NBA Rumors: Deron Williams' Success Key to Nets Landing Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard may not know where he wants to play next season, but he's not blind to the success Deron Williams is having in New Jersey with the Nets.

That isn't limited to just on-the-court accomplishments, either.

As Fred Kerber of the New York Post puts it:

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On days he waffles, Howard then gets reminders of the business opportunities awaiting through the wealth of Mikhail Prokhorov in Brooklyn. Williams, his friend, has been in his ear. That’s why Orlando brass was ticked when of all the players available, the NBA teamed Howard with Williams at an All-Star weekend community event. Williams has picked up endorsements with the Nets which simply would not have been available in Utah. Howard sees that. And Howard knows of Williams’ input on personnel matters, another sore point for him in Orlando.

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And Williams' recent success on the court, an NBA season-high and Nets franchise record 57 points as well as averaging a career high-22 per game, only magnify the potential of Williams and Howard playing together in Brooklyn.

The Nets hold an interesting power over Orlando at the moment, something that simply cannot be avoided, and even if they fail to land the prize center before March 15th's deadline, they'll have the inside track to signing him in free agency.

We haven't heard the Nets talk about trading Williams, also a free agent this summer, at all because they have absolutely no intention of letting him walk away. They know there is a chance he could be swayed to move to somewhere like Dallas should Howard hit free agency, but even Dallas doesn't hold the on-court and off-court potential of a superstar tandem in Brooklyn.

The better Deron Williams plays throughout the course of this season, the better it is for the Nets both on and off the court.

If Howard doesn't truly know what he wants, then the person with the most influence in his ear is going to get what they want. Right now, that isn't Orlando and it may never be Orlando. They can offer him the best deal financially, but they can't sell him on making the team better with any guarantees. They can't re-sign Howard and then bring in Deron next summer.

The Nets, on the other hand, do have options and even if Howard wants to go elsewhere or stay in Orlando, they'll have the freedom to sign another big-name player to bring along to Brooklyn.

Howard knows this too.

It is quite simple: The more success the Nets have with Deron Williams, the better chance they have at landing Dwight Howard. That goes for both trade and free agency.

The Magic's resolve will be tested in a little more than a week's time, and when the Nets throw their final package of two first-round picks, Marshon Brooks and Brook Lopez, among others on both sides, on the table, GM Otis Smith better take a long, hard look at what his franchise will be like without Howard.

If Smith is willing to risk Howard in free agency, against a Nets team that will have already shown how much they're willing to give up for Howard and how much they can offer him both on and off the court alongside Deron Williams, then he's beyond crazy.

If and when the Nets land Dwight Howard, look no further than Deron Williams as the reason.