In past seasons, I've sat at my keyboard, struck a pose similar to Rodin's Thinker and assured all to dismiss the majority of rumors that swirl up to the trade deadline.

My inclination is to do the same again. Then, I think back to last season when Shaquille O'Neal, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Pau Gasol, Mike Bibby, Ben Wallace and Devin Harris were moved.

The NBA has changed. Clubs no longer use February to float the names of players they have no intention of moving until the off-season. Players are more likely to move in what has become a volatile and emotional climate, a climate altered by the competitive and financial realities of the day.

Now that I've gotten my brief, sociological observation out of the way, let's look at some of the big names who could be moved by the Feb. 19 trade deadline.

Amare Stoudemire:

The Phoenix forward doesn't seem to buy into the concept of defense, and his effort has been inconsistent. The presence of O'Neal down low leaves less space for his pick-and-roll explosions at the basket.

I find it hard to believe that trading Stoudemire is the team's first option. Would you choose Terry Porter's system over Stoudemire's future? I didn't think so. But if the Suns can land a young forward who also plays defense and pick up some salary-cap relief in the process, a deal will take place.

Shawn Marion:

He yielded O'Neal in a trade last season. He won't bring nearly that much this time around, but Miami has offers. Marion won't be in South Beach much longer.

Josh Howard:

Speculation has died down with the Mavericks' recent surge. But should the last two weeks wipe away what this club has seen during the last year?

There was too much talk for too long to think his name has been taken off the table.

Rasheed Wallace:

His midseason trade to Detroit five years ago helped spark the Pistons to the championship. His trade now could spark the club's effort to retool.

Chris Bosh:

Toronto's decline and whispers that Bosh has no intention of remaining with our northern neighbors once his contract expires demand he be included. But Bryan Colangelo isn't the sort of general manager to make a move out of fear. He will listen, but that doesn't mean he will move his best player unless he receives a comparable, young talent in return.

Others:

Toronto's Jermaine O'Neal was a star once. No more. But he remains an above average center when healthy. The same goes for Sacramento's Brad Miller. He and guard John Salmons are generating interest for the Kings.

Golden State's Corey Maggette, the LA Clippers' Baron Davis, Chicago's Larry Hughes, Oklahoma City's Earl Watson and Phoenix's Leandro Barbosa are out there.

Oh, yeah. And if you want New York's Stephon Marbury, you can have him.