NBA Trade Rumors: NBA Teams Are Lucky Thunder Won't Pursue Dwight Howard

The league should breathe a sigh of relief if it's true, but apparently the Thunder won't pursue Dwight Howard. Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel tweeted:

"Magic have talked to OKC but Thunder balks at giving up Ibaka and Harden to rent Dwight

— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) March 9, 2012

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I completely understand not wanting to rent Howard, especially at the notion of parting with Serge Ibaka and James Harden—but wow, what a team.

This basically equates to the Thunder saying one championship isn't worth parting with our two best role-players.

Harden is the Thunder's best bench player and a quality scorer who averages 17 points per game. Ibaka is a defensive stalwart who leads the league in blocks. 

I understand the logic, but at the same time, a trio of Howard, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook trumps any Big Three in the current NBA, and rivals any one in history.

The Thunder's refusal means they will not sell their soul for one ring.

I'm not sure I'm completely on board with that.

Championships are so rare that teams build quality cores all the time and contend for years without winning—see the Knicks and Blazers of the 1990s and the Kings of the 2000's.

How often does an opportunity come around to build something like this?

Almost never. 

The only thing the Thunder lack is a low-post scoring threat, and boy would they ever be getting one.

Of course, trading Harden hurts the bench, but as good as Ibaka is, his absence would be absorbed easily by Howard.

We must grasp the fact that Howard is averaging 20 points, 15 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. This doesn't even speak to the enormous presence he has on the floor on both ends, even when he isn't directly involved in the play.

The Thunder would have the best defensive power forward and center combination in the NBA. Kendrick Perkins plays center, but in reality, he's only 6'9". He could slide over to the power forward position while still guarding most centers in the league.

What does that mean for Howard?

On the nights that the Thunder aren't playing an elite scorer at the four, he is roaming, looking to erase shots left and right. It is similar to the defensive role Ibaka plays now.

Ibaka is the NBA's league-leading shot blocker with 3.2 per game, but Howard is on the same level.

That is especially the case when you consider everything else Howard has to do on the floor.

I know the Thunder are a small-time team with a small-city identity. That is a complete contrast from what it appears Howard is seeking.

But he has repeatedly stated that all he wants to do is win.

This is the best situation for him to win. That said, if winning is his main focus, he'd add OKC to his list. The same can be said of Howard's Chicago Bulls prospects. That is another location with a quality young nucleus Howard should be interested in, if winning is his No. 1 thing.

We all know better—but oh my God, what a team.