Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Can New Jersey Nets Land Howard?
One team to keep an eye on as the season rolls along is the New Jersey Nets. Currently the Nets have won only three games (road games at Washington, Toronto and Phoenix) so far this 2011-12 NBA season and are at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with 11 losses.
One possible reason for their struggles could be the loss of starting center Brook Lopez who has not played this season due to a broken bone in his right foot that required surgery just before the start of the season. Lopez averaged 15.0 points and 10.0 rebounds last year and could do better playing alongside point guard Deron Williams.
Another reason could be that the Nets' roster contains too many role players and not enough foundational pieces to build around. The Nets brought in free agents (signed smaller contracts) during the shortened offseason to play alongside All-Star point guard Deron Williams.
Williams was acquired from the Utah Jazz last year at the trade deadline (where the Nets gave up big man Derrick Favors) and could opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent during the summer of 2012.
The Nets were active in free agency bringing in DeShawn Stevenson, Shawne Williams, Shelden Williams and Mehmet Okur to add some depth to their roster. Rookies MarShon Brooks and Jordan Williams were brought in through the draft. These players are role players who fill in while things are still unknown about the rookies on the team.
The Nets have set their eyes on Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic to pair with Williams, but are they hoping for something that may not happen? If Howard is not brought in, should the Nets trade Williams so the team can acquire something for the point guard?
It appears that if the Orlando Magic decide to trade Howard they may do so to the team that gives them the best offer. I'm not sure if the Nets have exactly what the Magic want, even if they try to put together a complicated three or four-team trade.
It is possible that these two teams may have to settle for less since it would almost be impossible to get fair value for Howard or Williams on the trade market.
