NBA Trade Deadline 2012: How Dwight Howard's Decision Impacts Deron Williams

Nets fans have been dreading this day for quite some time.

An infamous Deron Williams report states that Deron Williams would be likely to leave the New Jersey Nets should they fail to acquire Dwight Howard. Seeing as Dwight Howard has made the commitment to stay in Orlando through 2013, Williams could be on the way out.

While there is an undeniable sense of relentless optimism throughout New York City, including billboards on every other street with Deron Williams' face on it, the Nets may have to come to terms with reality.

If Williams walks away and the Nets receive nothing in return, they'd have given up Derrick Favors, Devin Harris and two first-round draft picks for a season in which they failed to reach the playoffs.

As much as I'd love to see Deron Williams playing a subway ride away, I'd also like to see a contender in New Jersey. Unless the Nets are able to pull off a major trade that nobody has heard about, I'm not sure they'll get the chance to put one on the floor with Deron Williams.

While Kris Humphries has emerged as a reliable right-hand man, averaging 17.8 points, 14.4 rebounds and 2.4 blocks over the past five games, it's unclear if he's capable of helping Williams win big.

Sitting four-and-a-half games out of eighth place in the East doesn't help, either.

At this point, Deron Williams must begin to weigh his options. The Dallas Mavericks expressed interest in signing both Williams and Dwight Howard, but Howard is clearly off the table. Considering Williams would be playing alongside Dirk Nowitzki, there's a slim chance they'd pass on the opportunity to bring them together.

Another option for Williams is Orlando. While the Magic have overpaid contracts that could decrease their chances at signing Williams, it's hard to imagine him counting out the possibility of playing alongside Dwight Howard.

And, of course, there's Brooklyn. With the opportunity to be the face of a franchise searching for their first NBA Championship, Williams would be in as unique a position as anyone in the NBA.

According to ESPN's Marc Stein, that's what the Nets expect him to do.

Where Deron Williams will end up is about as unpredictable as where Dwight Howard's head will be after an hour of debating whether he should stay in Orlando or not. Nevertheless, this is a risk the Nets appear ready to take.

Keep your fingers crossed, four leaf clovers close and a rabbit foot nearby—the Nets are going to need all the luck they can find to pull this one out.