The 7 Most Realistic Destinations for the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howard

I am so inclined to throw another log onto the fire that is the Dwight Howard experience.

He has requested a trade to the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Dallas Mavericks.

A rumor was started by Chris Sheridan that he expanded his list to the Clippers.

The Golden State Warriors have offered their names as a suitor and the Magic have apparently approached the New York Knicks with an offer.

Here are the suitors and the realistic chance that Dwight will be dominating their court.

7. Los Angeles Clippers

Chris Sheridan of sheridanhoops.com released a rumor that Dwight Howard is interested in the Los Angeles Clippers. Sheridan goes on to say that the most likely scenario is that there will be a sign and trade deal in the offseason.

Dwight, in a tweet regarding Chris Sheridan’s report said, "love how everything y'all see y'all believe. If it ain't from the horse don't believe it. But God bless u."

Unless the Clippers are willing to part with either Griffin or Paul, I don't see this happening. Until I see it on paper or I hear it from the Horse, I won't believe it.

6. New Jersey Nets

The deal for Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace was all but done until Magic Owner Rich Devos called it off.

Brook Lopez, the main piece of the deal coming back to the Magic is nursing a broken foot.

Hopefully, the Magic have learned from the Grant Hill situation.

Outside of Brook and Deron, the Nets have nothing to offer the Magic.

5. Dallas Mavericks

Despite winning the NBA championship last season, the Dallas Mavericks have looked old this year. The Mavs have a large amount of cap space coming off the books after this season.

With that salary cap space, Dallas could make a run at either Dwight or Deron Williams.

Dwight would have to come in a sign and trade deal or risk losing $30 million.

The Mavericks just don't have the trade pieces that the Magic would require to lure the Magic into such a deal.

Dwight could forgo the extra money the Magic could offer, but that seems unlikely.

4. Golden State Warriors

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski has reported that the Warriors were willing to acquire Dwight in hopes that they could resign him. 

Wojnarowski says the Warriors have offered Stephen Curry/Monta Ellis and a first round draft pick.

It's not the ideal scenario for either Howard or the Orlando Magic, as the Magic would obtain a guard in Curry who's coming off an injury or a troubled soul in Ellis and a first rounder that's bound to be very late.

3. Los Angeles Lakers

The rumor that the Lakers have offered Andrew Bynum for Dwight Howard has had the most legs of all the trade rumors.

The rumor started out as the Lakers were offering Bynum and Pau Gasol, and that seemed like a viable trade.

When Jerry Buss squashed that rumor and proclaimed that he would not include both players in a deal, it became a less likely scenario. 

Despite Bynum's early season success, he was dominated by Dwight Howard in their only meeting this season. This weakened the chances that the Lakers will be able to trade the players straight up.

2. New York Knicks

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith said sources have informed him that the Magic have reached out to the Knicks' front office about a potential deal that would swap Amar'e Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler for Dwight.

If the Magic are inclined to trade Dwight, this may be the best scenario out there for the Magic.

Amar'e would bring the star power that neither Lopez nor Bynum have matched in their career.

He’s an exciting, intense player that can score, rebound and block shots.

His defense is nowhere near Dwight’s, but whose is?

1. Orlando Magic

Dwight became the all-time scoring leader for the Magic in the victory against the up and coming Indiana Pacers. He can be the all-time everything in Magic history, if he stays.

NBA analyst [I'm using this term lightly], Shaquille "I have two degrees" O'neal has been highly critical of Dwight. He has even said that Bynum was better then Dwight.

There is no doubt that Shaq will be remembered as the most dominant big man during his time in the NBA, but he signed with teams that already had established stars in place.

Shaq jettisoned to Miami to latch on to the next big star in Dwyane Wade and won another title with him.

If Deron Williams, or any other star, comes to Orlando, this is Dwight’s team.

The Lakers won 10 championships before Shaq and two after his departure.

Whether Dwight wins one or not in Orlando, he will forever be a legend, and he can separate himself from Shaq as a player who created his own legend.