The NBA trade deadline always brings excitement each year as teams try to gauge which piece of the puzzle they need to add to the mix to reach the goal of NBA Champion.

There are many NBA trading rules and regulations NBA teams need to adhere to as they go about finding those missing pieces and working out the necessary trades to fill those voids.

If both teams involved in a deal are below the salary cap, a trade with each other is within NBA rules as long as they don't end up over the cap by $100,000 or more. Teams above the cap (or teams below the cap, but ending up more than $100,000 over the cap following a trade) cannot acquire payroll more than 125 percent plus $100,000 of the salary they trade away.

Additionally, no free agent signed in the off-season can be traded until Dec. 15 of that year or until three months has passed. The reason for this rule is it prevents teams from signing a player simply to turn around and trade him away for money or a draft pick. A player acquired in a trade can be traded in a one-for-one deal, but that player needs to be on his new team for a minimum of 60 days if he is to be traded again in a multiplayer trade. The trading deadline is usually around late February.

For many NBA fans this can be the most interesting time of the year, as we all try to become general managers and figure out what trades make the most sense for certain teams. For the genuine NBA GMs, finding those mid-season gems, and working out suitable trades, can be the difference between playing golf in June or getting fitted for a brand new piece of finger jewelry!