Trade rumors have kept Howard frustrated all season.
While I hope Howard stays in Orlando, and the Magic administration should do whatever it takes to keep him, I fired up the NBA Trade Machine on ESPN.com to figure out possible trade scenarios for the Magic.
Howard to the Nets for Brook Lopez, Mehmet Okur and DeShawn Stevenson
As soon as the NBA lockout ended and Dwight Howard trade speculation began, most experts pointed to the New Jersey Nets as the landing point for Howard. If the Nets and Magic agree to this trade, it helps both teams.
Howard looks pretty good in New Jersey red.
The Nets team up Dwight Howard and Deron Williams as they move to Brooklyn, and the Magic get Lopez, an up-and-coming center who they can build their new team around. If Okur can get his game back, he would be a valuable back up center with a propensity to shoot 3's, so he would be a fitting piece in Orlando's rebuilding puzzle. Stevenson makes the trip to Orlando as well, but, while he is a solid jump-shooter, he is mainly dealt to make the numbers work.
Howard and Hedo Turkoglu to the Hawks for Josh Smith and Al Horoford, and the Hawks trade Marvin Williams for Stephen Jackson.
This trade is more ambitious and unlikely, but it would shake things up in the East.
Atlanta fans would love to see more of this.
The Hawks, with Howard and Turkoglu, would become instant title contenders. The combination of Joe Johnson's shooting and Howard on the inside would be hard for any team, even the Miami Heat, to defend.
The Magic would replace Howard with Horoford, who is a borderline all-star when he is healthy. Adding Josh Smith would give Orlando a young high-flyer who could sell tickets and be a winning player while the Magic continue to build a contending team.
The last part of the trade was not necessary, but Howard has hinted that he wants to play with Jackson, and Jackson has not been cooperating in Milwaukee. Marvin Williams would be a better fit in Milwaukee than Jackson, and it would give the Bucks some salary room.
While I was tinkering with the trade machine, I wanted to get a trade to keep Howard in Orlando.
Steve Nash, Grant Hill and Hakim Warrick to the Magic for Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson and J.J. Redick
Another ambitious trade, but everyone wins in this situation.
Howard would love to have Nash passing him the ball, instead of having to guard him
Nash and Hill join forces with Howard for one or two last runs at a title. Howard gets all-star players on his team, so he would stick around in Orlando.
The Suns get a younger point guard in Nelson, a young shooter in Redick and a experienced veteran in Turkoglu. Phoenix would save a few dollars and position themselves to make a championship run in the near future.
I urge Dwight Howard to stay in Orlando, mainly because I have a bad feeling he will end up in Los Angeles wearing purple and yellow. But for this to happen, the Magic will have to get someone like Nash to keep Howard living in Disney World.
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