NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard Would Make the Brooklyn Nets Contenders

In order to be a contender, the Brooklyn Nets must pull off their craziest concoction of commerce yet to assemble the NBA's first "Big Four" and trade for Dwight Howard.

According to ESPN.com's Chris Broussard, the Magic and Nets are in talks for a trade that would send the Orlando Magic superstar to his most desired destination.

The Nets would give up a lot: first round draft picks in 2013, 2015 and 2017, Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and second-year player MarShon Brooks, who was a pleasant surprise this past season.

As was proven with the Joe Johnson deal, GM Billy King is determined to have star power on the roster, and has laid waste to the term "untradeable contract" in the process.

Although signings can't be made for another week, King has allegedly managed to land All-Star swingman Gerald Wallace with a four year, $45 million dollar deal, according to reports.

Considering the amount the King and the Nets are willing to give up, the Magic would be crazy not to pull the trigger on the deal. At the same time, the Nets would be crazy to move forward with what they have.

Also, by maintaining star point guard Deron Williams and Wallace and acquiring Joe Johnson, the Nets have assembled their own version of a "Big Three" that would go perfectly with Howard.

However, that Big Three without Howard doesn't stack up with rival Eastern Conference trios from the Miami Heat or even the Boston Celtics. The Nets lack what ultimately wins NBA titles: defense.

Wallace was a first-team All-NBA defensive selection in 2010 and is a nightmare for the opposing team's best perimeter scorer.

As was proven in this year's postseason, though, El Heat have LeBron James and Dwyane Wade to handle, both of whom can be unstoppable no matter who is guarding them.

The other top players in the conference are point guards. A healthy Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo would have Williams for lunch in man-to-man situations.

It seems crazy that the Nets would give up so many assets to acquire Howard, until you realize they will only be a fringe playoff contender without him.

Having Howard—the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year—would be a massive rim-protecting upgrade over the tandem of Lopez and Humphries.

Howard also provides roughly the same amount of rebounding as the Nets' top two big men combined, even though Humphries is an exceptional rebounder.

While Lopez may not offer much on the boards, he is a better low post scorer than Howard. With this potential roster though, the Nets have plenty of sources for scoring the basketball.

All three of the Nets' locked in perimeter players can get their own shot and get to the rim, but none of them are great defenders, except for Wallace.

The best part: Howard would likely be the fourth scoring option, taking pressure off of him at that end of the floor.

Here's perhaps the best way of looking at the situation: Howard doesn't have any true stars around him in Orlando, and knows that team nucleus can't win a ring.

In Brooklyn, he has three stars that have never won a title, and are coming together to try to make it happen.

"After the ring" are the only three words in Dwight Howard's Twitter biography.

If he is serious about being an NBA champion, BK is the most logical fit for D12.

The Nets' acquisition of Johnson fills out a stellar backcourt alongside Williams. The price to get Johnson though, sacrificed most of the depth the Nets had.

With Johnson being the only significant addition to last year's Nets roster, does the team improve their win total by 13 games?

Absolutely not. It's not even a discussion. They still may not even make the playoffs.

The 13 games is how many the Nets finished behind the eighth seeded Philadelphia 76ers for the final playoff spot in 2011-12.

Do the Nets improve by 13 games with Johnson and Howard, and give all the stud players involved a much better chance at that elusive first NBA championship?

Now we're talking.