NBA Trade Rumors: Is Josh Howard on His Way to the Toronto Raptors?

While the Dallas Mavericks' management continues to deny rumors of an impending Josh Howard trade, it appears almost no one believes them any more. Including the "tradee," Josh Howard.

Multiple sources are now linking the former all-star Maverick wing with the Toronto Raptors, and Howard's "confidants" are saying he expects to end up in Toronto or Miami according to Mike Fisher of Dallas Basketball.com.  Of course, Dallas management is denying this and Howard refuses to comment, but when NBA insider Art Garcia at NBA.com confirms that Toronto and Sacramento are the most current possible trading partners, something is definitely up.

Josh Howard came into this season off ankle and wrist surgeries, having missed 30 games last season, and missed almost half the contests this year. And this season has been Howard's worst since his rookie year resulting in Howard coming off the bench for 20 of his 27 games thus far.

But pre-injury, Howard was good for 18-20 points, 5-7 boards, a couple of assists, a steal, and half a block off the wing. A decent shooter and good defender who earned a spot as a reserve on the 2007 All-Star team.

As much as Dallas may crave the idea of the Toronto Raptors Chris Bosh joining their team, it has become well known and accepted that the Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo will not be moving his All-Star during the season, if at all.

So just what players could the Dallas Mavericks be searching for to bolster their line-up?

Strangely, with Josh Howard coming off the bench instead of Jason Terry, the Mavericks need help at shooting guard. And while Jason Kidd is still putting up some decent numbers, the soon to be 37-year-old point guard isn't as fast as he used to be, and JJ Barea is putting up some pedestrian numbers despite playing about six extra minutes per game with Kidd. Perhaps the Mavericks are looking for a point guard to help lighten the load on Kidd?

Unless, of course, the Mavericks are looking to upgrade the production they are getting from Dampier and Gooden?

A deal with the Raptors doesn't appear to make sense on the surface. The only "extra" players the Raptors may have to deal is their "spare" starting point guard and one of their "surplus" shooting guards. 

The only big men likely available on the Raptors are Rasho Nesterovic and Reggie Evans, neither of whom should be able to help the Mavericks.

Point guard, Jose Calderon, and shooting guard, Marco Belinelli, would match up in salaries if the Raptors GM believes Howard's current problems can be resolved by a change of scenery. But is that enough to pry loose the former all-star?

Calderon is a great shooter and has been a 40/50/90 from three, the field, and the line in the last two seasons. But Calderon had his own injury issues last year and his performance is down this season. Plus Calderon has three more years and about $29 million left on his deal. And Belinelli is a young, aggressive back-up wing who shoots the same from three as the field, his major attraction for Dallas might be his cheap contract and his ability to be disruptive on the floor.

One thing is certain, Dallas has never been afraid to add salary commitments in their attempts to compete for a championship. If Dallas has decided to move Josh Howard, it is extremely likely to be done.

And if Mike Fisher's sources are on the mark, that move could surprisingly be to Toronto.