NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard to Nets Deal Is Best Possible Move for Both Teams

Dwight Howard won't shut up about wanting to play for teams not named the Orlando Magic. To make matters worse, he's contributing to an ugly slump and still talking about playing for other teams.

The Magic have lost six of their last eight games including four straight.

Howard's inability to handle this trade desire well is affecting this squad. His teammates know he doesn't want to be in Orlando and it is painfully obvious.

How much longer the Magic want to continue on with this situation could cost them the season.

How they can offload Howard and still bring in talent to rebuild is the ultimate dilemma. ESPN's John Hollinger came up with the perfect trade solution though:

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Because of Kris Humphries' involvement it couldn't be consummated until March 1 and can't be done on the Trade Machine, but the deal is Howard, Chris Duhon and Hedo Turkoglu to New Jersey for Brooks, Humphries, Brook Lopez and Mehmet Okur. The Nets could actually get a $3.1 million trade exception for Lopez as well, while the Magic would get one worth $3.2 million for Duhon.

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The Nets would also be able to include their 2012, 2014, and 2016 first-round draft picks if necessary as well as a pick owed to them by Houston.

The deal gives the Magic the salary cap space they desperately need to thrive as well as a few pieces to begin rebuilding with.

The Nets, assuming Howard's arrival will be enough to keep Derron Williams around, would then have two of the most important things in the league: an elite point guard and an elite center.

March 15th's deadline seems far away, but once February starts moving it will close in rather quickly. There truly isn't a better team for the Magic to deal with in terms of compensation than the Nets.

If things keep going south in Orlando, GM Otis Smith must evaluate what direction this franchise is going in. If they gamble and lose Howard in the summer they'll have nothing to show for it. A trade at least gives them an opportunity to survive the breakup.