Dwight Howard trade rumors have become the dominate topic of the NBA free agency period with a ton of scenarios coming from every direction, some true but most speculation.
The Brooklyn Nets are still rumored to be the most likely destination for Howard so here are details of the proposed offer the Magic have on the table for D. Howard. There’s a lot to keep up with since about 10 players and a number of draft picks are involved, so I’ll try to explain it as simple as possible:
Magic get:
Brook Lopez, Damian James, Sheldon Williams and two first round picks from Nets, a first round pick from the Clippers and Luke Walton from the Cavs
Nets get: Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark from Magic
Cavs get: Quentin Richardson from Orlando, Sundiata Gaines and Kris Humphries (via sign-and-trade), a first round pick and $3 million cash from the Nets
Clippers Get:
MarShon Brooks
The clear winner in this scenario would be the Nets, as they get a perrenial all-star center to pair with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson. The proposed deal would also benefit the Cavs, as they would unload Walton’s $6.1 million expiring contract in exchange for a productive Kris Humphries, but only if Humphries would agree to take a one-year deal, which he is reportedly not currently interested in.
Orlando is clearly in full rebuilding mode and would be unloading about $44.5 million in salaries while only taking back whatever extension Brook Lopez gets (most likely in the $50-60 mil range) and the small contracts of Sheldon Williams (who would come to Orlando via sign-and-trade) and restricted free agent Damion James. The Magic would also set themselves up to rebuild their team through the draft with the draft picks they receive in this scenario.
As mentioned earlier this is all speculation at this point, nothing is set in stone and things can change at any minute but the framework of the deal above seems to be most concrete to date. Still, don’t be surprised as things can change at any minute. Stay tuned for more details.
-ALR
So Humphries could blow the whole deal up if he doesn’t accept the one year contract.Looks like Kris is in the drivers seat now. As a Knick fan I hope this thing dies on the table. Without Howard it will be the same old Nets. D. Will is the only consistent player they’ll have. Johnson and Wallace are good but not good enough to worry about.
This is horrible for the Magic. They wouldn’t even be getting rid of Turkoglu’s crappy contract. What a pathetic starting lineup they would have.
PG- Jameer Nelson
SG- JJ Reddick
SF- Hedo Turkoglu
PF- Glen Davis
C- Brook Lopez
If Orlando does the deal it will be more of a testament to how sick and tired they are of Dwight Howard and how quickly they want to be rid of him.
The deal would be great for the Nets and horrible for the Knicks. All the interest would shift to Brooklyn and their big three. The only hope they probably have is getting Chris Paul from the Clippers as he has refused to sign an extension with them. If that happens, the Knicks would have at least a big 2 1/2 in Melo, CP3 and Amare. Even then I’m still not sure they can compete with the Nets.