Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Nets Trade Would Give Brooklyn NBA's Best Big 3

The Brooklyn Nets are desperately trying to join the likes of Miami and Oklahoma City in the NBA's "Big Three" movement. In today's NBA, you just aren't cool if you don't have three superstar talents. 

Brooklyn acquired Joe Johnson on Monday in exchange for Jordan Farmar, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro, DeShawn Stevenson, Jordan Williams and a protected pick. 

The move, ideally, swings negotiations for three-time All-Star point guard Deron Williams in Brooklyn's favor. 

That means Dwight Howard is the final piece of the puzzle. His desire to play in Brooklyn is well-documented at this point and, according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, an offer is on the table.

"

Sources: The Nets & Magic are discussing a trade that would send Dwight Howard to Brooklyn for Brook Lopez, Kris Humphies, Marshon Brooks...

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 3, 2012"

Broussard then followed that up with this tweet an hour later.

"

Correction: Nets' picks that would be traded to Orlando would be 2013, 2015 and 2017, source says....

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 3, 2012"

That was after the he initially reported the Nets would lose their first-round picks in 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018.

You may argue that Brooklyn is giving up too much, but the goal is clear. They want a "Big Three." If this happens, they have the most well-rounded "Big Three" in the entire NBA. 

The Nets would have a pure point guard (Williams), a perimeter shooter (Johnson) and the league's most dominant center (Howard). No other "Big Three" has all three elements.

Miami does have the NBA's best player in LeBron James, but they don't have the perimeter shooter. Dwyane Wade excels in the mid-range and as a slasher, but his range is limited. In the post, Chris Bosh doesn't hold a torch to Howard's back-to-the-basket dominance. 

Oklahoma City is even further away. They have the most dynamic perimeter trio in the NBA, but they don't have anyone close to Howard down low. Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins get the job done, but no one is ever going to confuse that duo with D12. 

Granted, the Nets' situation wouldn't be perfect. Johnson is still owed nearly $90 million over the next four years and he hasn't earned that despite making six All-Star teams in his career. He's a dynamic offensive player, but he underachieves for the money he's given.

Plus, they're giving up a lot. Miami ran into depth issues their first time around. Brooklyn could as well, but a steady role player like Gerald Wallace will help balance that impact out. 

Each of these players has had a chance to do it on their own and they've won games. None of these guys have won an NBA title by themselves, but each has gotten a sniff of NBA playoff action.

Putting them all together would create a monster. Their styles complement each other perfectly: Williams dishing, Johnson shooting and Howard commanding double teams on the block. Again, no "Big Three" has ever had a Howard-like presence in the paint. 

These three players want to win. Williams didn't have much help in Utah and neither did Howard in Orlando. Johnson had a solid supporting cast in Atlanta, but that team could never get over the hump. 

Brooklyn is headed for pay dirt with this group. Three ring-less stars who finally will have a chance to win the NBA's crown jewel. The hunger will be there and the talent will finally be there to go with it. 

You can argue that LeBron's presence in Miami gives them the advantage all by itself, or Durant's scoring in Oklahoma City makes them ineffable, but that isn't the case.

It all comes down to Howard. A dominant post player makes everyone's life a lot easier on the basketball court. 

In this case, it will propel Brooklyn to brand new heights.