OPINION

By Sean Deveney

updated 5:49 p.m. ET Oct. 26, 2008

Sean Deveney

What, me? Traded?

That's been the attitude around those whose names have been dredged up on the NBA's trade market rumor mill, which has been stirring especially early this year. Denver's Allen Iverson, asked about his future, declared he hoped to retire a Nugget. Miami's Shawn Marion is still seeking a contract extension to stay with the Heat, though word is that's not happening. The Lakers' Lamar Odom, asked about a trade, told Sporting News, "I am happy here. I have no desire to go somewhere else."

They won't have much choice. That's because one of the biggest names in the NBA figures to hover over this year's trade market: LeBron James. Not so much James himself, but the bountiful free-agent summer of 2010 that he has come to represent.

Let's allow one West executive to explain: "If you have a big contract on your books who happens to be a good player in the final year of his deal, then everyone wants to trade for him. Because then the money that the guy makes comes off your books. Everyone loves expiring contracts. Especially now."

The problem here is that, if everyone wants expiring contracts, shouldn't it stand to reason that the team currently holding the expiring contract would want to keep it themselves? Of course. But there are two exceptions. First would be a team that can dump its expiring contract for other expiring contracts, plus sweeteners like a young player and/or a draft pick. Second would be a team that sees a championship opportunity now and is willing to forgo the '10 bonanza for it.

Now, a drumroll for our candidates, who will have trade talk hanging over them:

Lamar Odom, G/F, Lakers: Coach Phil Jackson seems uncomfortable with playing Odom, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum together. That could force Odom to the bench. The Lakers are within a whiff of a championship, and if there were a high-quality, tough-minded big man out there to deal for Odom, they'd jump at the chance. (Note: There aren't many high-quality, tough-minded big men out there.)

Vince Carter, SG, Nets: The LeBron Plan is in high gear in New Jersey, as the Nets have nicely trimmed their payroll in advance of the '10 summer. But the Nets would be happy to take a little more off the top. That means Carter, who still has three years and $48 million on his contract, can be had, cheap.

Allen Iverson, SG, Nuggets: Denver has suddenly developed an aversion to paying the luxury tax (where was that when they paid Nene $60 million?), and with Iverson sitting in the last year of his deal at $22 million, moving him could lessen the tax load. But the Nuggets need expiring contracts, too, and it's unclear who's going to give up $22 million worth of free-agents-to-be.

Mike Bibby, PG, Hawks: Bibby is a free agent after this season, and he's not staying in Atlanta. Eventually, the team needs to give Acie Law IV a chance to be the point guard, either by getting rid of Bibby now or letting him walk next year. If this season goes south quickly for the Hawks, Bibby will be very much on the block -- though the cost-conscious Hawks will want expiring contracts in return.

Shawn Marion, SF, Heat: Marion's name has been pretty consistent in rumors, but he makes $17 million this year, and Miami is the rare team looking to make a move in the '09 free-agent market, a year ahead of everyone else. The Heat may be open to a trade, but they would love to simply let Marion's deal expire and then hit the market next summer.

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Rasheed Wallace, F/C, Pistons: Wallace is a well-liked player in Detroit, and he is still a useful player, especially defensively. But, offensively, his game has continued its career-long drift to the perimeter, and because he shoots from the outside so much, his shooting percentage is way out of whack for what you'd like to see from your center (.432 last year). The Pistons have Jason Maxiell in the wings. If they wanted to pull a deadline blockbuster, they could, and Wallace's $13.6 million expiring contract would be very nice bait.

Al Harrington, F, Warriors: Harrington has two years left on his contract, meaning he still could fall comfortably into the plans of any team with summer of '10 ideas. He's had a hard time fitting in with coach Don Nelson, and would be better off elsewhere.

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