NBA Trade Deadline: Could Deron Williams Team with Dwight Howard in Orlando?

With Dwight Howard's announcement that he will stay with Orlando through 2013, the New Jersey Nets' dreams of a Deron Williams and Dwight Howard combination has been put on hold. The best the Nets can hope for is Deron Williams' signature in the summer of 2012, with D-12's coming the year after.

As for the Magic, they're thrilled to hold onto their franchise player. They can finally begin to put the necessary pieces around him to compete for a championship, and more importantly, they know he won't be leaving.

The question is, will Deron Williams be one of those pieces?

While Williams is unlikely to be traded for, the potential union of Deron Williams and Dwight Howard could certainly be orchestrated. In order to do so, the Magic must part ways with some of their most loyal players.

For instance, Hedo Turkoglu's $11.4 million contract and Jason Richardson's $5,799,625 could both be moved via trade. After all, the Minnesota Timberwolves are rumored to be interested in acquiring J-Rich.

Subsequently, the Magic must depart with fan-favorite Jameer Nelson. His $7,888,888 would likely hinder the Magic's chances to give Deron Williams a max contract.

Upon overcoming the financial restrictions, the Magic face quite the uphill battle: convincing Deron Williams that they are the best team for him.

As evidenced by the necessary cuts, the Magic wouldn't be left with much else on their roster. That leaves Deron Williams, Dwight Howard and a handful of role players to compete in the Eastern Conference.

Meanwhile, Williams could potentially sign with the Dallas Mavericks. The Mavericks boast a roster that would consist of, at least, Dirk Nowitzki and Shawn Marion.

Therefore, the question is not only will the Magic put enough around Dwight Howard, but will they put enough on the team to woo Deron Williams?