5 NBA players who could or should be traded before mid-season trade deadline
Dwight Howard, if traded, will be the biggest name to make a switchThe NBA mid-season trade deadline for the ongoing season is at 3 pm Eastern Time on the 18th February. Why is that important?Trade talks between NBA teams see a huge spike between the 15th of December and the trade deadline. Why is December 15th important?From this date on, the majority of NBA players can be traded, as per the NBA rule books. Bobby Marks, a former long term executive with the Brooklyn Nets, emphasizes the importance of the 15th of December. Starting tonight at midnight, 378 out of the 447 NBA players will be eligible to be traded.— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) December 14, 2015With the unofficial mid-season trade window of the NBA tipped off and only a few days old, just like last year, after studying the season and accessing various reports and rumors across the league, we bring you the top 5 NBA players who could, or in some cases should, be traded during this trade window:
#5 Dwight Howard
The situation in Houston surrounding Dwight Howard is slowly yet surely becoming a lot similar to what it was in Orlando during the 2011-12 season and with the Los Angeles Lakers in the following season.
The ordeal started on Tuesday when Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com reported Howard being unhappy playing second fiddle to team’s alpha dog James Harden. Following the report, ESPN’s Rockets beat writer Calvin Watkins chipped in with some information of his own:
A source on Dwight Howard being unhappy: "Everybody is unhappy."
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) December 15, 2015
Replying to the report after a loss, Howard called it “lies and rumors”. However less than a day after his reply, Sam Amick of USA Today had this to say in his piece on Howard:
“A person with knowledge of the Rockets situation said they are expecting him to opt out and become a free agent”
Given Howard’s history of being indecisive while dealing with team managements (Orlando Magic and the Lakers), the Rockets’ General Manager would and should be looking for trade deals involving him in order to get something in return for his talents rather than see him walk free via free agency by opting out of the player option on his contract for next year.