Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Why Rockets' Offer Is the Obvious Choice for Magic

The past few days have been hyperactive for the Houston Rockets as they stepped up their efforts to acquire disgruntled Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to seemingly disproportionate levels. 

First, it was the surprise amnestying of productive power forward Luis Scola.  And then came word from ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Chad Ford that Rockets general manager Daryl Morey had reformulated his already sweet offer for Howard.

The reported deal has Houston acquiring Howard, along with taking a combination of the Glen Davis, Hedo Turkoglu, Chris Duhon and Jason Richardson sunk cost quadrangle.

In exchange, Houston would ship out Kevin Martin, Patrick Patterson, Marcus Morris and Chandler Parsons for salary cap purposes.  The Rockets are also dangling multiple first-round picks, including the guaranteed lottery selection the team acquired from the Toronto Raptors in the Kyle Lowry deal, along with at least one of their three first-round picks from June's draft.

Prior to this development, it seemed that the Los Angeles Lakers' offer built around 24-year-old center Andrew Bynum was the overwhelming favorite for a two-team swap, with either the Cleveland Cavaliers or Rockets coming in as a third team if Orlando didn't want to keep Bynum.

But Cleveland's involvement reportedly has "no merit," leaving the Rockets as the only suitor left. And if I'm Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, I jump on the Rockets' new offer for Howard. Here's why:

1.  Orlando Gets a Straightforward Way Out of Cap Purgatory

The Lakers' acquisition of Steve Nash destroyed any chance of Orlando pawning a bad contract off on Los Angeles in the theoretical Bynum-for-Howard deal, so there would be no cap relief headed the Magic's way.  

That would be fine if the Magic and Bynum could agree to a long-term extension, but the center has given no indication he would sign an extension in Orlando if that deal goes through.

The only way shipping Howard to Los Angeles makes sense is if you involve a third team in talks, and there aren't many teams willing to take on the aforementioned sunk cost quadrangle.

Houston is ready, willing and unafraid of Howard's expiring deal.  The Rockets' deal provides the most clean-cut way to start anew without having to involve three or even four different teams.

2.  Howard-to-Houston Exacts a Little Revenge on the Center

It's no secret that Howard has basically held the entire Magic franchise hostage for over a year now, and it's also no secret that the center would prefer to play for exactly one franchise—the Brooklyn Nets.

That's no longer an option after the team re-signed Brook Lopez to a maximum contract, but the fact remains that Howard has no interest in Houston.  Almost the entire reason we're in year two of this fiasco is D12's trepidation to play for the Rockets, according to a report by Clutchfans.net.

Shipping Howard to Houston could be the perfect revenge for the angst the Orlando Magic organization and its fans have suffered at their superstar's hands.

3.  It's Time to Rebuild, Not Reload

Orlando doesn't need a singular force propping up an overpaid and underperforming supporting cast anymore.

Even if Bynum would agree to a contract extension with the Magic, he would, quite frankly, just be serving as Howard Lite.  The team would scrape by, making the playoffs as a No. 6 seed, only to get bounced in the first round.

Houston's offer brings in young talent and allows the wunderkind Hennigan to apply the teachings of Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti to the Magic franchise.  

And, most importantly, we finally get an endpoint to this unneeded and frustrating spectacle. 

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