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The start of February is typically the moment when trade rumors start to heat up and we hear a whole lot of players apparently leaving town.

We’ve already had the Rudy Gay trade go down and that came as a massive surprise, because we all thought Memphis was done shedding some salary cap space.

Who will be testing the waters this February?

Utah Jazz trade Al Jefferson to the San Antonio Spurs for role players and possibly future draft picks.

The biggest name to be mentioned on the market so far has been big Al from Utah.

While the Utah Jazz are renowned for keeping things under raps (the Deron Williams trade at the deadline 2011), it’s a well known fact that Utah wants out of Paul Millsap or Al Jefferson this season.

Interest has to be short for both these players from other teams as they’re now talking to a Western Conference rival to unload Al Jefferson.

The Spurs knocked the Jazz out in the 1st round in a sweep last playoffs remember!

San Antonio’s intentions are clear. It would take a lot of pressure off Tim Duncan and his knee’s in the low block while boosting the Spurs Championship case.

While it’s also a move that sees Jefferson take over as the front court centerpiece when Tim Duncan finally retires.

As he will be harder to replace than any of the Spurs guards currently on the roster.

If this trade as reported only involves some Spurs role players it does seem lopsided with little return for the Jazz.

You’d think they’d be able to find more deals for him elsewhere. The rumor also called for the deal to be completed within the next 2 weeks.

The Indiana Pacers are fielding calls on Danny Granger.

Thought to have been an impossibility last season when the Pacers offensive game needed upping more than anything, Granger looks to be expendable for the right pieces.

Granger 29, has had his role filled in by 3rd year man Paul George and has potentially out done Granger. This is of course because of Paul George has been selected for the All Star team this year.

In his prime and with a manageable size contract, Granger could generate interest from teams who missed out on an attempt to get Rudy Gay.

Josh Smith and the Atlanta Hawks are likely to part ways, with the bigger question being when not if.

Josh Smith is a minor version of DeMarcus Cousins.

His tantrums don’t escalate as badly or result in being thrown from a game like Cousins does, although he seems upset off the court and seems to want a change of city.

With Smith’s athleticism key to his game, his prime time years are going to come earlier than other players as his steals, blocks and rebounding all depend on that one skill set.

Although there is no way he can be seen as a franchise player, no matter how much he might think so when he looks in the mirror.

Atlanta’s GM Danny Ferry shipped Joe Johnson for basically scrap metal so he’s not the kind of guy who will be hesitant at sending Smith away before the deadline.

The Milwaukee Bucks have Monta Ellis, Ersan Illyasova, Samuel Dalembert and Beno Udrith on the block.  

Just recently from the firing of head coach Scott Skiles the Bucks don’t seem to be finished shaking the pot as player movement is almost certain to happen.

Brandon Jennings looks likely to stay as he’s seen as the future in Milwaukee and trading Illyasova doesn’t seem all that realistic.

Illyasova has been given more minutes and is now starting to turn back into the double-double guy we saw last year now that Skiles has left.

They still have hope for him but Ellis, Dalembert and Udrith do look to be trade material.

With the trade deadline of Feb 21 fast approaching, talk will heat up and the rumor mill will get bigger.

Who’s most likely to be dealt by the deadline this year?