NBA Free Agency 2012: Dwight Howard & the Four Stars on the Brooklyn Nets' Radar

With the 2012 NBA regular season in the books, and the postseason an afterthought since late March, the Brooklyn Nets have plenty of time to ponder what went wrong. They had three All-Star caliber players, Brook Lopez, Deron Williams and Kris Humphries, and a head coach who took the NBA by storm with the Dallas Mavericks, Avery Johnson.

Unfortunately, injuries and underachievement masked any signs of promise.

Rather than a continuation of remorse, it's important for the newly relocated to look to the future. Upon doing so, they will see that four star players are available for the right price. Four players who could change this franchise in more ways than one.

Four players who you are about to see have gone from unlikely candidates to very likely suitors.

Eric Gordon, RFA

According to Sam Amick of Sports Illustrated, "New Jersey and Cleveland could be possibilities for [Eric] Gordon" come free agency. Considering New Jersey is now Brooklyn, a budding hot spot in one of the most powerful cities in the world, it's not hard to see why.

Eric Gordon started his career in Los Angeles, playing beneath the shadow of that other LA shooting guard and teammate Blake Griffin. Despite averaging 22.3 points per game in 2010, Gordon's value has been marred by consistent injuries and a trade to the down-in-the-dumps New Orleans Hornets.

By signing with the Nets, and thus becoming the face of a new franchise, Gordon could finally become the star player many feel he's capable of.

Andrei Kirilenko, UFA

According to Wendell Maxey, whose resume commands nothing to suggest this report ever being true, Andrei Kirilenko is close to signing a deal with the Brooklyn Nets. According to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News, who have their own history of questionable reporting, that deal is non-existent.

The question is, who do you believe?

Regardless of who it is you choose to place your faith in, believe this: Andre Kirilenko will be on the Nets' radar. He is an elite perimeter defender, a highlight-reel waiting to happen and a former teammate of star target Deron Williams.

AK-47 also shares Russian roots with Nets' owner Mikhail Prokhorov and the two share dinner every summer. Don't count this out as a possibility, just yet.

Jason Kidd, UFA

Jason Kidd made waves in the media when he claimed the Brooklyn Nets would "make a splash" in free agency. What has gone unreported, however, is the fact that Kidd all but proposed he back up Deron Williams in Brooklyn.

"What's wrong with that? That's not a bad guy to help out," Kidd said. "If it comes to that would not be a bad situation. I know I wouldn't have to play 30 minutes."

Kidd, who closed out the 2012 season on a high-note with 16 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, will be 40 in 2013. He has stated his desire to sign a two-year deal, something that may not be a bad idea for the Nets as they bring along a young point guard—regardless if that's D-Will or someone else.

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Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

After Dwight Howard claimed that he would "never play for Stan Van Gundy again," the book seemed closed on Stan Van's career in Orlando. After SVG led the Magic to a very competitive series with the heavily-favored Indiana Pacers, however, there could be a major conflict of interest in the coming months.

The Nets currently lack the assets to acquire D-12, as their roster is at four players and their coveted first round draft choice is non-existent until the lottery balls decide otherwise. Nevertheless, a sign-and-trade involving Brook Lopez could still be done if things go Brooklyn's way.

Don't count this out as a possibility, but don't expect it—even if David Bauman's report of D-12's ultimatum is as encouraging a sign as anything you've heard thus far.