NBA Trade Rumors: Best-Case Scenario for Dwight Howard Is Landing with Lob City

The man who seemingly controls the entire 2012 offseason has seen fit to deem one more team worthy of his presence next season.

According to Chris Sheridan, Dwight Howard has added the Los Angeles Clippers to his wish list.

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SheridanHoops.com learned exclusively Monday that Howard recently expanded his list of preferred future destinations, adding the Clippers to a list that already included the Nets, the Mavericks and the Lakers.

“He’s been watching them a lot. He’s intrigued by the Clippers,” said the source, who is privy to the trade talks that have taken place between all of the aforementioned teams.

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Sheridan's source also noted that the most likely way Howard would end up with the Clippers would be in a sign-and-trade deal this offseason.

Of all of the possible scenarios for Howard, this is the most attractive. It would all but assure that Chris Paul would sign a contract extension with the Clippers, and the trio of Howard, Paul and Blake Griffin would be ridiculous.

Sure, Howard could pair up on the Los Angeles Lakers with Kobe Bryant, on the Brooklyn Nets with Deron Williams or even possibly on the Dallas Mavericks with Williams and Dirk Nowitzki.

But none of those options is more attractive than the potential Lob City trio of him, Paul and Griffin.

And there is a deal out there that works both money-wise and makes sense for the Magic—the Clippers send DeAndre Jordan, Eric Bledsoe, Mo Williams and a first-round pick (or a package of picks) to Orlando for Howard.

Check out the deal for both Los Angeles and Orlando—it works. Orlando gets back solid young players in Jordan and Bledsoe, an expiring Mo Williams contract after the 2012-13 season and can compete for an NBA title this season without losing Howard for nothing.

Howard, in turn, would get the big market he apparently craves.

But if this ended up being a sign-and-trade this offseason, he would be losing quite a bit of money. Here's why, from Chris Sheridan, who lays out Howard's financial scenarios:

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-Plays the entire season in Orlando, opts out and ends up elsewhere (either by signing as a free agent or through a sign-and-trade): $80.5 million for 4 years.

-Gets traded in February, opts out, then re-signs with the team that acquired him: $110.8 million for 5 years.

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That's the one rub in this situation for Howard—the deal is most ideal if it happens mid-season, which the Magic might not oblige.

But by not trading him this year, the team will essentially be costing him money and would be risking Howard returning the favor by opting out of his contract and not agreeing to a sign-and-trade, thus leaving the Magic empty-handed.

From a basketball standpoint, it doesn't get better than this for Howard. From a financial standpoint, it's the perfect move if it happens during the season.

The plot thickens.

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