Top Five Players Most Deserving of a Trade
By Joel Brigham

We’re less than two weeks away from the trade deadline, and despite the fact many league sources continue to insist things have been quieter than usual, there are still a number of players out there that not only could be traded, but probably should be traded.

This is a list of the players who most deserve a change of scenery before this month’s trade deadline.  They aren’t necessarily the guys who are most likely to be traded, just the best players in the worst situations more than ready for a new team.  Here’s the top five players most deserving of a trade:

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Demps, Hornets Looking to Make a Move
By Mark Nugent

The New Orleans Hornets have been one of the surprising teams of the season.  After failing to make the playoffs last year finishing with a record of 37-45, good enough to finish last in their division, many had written the Hornets off. 

This past offseason there was even talk star Point Guard Chris Paul wanted to be traded, the situation was volatile to say the least.  Rookie GM Dell Demps had a decision to make, trade the superstar and rebuild, or add to the current roster and try to make another push towards the playoffs.

Instead of panicking and trading away Paul, Demps made the team better and deeper by adding Trevor Ariza, Willie Green and Marco Belinelli.  The results have been better than most expected.  The Hornets have had win streaks of eight and ten games this season and are currently tied for fifth in the Western Conference Playoffs.

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2011 NBA Draft: Top Seniors
By Luke Byrnes

NBA All-Star 2011 is upon us, the start of the NCAA conference tournament play less than two weeks away, and that can only mean one thing: the 2011 NBA Draft is right around the corner.  We here at HOOPSWORLD have already taken a look position-by-position rankings and well as the sleepers in June’s draft, but without a collective bargaining agreement between the NBA owners and the Player’s Association, we could see younger players who would almost certainly declare for the draft early in any other year stick around at the college level.  This possibility puts a premium on some of college basketball’s top seniors as the draft approaches.  Here is a look at the top seniors the class of 2011.

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Is Chris Kaman Now Expendable?
By Stephen Brotherston

As the surprising Los Angeles Clippers rush towards the NBA trade deadline with 20 wins to their credit and a 16-14 home record, it appears the organization has some long-term decisions to make.

The frugal Clippers have about $53 million in player salaries this season and have committed $50 million to 10 players next year.  In the uncertain salary cap world created by the upcoming labor negotiations having player salary flexibility could be considered prudent, but in the Clippers case, they are not historically considered to be big spenders.  With their promising young center DeAndre Jordan becoming a free agent at the end of this season, it will be challenging for the Clippers to stay under this season’s salary cap next year and most people expect the cap will drop under a new collective bargaining agreement.

From the day the Clippers first overall pick from 2009 Blake Griffin made his NBA debut after losing last season to injury, the Clippers have become relevant again in the NBA.  Add in the breakout season from Eric Gordon and the rapid development of Jordan and the Clippers suddenly have a young core of players with a very bright future. 

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Hawks Need to Trade Marvin Williams
By Lang Greene

Despite the nonchalant nature in which the media and fans treat the Hawks, the fact of the matter is Atlanta remains one of the top ten teams in the league today.

This fact isn’t up for debate.

The franchise has a legitimate shot at recording their sixth consecutive campaign with an improved regular season record and barring an unforeseen collapse after the All-Star break will also clinch their fourth straight trip to the postseason.

So why exactly has the team failed to receive mainstream recognition despite possessing two All-Stars, a surefire All-Defensive team selection and the reigning Sixth Man of the Year?

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Matthews is Roy’s Replacement
By Stephen Litel

In his first year in Portland, his second in the NBA, Wesley Matthews is quickly becoming one of the most respected young players in the league. Averaging 16.4 points while shooting 44% from the field and almost 40% from three-point range, Matthews utilized that ever-important time between his rookie and sophomore seasons in the NBA to work on his game and that work is showing.

"At the end of the season last year, I got hungry and I just did everything," Matthews told HOOPSWORLD. "I tasted what the playoffs are like, what a little bit of success is like and I want to be great in this game. That’s what my focus has been."

While outsiders focus on storylines such as the Brandon Roy situation or LaMarcus Aldridge and his All-Star snub, his teammates see his improvement. They appreciate all of what he does on the court, especially when it takes pressure off the shoulders of the team’s stars.

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