Dwight Howard Rumors: Orlando Magic Deny Reported Trade Proposal with Lakers

As the March 15 trade deadline looms, it's only natural that Dwight Howard rumors will sprout up like Magic beans.

As the best center in the NBA, Howard is a hot commodity, fit to help any organization grow by leaps and bounds.

Well, try this trade rumor on for size. The Orlando Magic send Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Magic would receive Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. The Toronto Raptors would be the third team in the deal, trading point guard José Calderon to Orlando.

Enough to make your head spin, isn't it?

Apparently it is for the Magic, too. Magic CEO Alex Martins told the Orlando Sentinel that the rumor is flat-out wrong.

It must be noted that owner Rich DeVos has repeatedly said that he won't trade Howard before the deadline, believing the 26-year-old will re-sign with the team before he hits free agency in the summer.

But logic dictates that the Magic should trade Howard. He's already sent out his list of preferred destinations, which includes the Lakers, and it's pretty obvious by now that he's tired of the Magic leaving him with a team not fit for a title run.

Howard has also been heavily linked to the New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks, but the Mavericks would likely only have a shot at Howard during free agency given they don't have a lot of quality young pieces to trade right now.

I still think Howard lands with the Nets, unless the Magic are really bone-headed enough to believe Howard will re-sign with them. The Nets have Brook Lopez, up-and-coming rookie MarShon Brooks and two future first-round picks to offer the Magic, and I can't see the Lakers giving up both Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol.

For now, take this for what it is: a rumor.

Plenty will sprout up in the coming days, but only one can blossom.