NBA Trade Rumors: Players Not Worth Dealing for Dwight Howard

The Dwight Howard saga has the entire NBA smitten, an occupational hazard when someone of his skill set becomes available. That still doesn't allow for a myriad of questionable judgment to run rampant though.  

Let's just air it all out and admit Howard is special. So special, in fact, that it seems no one in the league is immune from being included in a deal for the big man.

An exaggeration? Yes, but not by much. As the most dominant center in the league, Howard is a hot commodity, but that doesn't mean there aren't a handful of players not worth relinquishing in pursuit of his presence.

It doesn't always come down to head-to-head talent. Potential consequences must be taken under advisement as well, because believe it or not, with regard to Howard, not every price is one worth paying.

Amar'e Stoudemire of New York Knicks

Amar'e Stoudemire is struggling out the gate and his bloated contract remains uninsurable, yet it still isn't worth it to the New York Knicks to deal him in exchange for Dwight Howard.

Why? Because in no way does any potential Stoudemire for Howard swap make the Knicks better, only different.

New York's power forward only recently wandered his way into the rumor-mill, courtesy of a report made by ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who asserts that the Orlando Magic inquired about a potential Stoudemire and Tyson Chandler for Howard deal. The parameters of such a deal must be tweaked, yet it is a potential proposal not worth tweaking.

As dominant as Howard is, the Knicks cannot afford to rid themselves of two stars for one. Even if a straight Stoudemire for Howard swap is proposed, how do Chandler and Howard co-exist within the same system? For those that doubt the Carmelo Anthony and Stoudemire pairing, this one is even worse.

Moreover, New York, outside of the Brooklyn-bound New Jersey Nets, has not been named as a preferred destination of Howard's. The Knicks cannot justify dealing Stoudemire if Howard is a flight risk.

Stoudemire is struggling, but he will put the pieces back together soon enough. Packaging him for a player who could leave after the end of the season or fail to find a niche within the team's system is a blow New York would not recover from. 

Rajon Rondo of Boston Celtics

According to Steve Bulpett of the Boston Herald, Dwight Howard is prepared to consider playing for the Boston Celtics if the team makes a push for him.

Aside from proving that Howard is open to joining a plethora of teams, this most recent development gives hope to a Boston organization that has been prepared to make an aggressive pitch for the star center since early December.

The Celtics will have some serious cap space to play with this summer and shouldn't jump at the chance to acquire Howard before then. As unlikely as a trade between Orlando and Boston is, if the Magic become interest in exploring such an avenue, it would certainly cost the Celtics Rajon Rondo, who was anything but untouchable prior to the start of the season.

That cannot be the case here. Not only would Rondo be part of the allure of playing in Boston long term for Howard, but he has proved how valuable his presence is to the flow of the Celtics offense. In his absence, the team has struggled to develop continuity.

Should Howard wind up in Boston, Rondo presents him with the opportunity to play alongside another young superstar. Without him, it's doubtful Howard agrees to stay, as Paul Pierce and Ray Allen no longer boast the same kind of appeal.

Using Rondo as a means to acquire Howard is a ploy the Celtics would come to regret.

Pau Gasol of Los Angeles Lakers

Talks between the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic have fallen off in recent weeks, but the two sides could rekindle negotiations as the March 15 trade deadline approaches.

Should talks revive, the Lakers must remain adamant on their original refusal to include both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol in any package for Dwight Howard. Bynum is necessary collateral damage in any deal, but Gasol is overkill.

For one, Los Angeles would not be trading the Bynum of last season, it would be dealing a new and improved version. His stock has risen since the start of the season, and while it will take other pieces to acquire Howard, Gasol should not be one of them.

There's no guarantee the center and Kobe Bryant mesh together. Unlike most superstars Howard could team up with, there will be no sharing the spotlight with Bryant, as he is the franchise's unquestionable cornerstone. Howard is one of the league's more likable characters, but he still has an ego to satisfy.

And then there is always the fact the Lakers would be dealing two potential All-Stars for one. Regardless of the star in question, a trade of that magnitude presents a risk, and as Bryant's career enters its twilight, toiling with fire is not recommended.

Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors are amenable to dealing either one of their stars in Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry for Dwight Howard, without any guarantees that he would re-sign with the team.

Golden State's bold approach makes them major players in the Howard sweepstakes, yet it also makes them stupid.

Despite a lingering ankle injury, Curry would likely be the one to go. He can run an offense more efficiently than Ellis, and takes higher percentage shots. He is also a greater threat from beyond the arc, rendering him Golden State's most valuable trade chip. But while shipping Curry out for Howard may seem like a no brainer, it's actually an unnecessary risk.

The Warriors are not a team that will convince Howard to stay long term. As soon as he's eligible to leave, he will. Curry is too talented and too integral a cog in Golden State's machine to ship out for an essential rental.

Should Howard sign an immediate extension with the Warriors, they should pull the trigger.

But he won't, so they shouldn't.

Blake Griffin of Los Angeles Clippers

Despite denying a report that he had added the Los Angeles Clippers to his list of preferred destinations, it's unlikely Dwight Howard would balk at the opportunity to play alongside Chris Paul.

While Howard may be keen on the idea, the Clippers shouldn't be, as it would cost them an arm and a leg to make it happen.

DeAndre Jordan as a centerpiece will not be nearly enough to pry Howard out of Orlando. It would take Blake Griffin in addition to Jordan, and that's simply too high a price.

Chris Broussard of ESPN may support the logistics of a Griffin and Jordan for Howard deal, yet Los Angeles can't. It's not because Griffin is a star on the rise, and it's not because the PER's of all players involved are so similar. It's because the there's no guarantee Howard fits in with Paul better than Griffin.

Griffin has developed into a stretch 4, and has become a threat from all areas of the court. That loosens up the defense substantially, and presents more options for Paul. While Howard's presence spreads the floor, he is strictly an inside threat, who isn't as natural a scorer as Griffin.

The Clippers finally have good thing going, and although adding Howard could help their cause, it poses questions. Trading Griffin is not worth ascertaining the answer to those questions. 

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