NBA Trade Rumors: Power Ranking Most Valuable Dwight Howard Package Deals

The Orlando Magic have so many options on the table, but which one is the best for their organization now and going forward?

That is the question they have to be asking themselves, as well as, should they even trade their superstar at all? It appears Dwight Howard will leave the Orlando Magic in free agency, so the team is in the "trade him or lose him for nothing" conundrum.

If the Magic do decide to make a move, they will have much to consider. 

Here is a breakdown and ranking of the best possible deals in the best interest of the Orlando Magic:

4. New Jersey Nets' package of Brook Lopez and two first-round picks

This one was originally reported by Marc Stein and Chad Ford of ESPN.com: "The New Jersey Nets are prepared to offer a trade package featuring Brook Lopez and two future first-round picks to acquire Dwight Howard before the Orlando Magic center becomes a free agent in July 2012, according to sources close to the situation."

I know this is where Howard may want to go, but from the Magic's standpoint, it makes the least sense. Consider the fact that even before Lopez was hurt, he pales in comparison to Howard.

Lopez can compete with Howard as far as scoring. Howard has a career scoring average of 18.4 to 17.4 for Lopez, but the rebounds and defensive numbers are grossly in Howard's favor.

Howard has averaged 13 rebounds per game, leading the NBA four of the last five years, to only 7.5 for Lopez. He has won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards, and Lopez is not regarded as a stout defender.

You couple that drop-off with the decreasing value of future Nets' first-round picks, if they have Howard and Deron Williams, and the Magic are in worse shape than the Nets are now.

Lopez is a restricted free agent after this season, and they could be rid of him at season's end.

Still, if they went that route, they would have traded Howard for two low first-round picks. Even if the Nets take Hedo Turkoglu's deal, it essentially adds cap room for Orlando, but now they must lure a free agent.

Surely they can do better.

3. Golden State Warriors offer to roll the dice on renting Howard for Monta Ellis or Stephen Curry and acceptance of Turkoglu's contract

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported this:

"

the Golden State Warriors have emerged as aggressive suitors for the NBA’s best center, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

Golden State management is willing to take Howard as a one-season “rental,” with the hope of selling him on signing a long-term deal before he enters free agency this summer. Like most teams, Golden State has inquired with Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith, but the Magic have yet to commit to aggressively pursuing a trade of Howard.

For the Magic to become intrigued with package, two things would likely have to appeal to them: rebuilding around young point guard Stephen Curry; and the Warriors’ salary-cap space to absorb the three years and $34 million left on Hedo Turkoglu’s contract.

"

This is an intriguing deal because it doesn't pigeonhole the Magic to Howard's list. The Warriors are nuts if they think he'll re-sign with them in the offseason, but if they are willing to rent his services, so be it. 

The Magic would get rid of Turkoglu's contract and add a solid guard in Ellis or Curry. The problem with this deal is that it still lands the Magic in rebuilding mode. They would love to find a deal that places them in a better situation than they'll be in if Howard just walks.

Curry or Ellis helps, but it probably doesn't make them a playoff team. Consider the fact Ellis and Curry are shining together in Golden State and still missing the postseason. What is left of the Magic's supporting cast isn't any better than what the Warriors put around Ellis and Curry.

In this trade scenario, the Magic get either/or, so that certainly doesn't seem to add up.

That is the drawback here.

2. LA Lakers offer Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum with other considerations

Sean Deveney of the Sporting News wrote: "For one thing, the Magic are going to ask the Lakers for an awful lot in return for Howard—namely, Pau Gasol and Bynum. That’s a steep price, of course, and one report says L.A. won't agree to send both of those big men to Orlando."

The Lakers have the quality bigs that can somewhat soften the blow of losing Howard, especially in Bynum. The Magic would probably love if the Lakers included both Bynum and Gasol, but they don't seem to want to do that.

This is still a good option for the Magic as they get a dominant big man, plus a $8 million trade exception would likely be included in a deal.

The Magic starting lineup wouldn't look much different, as it would now feature either Gasol or Bynum in the middle instead of Howard. Both Bynum and Gasol are averaging a double-double in LA now (Gasol 16.7 PPG and 10.4 RPG, Bynum 16 PPG and 12.8 RPG)

Howard is the best center in the league, but Bynum and Gasol are among the league's best bigs as well. 

Bynum has a team option for next season so they would have him wrapped up for longer than Howard. This is a solid deal as the Magic would still be a playoff-level team with financial flexibility in the near future.

1. Chicago Bulls can offer Joakim Noah and Luol Deng or Carlos Boozer

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported this:

"

What’s more, the Chicago Bulls are still a sleeper for Howard, several league executives believe. “Chicago may tell Orlando to take any two players—or three—besides [Derrick] Rose,” one GM said. Howard isn’t keen on the cold weather, but the Bulls would have the best point guard-center combination since Magic and Kareem.

The Bulls have Omar Asik developing fast as a potential replacement for Joakim Noah(notes) should the Bulls include Noah in a package. Noah would have to be a part of it, but would a combination of Noah and Luol Deng(notes) or Carlos Boozer(notes)—bringing back Howard and one of those bad Orlando contracts—be enough? The Magic need a force to replace Howard, an anchor.

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I know, Howard hasn't placed the Bulls on his list, but remember, this is ranking scenarios from the Magic's standpoint. There is no other package on par with Noah, Deng and the Bulls' acceptance of Turkoglu's deal.

Deng is an All-Star and great all-around player, while Noah is a solid rebounder and defender that made the NBA's All-Defensive team last year.

It is the rare deal that helps both teams. The Magic stay competitive while getting Turkoglu's money to improve even more. By the time they use Turkoglu's salary slot, the quality of the team as a whole could have surpassed its current place.

The 2012 free-agent class has Deron Williams, O.J. Mayo, Eric Gordon and a few others that would be attainable for the Magic after this deal and some other minor salary cap-maintenance moves.

J.J. Redick and Jameer Nelson are players that are going into the final year of their contracts.

All this said, this deal will probably never happen. The Bulls are so good, they could think better of messing with their successful nucleus, and Howard may never sign off on Chicago. If all things were properly aligned, there is no better deal for the Magic.