The annual NBA trade season has already begun and the NBA Draft is right on top of it.  It’s a big week for professional basketball in the US and one that could potentially affect the familiar faces of some of our favorite NBA teams.  For the players who are potential trade material, it must be a maddening time.

Big Names Appear In NBA Trade Winds

One big trade has already been done before everyone else even got started.  The Phoenix Suns have traded for Chris Paul and rumors are everywhere concerning big deals in the making.  Speculation runs high at this point in the process; some of it is just talk, others are in serious consideration.

Since acquiring LeBron James and subsequently winning the 2019 NBA Championship Title, the LA Lakers have only made two trades – there’s no reason to give up their money-makers.  The Lakers dealt with the New Orleans Pelicans and traded for Anthony Davis, which was a move encouraged by James himself.

Now LA has just made a second trade for Dennis Schroder in exchange for Danny Green, which was also backed and encouraged by LeBron, who has been a long-time fan of Schroder.  Kyle Kuzma is still on the trading block from the Lakers but will require that LA find a player to trade for who is better than Kuzma, which won’t be easy.

Rondo Wants Out Of LA

Veteran point guard Rajon Rondo declined a $2.7-million option to stay with the Lakers, indicating some sort of friction at home, and has become an unrestricted free agent.  The Atlanta Hawks are said to have a keen interest in acquiring Rondo to round out their squad for next season, which is set to begin on December 22.

The Milwaukee Bucks have made a blockbuster trade in wheeling & dealing for both Jrue Holiday from the Pelicans and Bogdan Bogdanovic from the Sacramento Kings.

Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is not on the block this year, but his teammate C.J. McCollum might well be if the right piece becomes available.  McCollum is a scoring machine who will deliver 20 points for his team on most outings.  If the Lakers grab him, watch out, as LeBron and company are going for another ring.

The Boston Celtics, who are in need of upgrading their frontcourt, may make a play for Onyeka Okongwu or perhaps James Wiseman.

John Wall Back In Action

The Washington Wizards’ big shooting star, John Wall, will return to the basketball court after two years recuperating for a bad injury.  However, it does not appear that Wall will be going back to Washington this time around.  Rumors has it that the Wizards are in talks with the Houston Rockets that could involve sending Wall to Houston and bringing former MVP Russell Westbrook up to Washington for a reunion with his old head coach from Oklahoma City, Scott Brooks.

The Boston Celtics could be sending forward Gordon Hayward back home to Indiana, where his is originally from, to play for the Pacers in Indiana possibly in trade for big man Myles Turner.

There are some pending trades in the NBA that are waiting to see how the NBA Draft works out next week.  For instance, Michael Jordan is pushing for LeMelo Ball to be drafted by his Charlotte Hornets with their number three pick in the draft.  If that falls through, the Hornets will make a play for Russell Westbrook, for whom Jordon has great respect.  Westbrook is also a Jordan Brand athlete.

Kemba Could Be Running With The Bulls

The Chicago Bulls, now under new management, have an eye out for an All-Star quality guard and rumor has it that Kemba Walker might just be coming up for grabs.

Then there is James Harden down in Houston.  He wants to go, and they want him to go.  But the Rockets are “demanding an especially steep return” for the bearded one.  What that will entail is still to be decided.