I know this probably won't happen in a million years, but I think the pieces are there to pull it off. This whole trade hinges on the idea that the Rockets are already prepared this year to play with rotating players at Center.
The first part of the trade is Rockets/Lakers. It seems that the Lakers are wanting to move Bynum and are coveting Dwight Howard. Offering the Lakers Aaron Brooks & Yao Ming for Bynum and either Brown or Fisher to make the money work. The value for them is that Brooks is a Lakers killer. They've seen his A-game. You could sell them the vision of a lineup of Brooks/Bryant/Odom/Gasol/Ming on the best of days. At worst, knowing that Ming may not play again, they get out from under Bynum's contract and have more pieces to go after Howard. The Chinese government would probably let this trade go through since L.A. is an even bigger market that Houston and has the same strong Chinese community there.
The second part of the trade is Rockets/Blazers. Offer Budinger & Jeffries for Greg Oden. Oden is practically a bust in Portland and they have Camby, so they might part with Oden. Budinger could fit nicely somewhere between Roy & Alderidge. Jefferies would just be an expiring contract. They would also be getting out of Oden's contract.
The third part of the trade is Rockets/Suns. Offer whatever comibination of picks and Fisher/Brown/I.Smith/Lee it takes to get Steve Nash. There have been rumors that he might not be long for the Suns. The Suns would get a serviceable point guard back and some young talent.
With these 3 trades the Rockets could contend in the West. The starting lineup would be Nash/Martin/Battier/Scola/Bynum. Nash would maximize the scoring of Martin & Scola. Bynum could change shots and Battier would be Battier on defense. Off the bench would be Lowery/Williams/Patterson/Hill/Oden. Still largly the same nucleus of players coming off the bench. Just a little stronger with a legitimate Center. Because both Bynum and Oden are walking injuries, you would give Hayes & Miller a lot of minutes. You could have each of the four play one quarter. The easing of minutes on Bynum & Oden might get them to and even through the playoffs.
With trades like this, the Rockets have size to compete with anyone. The Rockets were already set to rotate minutes at Center with Yao. Adding Bynum & Oden gives the Rockets 5 players (Bynum/Oden/Miller/Hayes/Hill) that could play Center.
Am I crazy or could a trade scenario like this actually happen?


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