NBA Rumors: Why Dwight Howard Won't Make Magic with Monta Ellis

The Orlando Magic are currently seeking to appease Dwight Howard by acquiring a difference-maker. Their supreme hope is that this difference-maker will be enough to convince "Superman" to stay in Orlando for the long-term future.

One of the primary rumored targets the Magic are interested in is Warriors guard Monta Ellis. Ellis is a proven scorer (currently averaging 21.9 points per game) and is only 26 years old. Could he be the piece that convinces Howard to remain in O-Town?

Well, this may prove to be an irrelevant question, because the rumored scenarios involving this deal aren't showing signs of promise.

One of these rumors features a three-team deal between the Magic, Warriors and New Orleans Hornets. But the latest rumblings concerning this deal indicate that there are "no legs" underneath this.

This has become an unrealistic scenario because the Warriors are insistent upon receiving a "star" in return for Ellis, but neither the Magic nor the Hornets have a star to send to Golden State. I believe we can all agree that Chris Kaman is not a sufficient player for the Warriors to receive in return for Ellis.

Another rumored deal features the Magic, Warriors and Milwaukee Bucks, in which center Andrew Bogut would land with Golden State.

While Bogut is a more alluring option than the veteran Kaman, there are still concerns surrounding him. Is it safe to label him as injury prone? When healthy, is he really considered a star player? Most importantly, in a conference with the surging Thunder and Clippers, does such a deal really make the Warriors a legitimate contender?

Questions like these are surely being probed by the Warriors, and there are certainly reasons to have doubts.

Further, all indications are pointing to the Warriors rejecting any deals with the Magic that don't involve them receiving Dwight Howard in return.

This likely cancels any hope of Dwight and Monta working their magic in Orlando, because involved parties are clearly not seeing eye-to-eye in these rumored potentials. The Magic can keep pursuing trades like this, but they will likely be to no avail. 

Therefore, the chances of Dwight and Monta soon forming a dynamic duo are close to being put in the casket. If the Magic seriously desire this, they better soon find a third team who can give the Warriors a "star" player they cannot refuse.

But the chances of this happening are slim to none. The Magic better get busy looking elsewhere if they are hoping to appease Superman prior to Thursday's deadline.