NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard to Heat and More Wacky Rumors at the Trade Deadline

Every year as the NBA trade deadline gets ever so close to approaching, the rumors pile up at a rapid pace.

The hard part is sorting the legitimate rumors from the completely wacky ones.

Just in the past couple of days we've had more than enough wacky rumors to deal with.

Here's a quick look at some of the wackiest rumors that aren't going to come true by Thursday's 3:00 pm trade deadline.

Dwight Howard Given Front Office Control by the Magic

It's being reported by ESPN's Ric Bucher that the Magic would offer up Howard the chance to fire coach Stan Van Gundy, general manager Otis Smith or both if he would re-sign with the team.

No player in sports will be given that power, especially Howard.

Here's a guy that can't decide from day to day where he wants to play. How's he qualified enough to hire a coach or general manager?

Quite simply, he's not and it won't happen.

Plus, what star player in his right mind would want to come to play in Orlando if a guy like Howard has that much power?

Dwight Howard Will Sign with Miami Heat in the Offseason

Sports Illustrated reported that Howard would be open to signing with the Miami Heat in the offseason, but even though that came out of Howard's mouth, there's very little chance of that happening.

Being that Howard isn't much of a leader and has little chance of leading a team to a championship, it make sense from the perspective that he can get a ring riding someone else's coattails.

But is he going to play for free?

Miami is in no position salary cap wise to add a star to their team, and even if they dealt a star like Chris Bosh, who's due to make over $36 million the next two years, it wouldn't free up enough money to bring in a guy like Howard.

He wants to be dealt by the deadline because he doesn't want to leave $30 million on the table. He's not going to take a discount rate to play fourth fiddle.

The Knicks Will Trade Carmelo Anthony

To say that things haven't gone very good for Carmelo Anthony in New York would be the understatement of the decade.

But for those thinking the Knicks will look to deal their superstar, you will be very disappointed.

Sources can talk about Anthony being disgruntled as much as they want, but the Knicks are strapped and making a move with Anthony would be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

They could make a coaching change by firing Mike D'Antoni, but that's the biggest impact move the Knicks can make.

Like it or not, this is their team. They are going to have to figure it out.

Brandon Jennings

SI.com's Sam Amick reported the Bucks would deal point guard Brandon Jennings for the right price.

That price is going to have to be extremely high for Milwaukee to even consider dealing the future All-Star.

Right now there's little indication that the Bucks will deal their lone bright spot as they would be in the playoffs if it started today.

Any Steve Nash Rumors

Anyone counting on Steve Nash being the missing piece of their team's playoff run should probably move onto Plan B.

The only way Nash is going to be dealt from Phoenix is if he demands a trade.

That's something he hasn't done to date and that's something he's unlikely to do in the next couple of days.

Josh Smith

Finally we look at Josh Smith, who's made it no secret that he wants out of Atlanta.

Unfortunately for Smith, he's not going anywhere.

The only move the Hawks will possibly make by Thursday is to shed Kirk Hinrich's salary off the payroll.

Atlanta won't get decent value for Smith right now and guys like him are easier to deal in the offseason instead of days prior to the deadline.