Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Rockets Are Magic's Best Hope for Quality Deal
To get the best possible return package for superstar center Dwight Howard, the Orlando Magic must make a trade with the Houston Rockets.
On Tuesday, I wrote that the Rockets were wasting their time chasing Howard. However, now that the Brooklyn Nets have decided to keep young center Brook Lopez (per Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld), the Rockets are now the best potential trade partner for Orlando.
"Brook Lopez has re-signed with the Brooklyn Nets, taking them out of the Dwight Howard sweepstakes. Lopez can't be traded until January 15.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 11, 2012"
Here is the latest from Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports:
"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"
Are the Rockets the Magic's best option?
The Los Angeles Lakers might have the best center to offer the Magic in Andrew Bynum, but concerns over the possibility of him not re-signing in Orlando long-term should scare the Magic.
Houston has the ability to offer Orlando a number of players who are under contract for a few more years, whether they are rookies or players with one or two years of experience. The key for the Magic is to acquire players they won't have to pay huge money to right away.
Let's examine the quality players/contracts that the Rockets can send the Magic for Howard.
- Kevin Martin: He is a very talented scorer with an expiring contract worth over $12 million in 2012-13.
- Luis Scola: Underrated power forward with three years left on his contract who can provide a double-double every night.
- Patrick Patterson: Young power forward with enormous potential entering his sophomore season.
- Jeremy Lamb: Rookie guard from UConn with a plethora of skills. He was drafted 12th overall.
- Terrence Jones: Rookie from Kentucky with humongous potential. He was taken 18th overall.
- Royce White: Rookie from Iowa State who is an extremely hard worker at both ends of the floor. He was drafted 16th overall.
- Draft Picks: After acquiring a future first-round pick from the Toronto Raptors in a trade involving guard Kyle Lowry, the Rockets have even more quality assets for a Howard deal.
No team can offer the Magic this many young players who won't be free agents for a few years. All of them are quality players who can not only help the Magic contend this year, but also into the future.
If the Magic want to get the best package of players and draft picks for Howard, then the Rockets seem like the most logical choice for a trade. The only thing Houston cannot offer Orlando is an established young center, but let's face it, there's a lot of teams in the NBA that cannot offer that.
