It was announced late last night that it has been rumored that Orlando's franchise player and perhaps the best center in the game, Dwight Howard, could be on his way out of Florida -- and to the New Jersey Nets (who will be the Brooklyn Nets, starting in 2012).
Howard intends to ask the Magic for a deal to the Nets that would likely include forward/center Brook Lopez and two first-round picks. If the deal went down, the Nets are also likely to take Hedo Turkoglu and the remaining three years and $34 million they currently owe him.
If there was a trade, Howard would join fellow All-Star point guard Deron Williams, who could become a free agent after the season is over. Howard is also set to become a free agent in 2012, but it appears that if they play together for the Nets, they will sign extensions with the team.
On Monday, Williams told reporters that he'd definitely re-sign with the team if they somehow landed Howard.
The All-Star point guard said of Williams, "He's a monster. He's like a created player. He's not real."
"I've talked to him a lot. We've had some conversations. He knows I want to play with him. I don't think there's a player in the NBA who doesn't want to play with Dwight Howard," Williams continued. "I think he would love to play with me, as well."
If Howard demanded a trade to the Nets, the Magic will still have to agree to the terms of the deal.
However, there is very big incentive for them to take the deal, as they could get something in return for Howard this season, maybe including a superstar, instead of Howard opting out of his contract after the season. If he opts out, the Magic would get nothing for him, so it would be wise for them to get something out of it while they still can.According to reports, Howard is ready to boycott the start of training camp until he gets what he wants -- a trade to the Nets.
The Nets have done little so far in free agency, while watching Tyson Chandler sign with the Knicks, Caron Butler sign with the resurgent Clippers, defensive stalwart Shane Battier leaving Memphis for the Heat and the Pistons re-signing veteran Tayshaun Prince.
However, if the Nets somehow land Howard, it really wouldn't matter if they had missed out on multiple free agents as they have practically caught the biggest fish in the sea.
Reports have surfaced Friday that the Nets and Howard met with each other Thursday except there was something wrong with that meeting. It can't happen right now.
The meeting was a violation of the league's tampering rules, according to league sources. It is mainly a violation because Howard's current team, the Orlando Magic, did not know of the meeting or give the Nets permission to talk to their star player.
Howard met with general manager Billy King and owner Mikhail Prokhorov in Miami yesterday.
According to Howard in a telephone conversation Friday, he said that he denied meeting with the Nets, saying, "There was no meeting. Right now, my plan is to show up to training camp for the Orlando Magic."
NBA.com has reportedly stated that they plan on file tampering charges against two teams -- the Nets and the Houston Rockets, who apparently also talked to Howard.
Sources say that Howard had planned on asking the Magic for a trade early Friday morning. The Magic had been discussing a possible deal with the Nets the last few days, but nothing has become official.
