Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Does Howard Get the Nets into the Playoffs?

The Dwight Howard trade talks are heating up as the trade deadline is just around the corner. The Magic are doing everything they can to keep Howard beyond this season, but signs are pointing to him being out the door after this season.

According to reports, Howard is going to be a Brooklyn Net next season. If the Magic wake up and realize this, they have to trade him to the Nets and get all they can in return. 

Brook Lopez has been forgotten about this season because of his injuries. He is a quality big man who can average 20 points and eight rebounds a game. The Nets can also give up draft picks. The Magic need to take this offer and avoid getting nothing.

The Nets appear confident they can acquire Howard in the offseason. However, if they trade for Howard before the trade deadline, will they get into the playoffs this season?

The Nets currently are 4.5 games out of the eighth spot in the Eastern Conference. They have been playing all season without a true center. They also have been playing well lately with both Deron Williams and Lopez out with injuries. The Nets have 23 games left, and if the Nets acquire Howard, they will have 22 left with him on their team.

There will most likely be some time to adjust, but there also will be a lot of excitement. The addition of Howard will give them a dominating center that they haven't had all season. The Nets are a good three-point shooting team. With Howard demanding attention in the paint, the three-point shooters will have more open looks.

The Nets' 22 games after the trade deadline start in Orlando. It will be interesting to see how the fans will react to Howard. Nine of those 22 games are against teams with .500 or better records. The Nets do not have a very difficult schedule going forward.

The Raptors, Pistons and Cavaliers are the other teams ahead of them right now. The Nets should have no issues moving past them in the standings.

The New York Knicks are plunging down and out of the playoffs, and unless they can figure out their issues, the Nets could easily pass them with Howard.

That leaves the current team in the eighth spot, the Milwaukee Bucks, as the final team in the way of the Nets getting in the playoffs. The Bucks have been decent at home this season and just acquired Monta Ellis. However, they still are only 18-24 and have holes on their team.

If the Bucks win roughly 10 of their remaining 24 games, they will end with a 28-38 record. The Nets would have to win 15 of their remaining 23 games to get ahead of them in the standings.

With Howard, the Nets going 15-8 is not unrealistic. Howard could potentially get the Nets in the playoffs and could make them a dangerous team, depending on who they give up in the trade.