NBA trade rumors are heating up with some of the league’s biggest names. We discussed DeMarcus Cousins, Jimmy Butler, and Jahlil Okafor.

Now that we’re past the halfway point of the NBA season the trade rumors concerning some of the league’s biggest names are starting to heat up. Carmelo Anthony is getting a majority of the headlines, but he’s not the only superstar on the block.

DeMarcus Cousins and Jimmy Butler both play for dysfunctional franchises, and they’re regular members of the rumor mill. Cousins and the Sacramento Kings are a match made in hell and Butler is currently at the center of some serious issues in the locker room for the Chicago Bulls.

Philadelphia 76ers center Jahlil Okafor isn’t a superstar. After one and a half seasons in the league, the former No. 3 overall pick has been a disappointment. With fellow centers Joel Embiid and Nerlens Noel already on the roster, it appears that Okafor is the odd man out in Philly.

We explored the rumors about all three of those guys and a few more.

The Kings Have A Tough Decision To Make

The decision regarding the future of DeMarcus Cousins has been weighing on the Kings for years. Ailene Voisin of The Sacramento Bee describes the Kings’ dilemma. Do they trade him to long-time suitors, the Boston Celtics, the division rival Phoenix Suns, or hold onto their troubled superstar?

Kings general manager Vlade Divac told ESPN that he wasn’t trading Cousins and the franchise was moving in the direction of a $219 million contract extension. For the sake of argument, Let’s say the franchise comes to their senses in the next two weeks.

The Kings have a record of 184-384 during Cousins’ tenure with the team including zero playoff appearances and six head coaches in his seven seasons. His six and a half seasons have been more about his antics on and off the court. Most recently, he was fined for verbally berating a journalist over a negative article. Very mature. The 26-year-old is the most controversial player in the league.

There’s a reason Sacramento hasn’t traded him yet. Cousins was just named to his third straight All-Star team and is playing the best basketball of his career. Like many big men in this season, he added the three-point shot to his game, and it’s paid off. Cousins is taking 4.7 threes per game and making them at a 36.7 percent clip. All of those makes have his scoring average up to a career-high 28.1 points per game. That’s good for fourth in the league.

Like many big men in this season, he added the three-point shot to his game, and it’s paid off. Cousins is taking 4.7 threes per game and making them at a 36.7 percent clip. All of those makes have his scoring average up to a career-high 28.1 points per game. That’s good for fourth in the league.

The Kings are bad with Cousins, but without him, they’d be Brooklyn Nets bad. Maybe even full-blown Philadelphia 76ers tank mode bad. Per NBA.com, the Kings score three points per 100 possessions more with Cousins on the court (108.0) and seven points per 100 possessions less (97.9) with him off. Trading him would be going into a full-blown tank and clearly, ownership isn’t ready to do that.

The Kings have never surrounded Cousins with enough talent to make him a winner and the one time they gave him a coach he clicked with they fired him. The best thing for Boogie is if they dumped him off on the Celtics.

Jimmy Butler’s In The Middle Of A Mess

The Bulls assembled a mishmash of a fantasy basketball team and hoped they’d work well together. Dwyane Wade fell into their lap, and they inexplicably paired him with Rajon Rondo, failing to think about how they’d fit with Butler.

Wade and Butler have clicked, but Rondo is on the way out after his infamous Instagram post calling out the other two.

According to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune, some rival executives think the Bulls and Boston Celtics may hold trade discussions involving Butler before the Feb. 23 deadline. They’d be picking up talks Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical reported took place during the 2016 NBA draft.

Butler is having the best season of his career and was named an All-Star starter. He’s averaging a career-high 24.6 points per game and making threes at a respectable number again, (34.8 percent). Entering the season, Butler was a career 32.8 percent shooter from downtown.

Butler told CSN Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill that the lack of commitment from the Bulls’ front office didn’t bother him.

“Nope. Nothing surprises me nowadays,” Butler said Monday when asked whether he has been caught off guard by the absence of any firm statement from the team’s front office confirming he’s part of their future, per CSN Chicago’s Vincent Goodwill. “You know that. I’m not surprised by anything. Anything is possible. It’s a business at the end of the day. I love it here. They know that. The city knows that.”

Trading Butler would be a huge shift in the franchise’s movement. They traded Derrick Rose last summer to make room for Butler as the No. 1 guy, but it hasn’t worked out. Butler leads the team in total touches and passes received, and with Rondo being benched he’s taken over as the primary ball handler.

Chicago’s point guard situation is a mess and Butler has been asked to help clean it up. He’s needed to do too much. According to NBA.com, the Bulls are -7.0 points per 100 possessions when Butler sits. Considering he plays 36.6 minutes per game, the small amount of time that he’s off the court makes that even more incredible.

The Rondo/Wade experiment is a failure. Neither will be on the team next season. The question as to whether or not Jimmy Butler will be there remains unanswered.

The Cure To Philly’s Big Man Problems

Sixers fans are rejoicing on social media as they hear they might be getting rid of disappointing center Jahlil Okafor. Sam Amick of USA Today, dropped a bomb regarding the former Duke Blue Devil.

The New Orleans Pelicans are interested in pairing Okafor up with Anthony Davis. Per Amick, the holdup is that the Pels’ desire for lottery-protection on the first rounder. This report comes just a few days after Okafor, a Chicago native, was linked to the Bulls.

When Joel Embiid emerged this season, it meant either Nerlens Noel or Okafor would be moved. The Sixers have waited long enough to trade one of their other centers.

Okafor’s the guy. His back to the basket post-up style of basketball is the antithesis of the modern game. Oh, and he can’t play defense or rebound. He’s hurting that team.

Per NBA.com, the Sixers are outscored by 15.1 points per 100 possessions when the 21-year-old is on the court. That’s by far the worst mark of any rotation player.

For all you real plus-minus fans, Okafor ranks 435th out of 445 eligible NBA players. He could use a change of scenery.

Is Emmanuel Mudiay Already A Bust?

After only 112 games in the Association, calling Emmanuel Mudiay a bust seems extreme. The Denver Nuggets might not feel the same way.

According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, the Nuggets are “quietly exploring” what they could get for their starting point guard. This is a point guard rich draft, so Denver could be looking to move on with one of the available blue chippers.

The Nuggets should be at least exploring offers for the youngster. He may be only in his sophomore season, but Mudiay hasn’t shown anything to make the franchise believe he’s the future at the point guard position.

Mudiay’s points and assists have regressed in his second season. His three-point percentage (already 31.9 percent as a rookie) has gone even lower (30.8 percent). He’s only made 33.3 percent of his twos longer than 16 ft. from the basket and 27.8 percent of his attempts from 10-16 ft.

Might be a good idea to put some time in on the jumper Emmanuel.

The 20-year-old’s struggles from the perimeter would be easier to take if he were better around the rim. According to NBA.com, Mudiay is struggling to finish in the restricted area for the second straight season.

As a rookie, he finished only 45.5 percent of his attempts in the RA. Now in his second season, Mudiay isn’t much better. He’s converting at just a 48.6 percent rate. For context, the league average is 60 percent.

 NEXT: New York Knicks embarrassed off the MSG court by Los Angeles Lakers (Highlights)