NBA Rumors: Pursuing Stephen Jackson Not Worth It to Try and Land Dwight Howard

The Nets would be nuts to pursue Steven Jackson for the sole purpose of luring Dwight Howard. Ric Bucher has reported that the Nets could increase their chances of landing Howard if they acquire Stephen Jackson. This is a poor strategy to ultimately land Dwight Howard through free agency or a trade.

Jackson is still a quality NBA swing-man, but he will be 34 years old in two months. He also has another year remaining on his contract at a little over $10 million dollars per year. Jackson's age and salary handicaps the Nets in the short term. It establishes them as a big three of sorts, but it would certainly pale in comparison to Miami's version. The Heat have to be considered, as you have to call them and the Chicago Bulls the teams to beat in the Eastern Conference.

Dwight Howard is certainly the game's best center, and Deron Williams is a top four or five point guard, but where does Stepehen Jackson rank amongst shooting guard? At 34, he certainly isn't elite? If we compare the potential Nets' trifecta to that of Miami, the Nets still come up short. Take a look at the numbers:

Nets Proposed Big Three 52.4 ppg, 22.4 rpg, 13.7 apg

Miami's Big Three 70.8 ppg, 20.1 rpg, 14.5 apg

The Heat certainly seem to have the advantage amongst the top three players, but their depth is certainly in question. Besides LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh only Mario Chalmers scores in double figures. The proposed Nets roster would face similar depth issues, especially if Jackson and Howard were acquired via trade.

The players that it would require to deal for them would leave the roster short to say the least. The Nets don't have the players available to complete one for one deals, and they already have injured players like Damion James. The Nets would be creating a depth issue for the sake of a big three, that isn't superior to one of the main teams their competing with. That simply doesn't make sense.

The Nets would be competitive in the East, but it isn't the power move the Heat made last summer.

Also, teams must beware anytime they get one player, just to entice another player to sign. Players can change their minds, and sometimes the other player in the equation is just as shocked as the team. It happened to Baron Davis when he signed with LA Clippers, under the impression that Elton Brand would stay in LA with him.

Brand recruited Davis to stay, but after Davis signed in LA, Brand chose to bolt for the Philadelphia 76ers. Both the Clippers and Davis were left stunned and incomplete.

The Nets have to be sure the plan will work, or they must at least be content to stick with Jackson in case Howard chooses to sign elsewhere, or the Nets and Magic can't agree on a deal.

Jackson certainly isn't a deal the Nets would make without Howard in the equation, and there is too much uncertainty to precede as though this deal would eliminate all doubt.

The best thing the Nets can do is wait for free agency, and make Howard and Williams their priorities. If players really want to play together, they'll find their way together, just like Wade, James and Bosh did.

The Nets just have to have the money to accommodate, when and if, the time comes.