NBA Trade Rumors: Josh Smith the Key to Bringing Dwight Howard to Brooklyn Nets?

As we get closer to the NBA trade deadline, it's becoming more and more clear that the Orlando Magic are unwilling to trade their superstar center, Dwight Howard.

And stuck in a standstill are the New Jersey Nets.

With enough talent to make a deal at the deadline, there's absolutely no reason why the Nets should still stand pat and just wait at the deadline.

If D12 is hanging out in Orlando until the end of the season, that means the Nets can sign him in free agency, which leaves their team intact and allows New Jersey to trade their valuable assets elsewhere.

But for who?

Josh Smith is currently on the block and it looks like the Atlanta Hawks are willing to deal him for the right parts.

Smith and Howard were childhood friends who go all the way back to preschool. Smith recounted how he met Howard way back when in a Q&A with the Orlando Sentinel.

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I’ve known him since pre school. We went to the same preschool together. I’ve known him since we were in diapers. [We went to] Miss B. we didn’t really have a name for the place. A lady named Miss B and a lady named Miss Lacy, we used to always go to. Both of our parents knew her pretty well I guess.

"

If the Nets wanted to increase their chances at landing D12 next season and make themselves a championship team, they could add Josh Smith at the trade deadline.

The Nets have a lottery draft pick to throw into any deal and that is only the beginning.

Despite his injury, Brooke Lopez can still be a very good player when healthy and is a free agent after this season. If Atlanta wants him in return, they will have time to see how he rehabs from his current injury in time to make a judgement for next season.

As for the rest of the team: MarShon Brooks is a promising young rookie at shooting guard and will be sought-after in any deal the Nets might make. Anthony Morrow is one of the best three-point shooters in the NBA and is also an attractive commodity.

And don't forget, every NBA fan's favorite player and the double-double machine himself, Kris Humphries.

It would make all the sense in the world for New Jersey to take that next step and try to acquire Smith. He will give them a solid player on both ends of the floor to help Deron Williams and make the Nets' current roster a little more appealing for the superstar point guard.

That can only help New Jersey's case for keeping D-Will and making Brooklyn an even better looking destination than it already is for D12.