Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: How Latest Twist in Saga Impacts Free-Agent Market

Before teams spend their hard-earned cap space on free agents this summer, they may think twice with the very real possibility that Dwight Howard will become a free agent in 2013.

ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that Howard wants out of Orlando and has a shortlist of preferred destinations that is indeed short and almost comically. It consists of the the Brooklyn Nets—and that's it.

The problem is that the Nets are increasingly in no position to land Howard.

The acquisition of Joe Johnson and his painfully large contract would remove any hope of signing Howard in 2013 as a free agent. And, as far as trades go, the Magic don't like what they see so far according to David Aldridge:

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Despite Dwight Howard's desire to go to Brooklyn, there's currently no Nets deal that interests Orlando, according to source. Story up soon.

— David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 2, 2012"

Somewhere, Mark Cuban may be a very happy man at the moment.

The Dallas Mavericks have patiently held on to their cap space so far, and it may be worth holding on to it until next summer.

ESPN's Ric Bucher is reporting that the Mavs are now Howard's preferred option:

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Source: With Nets out of equation, Mavs go to top of Dwight Howard's wish list. No other teams - Lakers included - on it. For now.

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) July 2, 2012"

Howard's availability won't change every organization's thought process. 

Most of the teams with room are in no position to attract Howard in a year's time. The Phoenix Suns, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers and Toronto Raptors are unlikely to top even a revised shortlist anytime soon.

The Mavericks are a different story, however.

Or, at least, Cuban can certainly make you think so.

Never mind that the roster is as talent-deprived as just about any franchise in the league right now. Cuban has built a winner before, and he can do it again. Just as importantly, Dallas is one of the larger markets Howard will have available to him.

Of course, the real coup would be if Dallas somehow convinced free agent Deron Williams to have a last-minute change of heart.

Williams appeared to have been leaning toward a reunion in Brooklyn, but the knowledge that his Nets may be unable to acquire Howard could theoretically change that. In that event, Cuban could sell the Mavericks as the only remaining opportunity the two have to join forces.

If the pitch worked on Williams this summer, bringing Howard into the fold in 2013 would presumably be a clerical matter.

It's only one scenario for now, but it illustrates just how protracted the question of Howard's future may become—and how far some franchises will go to be part of it.