NBA Rumors: Friendly Dinner Stirs Dwight Howard Trade Talk

While Dwight Howard trade buzz quieted down for a bit, a dinner amongst friends has D12 to New Jersey rumors swirling about more than ever.

According to Colin Stephenson of The Star-Ledger, Howard and Deron Williams went out for dinner on Wednesday.

Howard downplays the dinner, saying,

"

"Since he’s been in the league, every time he comes to town, we go eat dinner and just kick it. We’ve been friends since the Olympics, and so we go out to eat, have a bite.''

"

It's very possible that Howard and Williams had a non-business related dinner amongst friends, but there is no way they didn't juggle the possibility of Howard coming to the Nets.

It's no secret that Howard's fate is not set in stone. The Magic have to find it a bit unsettling that he's having dinner with a star player who may have the power to coax Howard away from Orlando.

The Magic certainly don't have to trade away the best big man in the game, but the last thing they want is to get left with nothing but the memories of their superstar, a la Cleveland with LeBron James.

This "bite" should terrify Magic fans. It's too early to say that this suggests that Howard to the Nets is an inevitability, but it certainly adds to the notion that it's still entirely possible.

Follow @ASU52