic prospects into playoff contention. The Sixers are reportedly shopping Miller around to make room for Louis Williams. They're a young team, and could use some bulk in the middle. However, Philadelphia might think that Williams is too slow, or perhaps too much of an injury risk, to be worth trading Miller for. In that case, the Hawks might need to dangle Sixth Man SF Josh Childress instead of Claxton. Hawks fans will argue that their team should keep Childress, because he's a versatile Sixth Man who gives them insurance off the bench. However, his contract expires after this season, and with Josh Smith demanding a big pay increase this off season, they might think that Childress isn't worth what he'll likely demand. In addition, though they have other expiring contracts on that roster, the 2009 Free Agent class is thought by many to be a much better class and having that extra cap room then could prove fruitful.

The Atlanta Hawks trade PF Shelden Williams to the Milwaukee Bucks for PG Charlie Bell.

If the Hawks are unable to land Andre Miller, they could opt to go after an easier target. Bell has come up big when given the chance, but right now sits behind Mo Williams. Shelden Williams wouldn't be too much to give up, with Al Horford and Marvin Williams already at the power forward spot. Bell could jockey for the starting point guard position in Atlanta and Williams, though slow, would give the Bucks a much-needed bruiser to complement players like Andrew Bogut, Yi Jianlian and Charlie Villanueva.

The Atlanta Hawks trade PF Shelden Williams, PG Speedy Claxton and PG Tyronn Lue or C Lorenzen Wright to the Sacramento Kings for PG Mike Bibby

This trade is less likely to happen, but could if the Kings decide they badly need to get rid of Bibby's large contract. He only has two years left and his production has been slowed by injuries. Moreover, Lue and Wright are both expiring contracts. Acquiring one of them in such a deal means getting $3-4 extra million off the books after this season. Adding Williams helps their inside game, which is thinning with Brad Miller getting older.

The Phoenix Suns trade F Shawn Marion and SG Eric Piatkowski to the New Jersey Nets for PG Jason Kidd

Make no bones about it, the Suns would not be better without Shawn Marion. Yet, he's been a constant headache for a couple of seasons and has repeatedly asked to be traded, because he doesn't feel appreciated enough. Shawn Marion is Shawn Marion's biggest fan, it seems, and if the Suns were to trade him, they might as well get a quality player in return. Jason Kidd has apparently asked to either be traded or signed to an extension. But, don't the Suns already have Steve Nash? They certainly do, and they'd be fools to part with him. Yet, a Nash-Kidd combo could work very well. Though Kidd's not the defender he was a couple years ago, he's still a much better defender than Nash and could take a lot of pressure off him. Moreover, think of the ball movement if the two were to play at the same time. With Kidd's size at 6-4, pairing them together wouldn't be a problem. If coach Mike D'Antoni didn't want to pair them together, they could spell each other during the season to save energy for the playoffs.

If the Nets aren't willing to re-sign Kidd, they could do much worse than landing Shawn Marion. His athleticism and ability to play both forward positions would make him a nice fit in New Jersey. The Nets have a young, talented point guard in Marcus Williams waiting to be unleashed. What better way to get his feet wet than to dish the ball to Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson and Shawn Marion?

The Philadelphia 76ers trade PG Andre Miller to the Houston Rockets for PG Rafer Alston, GF Kirk Snyder and G Bonzi Wells

The Rockets need a true pass-first point guard. Currently, all their point guards - Rafer Alston, Steve Francis, Mike James and Aaron Brooks - are shoot-first point guards, rather than true floor generals like Miller. He could take pressure off Tracy McGrady in terms of ball distribution.

The Sixers have been sort of shopping Miller around, and getting a proven point guard in return in Alston wouldn't be a bad idea in case Louis Wiliams doesn't pan out. in addition, Snyder and Wells' contracts are up after this season, which would free up $4-5 million per year.

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