NBA preseason 2011

The NBA lockout just recently got resolved and already there is much talk in the NBA regarding player movement. Among the issues often talked about include the players stuck abroad such as Wilson Chandler, JR Smith and Aaron Brooks, some possible trades including significant contributors being named such as Nene and Rajon Rando and ofcourse the big name players who are going to be free agents Dwight Howard and Chris Paul.

The interesting thing about the players stuck overseas is that some of them are free agents, and there is one particular team that could take a big hit. Players like Aaron Brooks, Wilson Chandler, JR Smith and Kenyon Martin are free agents and are stuck overseas, they also play major roles on their teams, and yes three of them were members of the Denver Nuggets.

Could anyone of them come in mid year and actually propel a team to the playoffs or into championship contention? Will their availability be too late for them to actually make NBA rosters this year? Will a team like the Suns, who had Brooks as part of their plans, abort their current plan and look for another young point guard?

Then there's the issue of players who want to be traded, or their teams want to trade. The former is Nene and surprisingly the latter is Rajon Rondo. Both of these players could change the fortunes of the team they go to, depending of the trade. I won't comment much on this because there has been little news regarding this but one thing is for sure, trade of not, the Nuggets and Celtics are screwed.

And finally there is that other center and other point guard who may be moved. In order to avoid a "Lebron James situation", the Magic and Hornets are now open to moving Dwight Howard and Chris Paul, two of the games best players. Surely Dwight will propel a team into another level, and with Chris Paul, it depends entirely on his health.

While teams have put forward offers, there is one team that could offer one of the better trades but are refusing to do so. The Oklahoma City Thunder have an elite collection of young players, Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins, a combination from those players (excluding Durant) can surely nab Howard or Paul. But the Thunder apparently don't want to make a move.

It seems that the Celtics have set a precedent on how teams should be built, with three superstars. Teams like the Mavericks and the Thunder have shown that you could do contend through growing a team but the reality is the players can dictate their movement.