Interesting bit of scheduling information here.
NBA -- Dwight Howard and more trade chatter - ESPN
As noted at the top of this Weekend Dime, one of the factors that has contributed to the limited in-season trade activity so far is the delayed trade eligibility of more than 100 players. In a normal NBA season, free agents who ink contracts in the offseason can't be traded for three months from the date they signed or Dec. 15, whichever falls later. The rule, though, had to be amended because of the lockout, which pushed free agency back to Dec. 9 for the 2011-12 season. Free agents who signed contracts for this lockout-shortened campaign thus can't be traded for two months from the signing date or March 1, whichever falls later. In 20 days, then, every team in the league will have more contracts to plug into deals to satisfy salary-cap requirements, which could serve as a useful impetus to help trigger activity before the March 15 trading deadline. Said one Eastern Conference executive: "Teams are eager for March 1."
Here's the list of players that the Celtics cannot trade until March 1st.
- Marquis Daniels
- Sasha Pavlovic
- Mickael Pietrus
- Greg Stiemsma
- Chris Wilcox
Pietrus has fit in very well and most of the other names on there aren't going to bring back much anyway. But perhaps Wilcox could be sent out to a team looking to save some cash (as long as they are willing to send back a big man of some sort).