Big names, like Jermaine O'Neal and Ron Artest, hear their names in trade rumors.
There have been many NBA stars who've been sent packing to new teams in the last few seasons. Most recently, NBA fans saw Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen migrate to Boston to join Paul Pierce. Yet, there's still room for trades, as several rumors have surfaced recently.
The most notable rumor chatter involves LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, whose not satisfied with the direction the Lakers have gone. The Kobe Bryant on the trade block rumor started last season when the Lakers wouldn't trade young center Andrew Bynum for the aging point guard Jason Kidd. Kobe spoke out against the Lakers and hasn't been happy ever since. In fact, coach Phil Jackson has expressed concern about the team's direction, as well.
The most notable rumor has Bryant going to the Chicago Bulls for Ben Gordon and Andres Nocioni. The Lakers are said to be high on Nocioni, and Gordon is an up-and-coming scoring guard. Chicago has made it clear that Luol Deng won't be included in a deal. They view a Kobe-Deng combo as the next version of Michael Jordan-Scottie Pippen. However, that has sparked Lakers vice president Magic Johnson to go on record to say that a deal can't b done without the inclusion of Deng. Kobe has said he only wants to go to Chicago if Deng isn't included in the deal.
Apparently, the Phoenix Suns nixed a deal that would have sent Kobe Bryant to Chicago, Ben Gordon and Shawn Marion to the Lakers and a package of Tyrus Thomas and other players to the Suns.
If a deal for Bryant were to happen, don't expect it to happen before next summer. Kobe makes a lot of money and players who make that much money aren't easily traded. Consider how long it took for the Minnesota Timberwolves to trade Kevin Garnett and the Philadelphia 76ers to trade Allen Iverson, despite the fact that trade rumors had been floating around with them for years.
Another trade rumor that's resurfaced of late is Indiana Pacers forward Jermaine O'Neal heading to the Lakers. Last summer, there was a deal being discussed that would have sent O'Neal to LA for center Andrew Bynum and forward Lamar Odom. However, the Lakers didn't want to include Bynum in the deal, so it fell through. That trade his been rekindled. Adding O'Neal to the Lakers would give them a second option to take some pressure off of Kobe.
In addition, don't be surprised to see big changes in Sacramento this season. The Kings have been shopping Ron Artest and his bad attitude for some time, and this may be the year something actually gets done. Mike Bibby is past his prime and injuries have slowed him down. He's going to miss the first 5-6 weeks of the season, which might make him and his large contract untradeable at the moment. Though, don't be surprised if the Kings continue shopping him when he returns.
Washington Wizards point guard Gilbert Arenas has also heard his name come up in trade rumors recently, but there doesn't seem to be much weight in that.
