NBA Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic Should Avoid Proposed Dwight Howard Deal

Goodness gracious. David Stern, now would definitely be the time to step in for "basketball reasons." 

If the NBA commissioner thought Chris Paul going to the Lakers in a proposed deal was unfair as far as competitive balance goes, then he's probably getting a good, hard laugh out of the newly-proposed Dwight Howard to Brooklyn deal.

The pieces of the potential blockbuster trade come via Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski:

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In the proposed deal, Howard, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark would be sent to Brooklyn, and the Magic would receive the Nets' Brook Lopez, Damion James, Sheldon Williams, Cleveland's Luke Walton and three future first-round picks, sources said. Cleveland would receive Orlando's Quentin Richardson, Brooklyn's Sundiata Gaines, Kris Humphries (on a one-year guaranteed deal), a first-round pick and $3 million from the Nets.

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I, uh, the, um, who?, wha, wait, but. Yup, speechless. 

Where to start with this monstrosity of an offer?

Let's begin with what the Magic are giving up. Forget about Dwight, a potential Hall-of-Fame center in a league with a lack of quality centers, who is still just 26 years old. 

Not only do they have to give up one of the most valuable trade chips in the NBA, they are giving up Jason Richardson, who, contrary to popular belief, can still ball. Even at 31, with lots of mileage, Richardson is an athletic specimen who provides solid defense and good outside-shooting. 

He has three years on his contract for right around $18 million, which is more than affordable for a role player with his talent. 

They are also giving up Quentin Richardson, who is owed about $6 million over the next two years and can still play a solid role off the bench.

Oh yeah, and Earl Clark, who is just 24 and saw the most minutes of his career last year, is also on the way out.

But all of that is OK. At least the Magic get to give up Hedo Turkoglu, wait, what? They have to hold on to Turkoglu, who will make $11.4 million next season and has a player option for $12.2 million in 2013-14?

OK, that makes sense. The Magic are giving up a dominant All-Star and three potentially cheap role players, and with their only chance to get rid of a mediocre player with a terrible contract, they don't take it.

But at least they are getting good pieces in return.

Wait, that's not right, either. Shoot.

Yes, the Magic would bring in Brook Lopez, who is a developing 24-year-old center who has the chance to be a real star in this league. Nonetheless, that's the end of the list of good things I have to say about him.

The former Stanford Cardinal, who is 7'0", rebounds more like a guard and will soon likely be given a contract that is too long and too expensive.

Lopez is a fine player, sure, but can you really see him being the star player a title contender builds around? If you answered yes, you are either kidding yourself or you are Brook Lopez. 

After that, the Magic acquire free agents Damion James and Sheldon Williams. All those two have going for them—besides the fact they are free agents—is that they combine for the biggest forehead duo in the NBA.

Luke Walton also comes to town, so that's awesome for Orlando. The former Wildcat, who averaged less than 2.0 points per game in 2011-12, is owed over $6 million in 2012-13, right around the same amount as Jason Richardson.

Oof. 

To be straight, the plan is clear for the Magic, but it seems like they are going at it half-heartedly. They want to build cap space in order for a run at the big free agents next summer, but they aren't getting rid of Turkoglu, who is the biggest burden in that area. 

Orlando will also bring in a ton of first-round picks, which is always a good way to rebuild, but how good will the picks from Brooklyn, a soon-to-be title contender, really be? It's not easy—and it's certainly not a sure thing—to build around late first-round picks. 

For the longest time, I've been saying the Magic need to trade Howard, who becomes a free agent in the summer of 2013, because getting something for him is better than nothing. 

But with this new proposed trade, I was clearly wrong. The Magic might just be better off getting nothing for him and starting over with the cap space that Lopez and company will inevitably soak up. 

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