NBA Rumors: New Jersey Nets Need to Trade for Dwight Howard Now

Dwight Howard's future has never been more up in the air. With the NBA trade deadline just 24 hours away, the New Jersey Nets have the pieces to make a deal and need to move quickly to get a deal done. 

According to Chris Broussard of ESPN, the Nets would prefer to wait until the offseason to get their hands on Howard in order to keep their current roster intact, but they would run the risk of losing him to another team that way. 

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They'd (Nets) rather trade for Howard this week and have the security of knowing he's a Net, even if it means losing some of their good young pieces and draft picks. To that end, the Nets are seeking a third team to sweeten their offer to Orlando. Orlando is believed to be trying to create a bidding war between the Nets and the Lakers for Howard. New Jersey is talking with Charlotte about a deal that would enable it to obtain Boris Diaw and his $9 million expiring contract to clear a bit more cap room for the summer.

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The Orlando Magic sounds more motivated than ever to deal Howard because there is no guarantee of a long-term commitment from him. That is the right call for this franchise, which can't afford to lose its most valuable asset for nothing. 

The Nets, meanwhile, have the motivation to get a deal done. They are moving into a new arena in Brooklyn next season, which means they have to sell season-ticket packages and luxury suites to fans and local businesses. 

They also need to do whatever they can to convince Deron Williams to sign an extension when he hits free agency this summer. As things stand right now, that doesn't look like it will happen because this team isn't going to win. 

Acquiring Howard would make them significantly better in the paint, and he would provide the perfect complement on the inside to Williams on the outside. 

Missing an opportunity to get a superstar in the prime of his career after he has said that he wants to play for your franchise is not something the Nets would be able to live down. Unless they have a super-secret plan to convince the Miami Heat to just give them LeBron James, it would be hard to sell not making a deal for Howard to the team and fans. 

There is one day for the Nets to negotiate with the Magic so they can figure out exactly what it will take for them to acquire Howard. Anything short of giving control to the franchise to Otis Smith has to be considered. 

Howard won't be enough to get the Nets in the postseason this year, but he would be the building block they need to build a franchise that can compete for championships years down the road. That is, of course, assuming he signs a contract extension after the season. 

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