NBA Free Agent Rumors: Why Nets Must Give Up on Dwight Howard Pipe Dreams

In a matter of days, the Brooklyn Nets have taken a huge step forward with the acquisitions of Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace and Deron Williams.

That's three players who made at least one All-Star team at one time or another, something not a lot of NBA teams can boast.

Going forward, the Nets must forget about adding a fourth All-Star and end their pursuit of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

In a previous article, I outlined a solid Plan B for the Nets, that revolved around having depth with MarShon Brooks, Brook Lopez, Reggie Evans and Mirza Teletovic.

I also felt that Milwaukee Bucks forward Ersan Ilyasova would be a great fit in Brooklyn, giving the Nets a solid eight-man rotation.

Now, Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski suggests that Ilyasova is indeed the Nets' Plan B should they not land Howard in a blockbuster trade. Wojnarowski writes:

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Short of a deal for Howard, the Nets are searching for a third team to take their own free agent, Kris Humphries, as part of a sign-and-trade scenario with the Bucks. The third team would potentially be rewarded with future draft picks from the Nets for taking on Humphries. Milwaukee could end up with a trade exception for future use.

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Nets general manager Billy King should make this his new Plan A and act on it before Ilyasova, who has already been offered  a five-year contract worth nearly $40 million, re-signs with the Bucks.

Trading for Howard means four very good players and next to no depth for not only now, but most of the future as well. The Nets will be in a very bad salary cap situation, and adding to a team that features Howard will be next to impossible.

Also consider the fact that, by adding Howard, the Nets aren't getting a guy that's a proven champion or leader.

He's been a problem in Orlando for over a year and has never, at any point in his career, showed the ability to lead. Sure he's the best big man in the game, but he's also a liability in the fourth quarter at times.

I'm a fan of adding Howard's abilities to any team, but not at the costs of depleting the Nets' roster and putting them in a bad salary cap spot for the next four years.

With a talented roster around him, Lopez will do just fine.

Adding Howard may have been a dream at once, but not all dreams come true, and it's time for King to move on from Howard as the Nets likely could be much more competitive without him.

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