NBA Trade Rumors: Winners and Losers If Dwight Howard Isn't Traded

Dwight Howard will not be traded at or before the NBA trading deadline on March 15.

At least, that is what many analysts believe will happen and, in all likelihood, probably will.

Should the reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year stay entrenched in Orlando for the rest of the season, a number of teams will benefit and a few others will suffer.

Let’s take a look at what happens if the Magic center stays put. 

Loser: New Jersey Nets

The Nets are banking on landing Dwight to pair with Deron Williams for the move to Brooklyn next season.

If they fail to score him at the deadline, it’s going to be tough to convince him to sign with a flailing franchise that isn’t sure what is going to happen with D-Will.

It’s imperative that this franchise locks up the big man before March 15 or they risk going into New York City with Brook Lopez and his 3.6 rebounds per game as their “star.”

Winner: Orlando Magic

The Magic are the biggest winners if they decide not to move the superstar.

Of course, they could quickly turn into the massive losers in the offseason, but they buy themselves a few months to figure out a way to sign Dwight to a long-term deal by keeping him.

It’s not going to be easy or simple, but Orlando has the upper hand because Howard remains on the roster and can get paid the highest amount of dollars for the longest amount of time.

The easy way out would be to trade him for 75 cents on the dollar to someone like New Jersey or Los Angeles, but they must know they will never return a perennial first-team All-NBAer and it’s worth rolling the dice to try and keep him.

Loser: Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks bet that they could compete this season without Tyson Chandler anchoring their defense in hopes that they could sign a marquee free agent in the summer of 2012.

It was somewhat working for a bit, but now the team has won just two of their last nine games.

They clearly need another dominant player to pair with an aging Dirk Nowitzki. Howard is extremely interested in playing there and would be a perfect fit on the roster.

However, the Mavs would be behind in the race to sign him if they can’t make a trade-deadline move and wait until the offseason. It would also kill their hopes to repeat as champions.

They don’t have the cap space other franchises can offer and have to hope that D-Will and Dwight would be willing to take a pay cut to make a super squad. 

Winner: Western Conference

The entire West benefits from Howard not being moved over to their conference.

He’s a matchup nightmare and can easily affect the outcome of a playoff battle. No one wants to see No. 12 come May and June.

If he had gone to the Lakers, Mavs or any another westward franchise, it would have ensured long-term dominance and made it extremely hard for other teams to overtake them come the postseason.

Dwight single-handedly dragged a mediocre Magic roster to the 2009 NBA Finals and it would be surprising to see him not achieve that feat repeatedly if he were in the West. 

Loser: Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers clearly need to make a drastic move if they want to get back to their winning ways.

There are rumors that they are questioning their coach and players might get traded all whilst Kobe Bryant is becoming the unlikeable, selfish gunner he was in 2006.

That, of course, was the season before Pau Gasol joined the squad and they made three straight finals appearances.

The team has regressed in 2011-12 and seriously needs to figure out a way to breathe some life into the roster.

Howard would help accomplish that and would still be a massive upgrade over the newly improved Andrew Bynum.

If he stays in Orlando this season and doesn’t go to LA, it’s highly doubtful the Lakers have it in them to make another championship run.