NBA Trade Rumors: Nets Willing to Pay Luxury Tax to Land Howard

The Brooklyn Nets might not have the assets to acquire Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic, but money certainly won't be an issue.

The New York Daily News reported that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov could have to pay $107.5 million in luxury taxes over the next four years should the Nets acquire Howard, but that it won't curtail the organization from aggressively pursuing the All-Star center.

Prokhorov, worth approximately $13 billion, is apparently undeterred by hefty luxury tax payments and wants to build the Nets into a championship contender. He's been willing to open up the wallet for Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, and Gerald Wallace, as well as likely signing Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries.

The Nets would love to add Howard to the mix, but the Magic are in no rush to deal him. The Magic reportedly prefer trading Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers for Andrew Bynum over the Nets' proposal of Lopez, MarShon Brooks, and three first-round draft picks.

Howard has made it known that he'll only sign a long-term extension with the Nets, but they won't have the cap room to sign him when he becomes a free agent next summer.

New Magic general manager Rob Hennigan has engaged with the Nets in trade talks, but CBS Sports' Ken Berger reported that he has also discussed deals with the Lakers, Hawks, and Houston Rockets. Berger went on to say that a deal with Nets isn't imminent.

The Lakers have the best asset to trade to the Magic, center Andrew Bynum, but it's unclear whether the team would be willing to trade away such a valuable player in what could only be a one-year rental of Howard. Howard has reportedly told people in the past he has some hesitations about playing second

The Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets are also expected to make a run at Howard.