Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Shouldn?t Send D12 to the Nets

With Dwight Howard's demand to be traded to Brooklyn, Orlando is exploring the option of sending the All-Star to the Nets in a blockbuster deal.

According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, a potential trade would include Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks going to the Magic. Brooklyn would also send Orlando their first-round picks in 2013, 2015 and 2017. Lopez and Humphries are both free agents, so they would have to go to the Magic via a sign-and-trade.

The Magic are reportedly not very intrigued with what the Nets have to offer.

There isn't great enthusiasm within (the) Magic that the Nets have the ability to make the most appealing offer for Dwight Howard, sources tell Y! tweeted Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.

Orlando would like to get a lot more in return for one of the league's best players. Howard is just 26 years old and has been named to the All-NBA First Team for the last five years.

Since Howard has made it known that he won't sign an extension with any team, besides the Nets, teams around the league might be unwilling to offer up major talent for him. If a team will only have D12 for one season, there's a good chance they won't want to trade very good players in exchange.

If the Nets are the only team willing to make a deal with the Magic, they could end up with the All-Star, without giving up very much. Orlando saw what happened to Cleveland a few years ago when they lost LeBron James, and might get whatever they can for Howard so they don't end up like the Cavs.

In James' final year with the Cavaliers, the team went 61-21. The following season, they finished last in the East at 19-63.

Despite Howards' stance that he wants to go to Brooklyn, Orlando shouldn't panic and send their best player to the Nets.

Howard is worth much more than what Brooklyn is offering. This early in the summer, teams like the Lakers, Rockets and Hawks might not be willing to risk trading for Howard and not being able to sign him. However, the Magic should be patient. As the season gets closer, and it becomes clear that Howard won't be going to the Nets, offers for the center should improve.

Unless Orlando trades Howard to Brooklyn, he won't be playing in the Big Apple any time soon. The Nets are reportedly closing in on trading for the Hawks Joe Johnson and signing Deron Williams. If both deals go through, Brooklyn won't have enough money to sign Howard as a free agent.

If Howard can't sign with the Nets in the offseason, it's doubtful that he won't sign a long-term contract after being traded to a team like the Lakers or the Hawks.

Los Angeles can send Orlando Andrew Bynum. Atlanta can send them Josh Smith. It's hard to believe one of these offers won't be on the table within the next few months.

If the Magic can't find a team that's willing to give them close to equal value for Howard, they should stand pat. Doing so would hurt them in the short-term, but it would be beneficial for them going forward.

The Cavs suffered initially when they lost James for nothing. After two losing seasons, Cleveland has a core of young players that should be very dangerous in the future.

It would benefit the Magic more to lose Howard for nothing and become one of the worst teams in the league, than it would for them to trade him for mediocre players and become an average team for years to come.

Orlando wouldn't receive one potential star player in a deal for Howard with Brooklyn.

Brook Lopez was once considered a future star, but he's shown he doesn't have what it takes to be a top player in the league. He averaged just 5.9 rebounds per game in the 2010-11 Season, despite standing at seven-feet tall. He played just five games last year because of injuries.

Humphries and Brooks are good players, but they're not game changers. The three draft picks look appealing, but they likely won't turn into anything special. If the Nets land Howard, they'll probably be good for a long time, leaving Orlando to pick late in the first round.

In a league that doesn't have many dominant centers, Howard is one of the most valuable commodities in the NBA. The Magic can't just give him away for 50 cents on the dollar.

If Orlando refuses to cater to Howard's demands, they should be able to trade the disgruntled All-Star for a much better package than what Brooklyn is offering.