NBA Trade Rumors 2014: Detroit Pistons Could Trade Josh Smith to Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns Before Deadline

The Detroit Pistons are reportedly getting active on the trade front as the 2014 NBA trade deadline approaches.

Reports indicated that the Pistons are actively shopping Josh Smith after failing to reach expectations in the first half of the season as he struggled to adjust to his new role in Detroit.

Smith, along with Greg Monroe, were reportedly on the trading block, but the Pistons are now determined to keep Monroe instead of the high-flying forward, who was forced to play the majority of his minutes at the small forward spot this season.

But while Smith could make immediate impact on another team this season, an ESPN Insider reported that teams are shying away from dealing for Smith mainly because of his fresh contract. The 28-year-old forward signed a four-year, $54 million contract before the season.

"The Josh Smith experiment in Detroit is not going well, and there's strong opinion around the league that the Pistons would trade him if they could - and "could" is the key word. Since Smith is in the first year of a four-year, $56 million deal, he is one of the most untradeable players in the league," an ESPN Insider noted in his report.

But if the Pistons agree to move Smith for salary-dumping purposes, NBC Sports reported that the Boston Celtics or the Phoenix Suns could be a potential trade partner for the Hawks.

Sources said that the Pistons could consider trading Smith to the Celtics in exchange for do-it-all forward Gerald Wallace along with players with expiring contracts to make the salary aspects of the trade work.

Wallace, who still has three years left in his contract, could be a better fit for their promising power forward-center duo of Monroe and Andre Drummond, who have a combined average of 27.1 points and 21.6 rebounds per game this season.

On the other hand, the Suns could also make a push for Smith before the deadline, as previous reports indicated that the surprising team could make a big move before the trade deadline.

However, it remains to be seen whether or not the Pistons will be interested in acquiring several first round picks in the next few years along with the expiring contract of Emeka Okafor.