Deron Williams-Dwight Howard Pairing Would Be Best 1-2 Punch in the NBA

The deal that everyone thought was dead is up and alive once again. The Brooklyn Nets are exploring opportunities (via ESPN)  to turn the 1-2 punch of Joe Johnson and Deron Williams into a 1-2 punch of Dwight Howard and Deron Williams, with a side of Johnson.

What would that mean for the rest of the league? Trouble, that's what.

Dwight Howard has never played with a pass-first point guard. Jameer Nelson has been a serviceable point guard in his days, but he looks for his own shot just as often as he sets up others. The transition from Nelson to Deron Williams would be an offensive boon for Howard.

Over the years, Howard has been more of an afterthought on offense than any big man ever should be. He was rarely assertive in demanding the ball. And with the way the Magic were built, he was down low getting offensive rebounds as four guys shot from the perimeter. 

At this point in the NBA there isn't another duo of players who formulate an inside-outside presence quite like the one that Howard and Williams would.

LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are both guys who get inside by penetrating, rather than gaining position and calling for the ball once they're down there. Although LeBron has taken that route a bit more often as of late.

Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook are the same way. But Durant's size has allowed him to get some position in the post and then call for the ball once he's there.

Chris Paul is great at finding Blake Griffin in the post, but Griffin is still far too green to know all the tricks of the trade in the post.

Otherwise, you've got Kobe Bryant and Andrew Bynum, who seem to clash as often as they get along. There's also Kevin Love and Ricky Rubio, but they are miles away from consideration. Carmelo Anthony and Amar'e Stoudemire play inside, but they do so individually.

However, Williams and Howard compliment each other perfectly. They're also both in their primes. Those facts elevate this potential 1-2 punch above all the others.

Historically, there are only six guys who have a 40 percent career assist rate (assisted on 40 percent of the shots made while they were on the floor): John Stockton, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Steve Nash, Magic Johnson and Brevin Knight. So we know Williams will get Howard more involved in the offense.

The only duo that approaches the potential compatibility of Williams and Howard has to be Chris Paul and Blake Griffin, although Griffin is still young and learning the game.

Key here is the fact that Howard and Williams would almost never be stepping on each other's toes on either end of the floor. Williams facilitates, takes shots as needed and feeds the big man in the post. Howard lives down low.

Oh, and we never even mentioned Joe Johnson sitting in the corner, loosening up defenses as he threatens to drain threes all game long.

This Nets super-team could be the super-team to end all super-teams, though there's still a lot that needs to go down before we start to consider that notion.