NBA Trade Deadline 2012: One Trade the Orlando Magic Must Make

Magic Trade: Dwight Howard and Earl Clark

Warriors Trade: Monta Ellis and David Lee

The Orlando Magic are about to lose Dwight Howard for nothing, just as they lost Shaquille O'Neal to free agency in 1996. 

The Magic might not trade Howard in hopes that they can convince him to sign an extension with them next year.

Such a plan is wishful, foolish and extremely dangerous thinking. It does nothing but set them up to watch Howard walk. This would leave the Magic hanging with the worst financial situation in the league and a team bound for the lottery and complete irrelevance.

If Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith is smart, he will trade Howard for as much as he can get, be it talent or cap relief. Talking heads such as David Aldridge and Jon Barry have recently stated on television that the Magic would rather just let Howard walk so they have the $35 million in cap space that will come with him doing so.

However, something is seriously wrong with such statements. I don't know if Aldridge and Barry simply haven't done their research and are spewing idiocy, or if they have actually heard such nonsense from the Magic front office and are just repeating it.

If it's the former, there is no need to panic for Magic fans. If it's the latter, Orlando fans should rise up en masse and demand Otis Smith be fired immediately.

If Dwight Howard walks in the offseason, the Magic will still have nearly $44 million in salary committed to just seven players: Hedo Turkoglu, Jameer Nelson, J.J. Redick, Glen Davis, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Quentin Richardson.

Even if the Magic do not extend a qualifying offer to Ryan Anderson (let alone re-sign him) and fail to pick up the cheap team option on Von Wafer, the Magic would only have around $17 million in cap room.

If they extend Anderson at around $7 million per season and pick up Wafer's option, the Magic will have a whopping $9 million in cap space available to spend in free agency.

That's $26 million less than what is being reported by the sport's talking heads!

The wisest thing is for the Magic to trade Howard for the best possible package. The Lakers, Knicks and Bulls do not seem truly interested, due to Howard's agent reportedly saying his client will not sign an extension with anyone other than New Jersey or Dallas, while the Nets and Mavs have literally nothing of value available to offer.

That leaves the Warriors, a team willing to give up talent, even for a mere half-season rental of Howard, primarily because they want the salary cap relief and the ability to start over and rebuild their roster.

The Magic can receive star shooting guard Monta Ellis and extremely solid power forward/center David Lee for nothing more than Howard and the expiring contract of little-used Earl Clark. They would be insane to pass this opportunity up.

As for the Warriors, agreeing to such a trade and watching Howard leave in the offseason will still leave them with five decent young players under contract and give them around $38 million to spend in free agency. If they are wise, they could have a roster next year as follows:

PG: Stephen Curry, Nate Robinson, Charles Jenkins

SG: Wilson Chandler, Klay Thompson

SF: Nicolas Batum, Dorell Wright

PF: Antawn Jamison, Ekpe Udoh, Jeremy Tyler

C: Brook Lopez, Andris Biedrins

The Warriors fans would be thrilled with the above, and they should be.

If Otis Smith is wise, he will get on the phone with the Warriors' brass ASAP and make this proposed trade happen.