NBA Trade Rumors: Separating Fact from Fiction with Latest Dwight Howard Buzz

Dwight Howard is still in the news as the Orlando Magic continue to look for a viable trading partner. 

Rumors are flying left and right, but you shouldn't believe everything you read, see or hear. 

That's where I come in, as I'll be dissecting the biggest buzz surrounding D12 and telling you whether the rumor is a solid fact or pure fiction. 

Let's see what kind of stuff the mill is generating right now. 

We're Dealing with a Mega-Trade That Will Involve Multiple Teams

Throughout the last few days, we've been dealing with constant rumors that a mega-trade is going to happen—one that will involve at least three or four teams. 

Teams are dropping out and joining the action left and right, leaving us with what will eventually be a trade that benefits and somehow involves all 30 teams in the NBA. 

However, that's not going to happen. Well, obviously the 30-team trade isn't going to, but I'm talking about even a three-team trade here. 

The Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets have been two of the primary contenders for Dwight Howard throughout the process, and Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reports that both are now looking at two-team trades between themselves and the Orlando Magic: 

"

If Brooklyn and Orlando are to make a deal for Howard in near-term, it will likely be a trade between the two teams, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 10, 2012"

"

Rockets remain strongly engaged w/ Orlando in direct talks for Dwight Howard, sources tell Y! They've spent little time on 3-way scenarios.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 11, 2012"

It's hard to find a more reliable source in the business. While there's still a strong possibility that a multi-team deal is the primary route, the two-team swaps are now the favorites.

Verdict: Fiction

Brooklyn Nets Will Get Dwight Howard

Even though they've been perceived as the favorites to land Dwight Howard for what seems like years now, the Brooklyn Nets are no closer to actually acquiring Dwight Howard than they were months ago. 

Now, the Nets are close to signing Brook Lopez to a maximum contract, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. 

The 7'0" restricted free agent will be inking a contract that's either for four years and $58 million or five years and $78 million. 

The main reason this is significant is that it drops the Nets out of the running for Howard, at least for the time being. Lopez can't be traded until December if he signs the deal. 

Brooklyn has to be running out of patience, and something tells me they sign Lopez to the deal quite soon.  

Verdict: Fiction

Los Angeles Lakers Still Have a Chance at Dwight Howard

If there's going to be a multi-team trade in the works, it's going to be one that involves the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston Rockets and Orlando Magic.

HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy reports that a deal is being discussed by the three teams and would send Andrew Bynum to the Rockets, Dwight Howard to the Lakers and "a number of first-round picks, prospects and significant cap relief to the Magic."

Now here's a trade that makes (almost) perfect sense. 

The Lakers get the center they've been coveting. The Rockets get a center they've been coveting. The Magic get the rebuilding pieces they've been coveting. 

The (almost) is there because there's still no guarantee that Howard would sign an extension with L.A., thus holding everything up.  

Verdict: Fact

Atlanta Hawks Are Dark-Horse Contenders for Dwight

Danny Ferry may not be done making noise with the team he recently took charge of quite yet. 

After trading away Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams for some spare change and cap relief, he's signed Lou Williams to a deal and may be inserting the Atlanta Hawks back into the running for Dwight Howard. 

The deal would likely involve sending away Al Horford, Jeff Teague and some draft picks to acquire Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic. 

Atlanta would be counting on the fact that Dwight's hometown is Atlanta and he is friends with both Anthony Morrow and Josh Smith. If those things are enough to get him to sign an extension, the deal would be worth it. 

Don't knock the Hawks out of the running quite yet. After all, ESPN's Marc Stein reports that they still have belief they can be the team to land the drama-inspiring center: 

"

Hawks, I'm told, still think they're alive in Dwight trade chase. With plenty of pieces to offer and Josh Smith to lobby Howard to stay

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 11, 2012"

Remembering that the rumor in the title is that the Hawks are dark-horse contenders for Dwight, here's the verdict.  

Verdict: Fact