NBA Trade Rumors: Why Dwight Howard and Deron Williams Should Team Up

Dwight Howard and Deron Williams are both scheduled to hit free agency in 2012, but it's entirely possible that the two superstars could wind up playing together in New Jersey.

The Nets have already told the point guard that they plan to aggressively pursue Howard according to Marc Stein of ESPN, and that would certainly be an imposing one-two punch in a crowded Eastern Conference.

The move to nab Howard would definitely be the right one for the team as they could really improve in a hurry, as D-Will and Superman would form an absolutely lethal combination.

Brook Lopez Can't Rebound the Basketball

Brook Lopez is a solid center in the NBA, but that doesn't necessarily make him the best fit on the Nets.

With the team set to face a solid amount of competition for the services of PF Kris Humphries, New Jersey could be facing a serious void on the glass in 2011-12.

Lopez averaged a pathetic 6.0 rebounds last season, while Howard averaged an unbelievable 14.1 per game.

That type of boost on the boards could lead to a lot of converted second-chance points that have been missed for far too long.

Superstars Sell Tickets

In 2010-11, the Nets ranked no. 28 in the league for attendance figures, averaging just 14,179 fans per night.

To put that into larger perspective, the Chicago Bulls were atop the list as they reeled in 21,791 into the building on a nightly basis.

In an era where we are experiencing a paradigm shift toward watching professional games on high-definition television rather than going to the event, superstars are going to serve as the driving force to get people into the building.

Deron Williams is a nice start, but the Nets can't be serious about their pursuit to improve and bring in more fans to the building if they surround him with overpaid players like Travis Outlaw.

Perennial Championship Contender

Whenever a club rosters two superstars simultaneously, they should be considered an instant favorite to leap toward the forefront of the pack.

The Orlando Magic have been considered a strong contender to reach the finals in every season since Howard has blossomed into one of the league's top players.

Pairing the most dominant center in the league alongside one of the game's top point guards would suddenly make the Nets one of the more challenging teams to beat for the opposition.

Nets Have Two Legitimate Superstars to Build Around

The Nets would suddenly become a very attractive destination for potential free agents for the upcoming seasons if they were able to land Howard alongside Williams.

When Miami's "Big Three" signed in South Beach, a number of veterans willingly took pay cuts in an effort to win a championship ring as the supporting cast.

It's been a very long time since this team was considered a favorable landing spot for talented players, and even longer since players thought about joining the club for less than what they could get elsewhere.

But if the team can grab Howard? That would all change in a hurry.

The NBA Needs Another Mark Cuban

When Mikhail Prokhorov took over as the owner of the team, he had a vision of making the Nets a championship contender within five seasons.

While there certainly has not been a shortage of funds available to the team, they're going to have to spend them more productively than they showed during the last offseason.

Acquiring Deron Williams mid-season was a definite step in the right direction, and if the Prokhorov-led Nets can also land Dwight Howard, the NBA will get exactly what it sorely needs.

Another owner that isn't afraid to put his wallet where his mouth is in an effort to win.

Unstoppable Pick N' Roll Combination

Remember Steve Nash in the pick n' roll game when he had Amar'e Stoudemire?

It could be a whole lot better.

Pairing Howard to play with Williams would give the Nets one of the most unstoppable pick n' roll combinations that we have seen in a long time.

D-Will has proven that he can hit the jumper without an issue from 18-23 feet out, and we all know that teams would be foolish to leave Howard unguarded at the rim.

Solid Defensive Foundation

Brook Lopez might be able to swat a few shots, but he's got a long way to go if he wants to ascend to the same status as Superman.

Howard won his third consecutive Defensive Player of the Year award in 2010-11, and it's going to take a monumental effort from one of the competitors in the field in order to claim the crown.

The overpowering center has averaged between 2.4 and 2.9 blocks over the last three seasons, and with Williams averaging between 1.2 and 1.3 steals over the same span of time, it would be awfully tough to get anything going against the new-look Nets.

Deadly Inside-out Attack

Deron Williams doesn't get the credit that he deserves as an offensive player.

While many peg him as a top-flight point guard capable of dishing out the rock to anywhere on the court, he doesn't receive the credit he's due as one of the league's best scorers at the position as well.

Not only can D-Will hit it from the outside, but he has also shown that he's not afraid to take his attack into the lane and challenge bigger defenders.

If Williams can open up some space down low by slashing through the middle, just thinking about the potential of an open Howard down low should have fans of the downtrodden franchise salivating at the possibility.