NBA Trade Speculation: Dwight Howard to Cleveland Cavaliers a Possibility?

Dwight Howard will not be in an Orlando Magic uniform next season.

Whether they do the smart thing and trade him or watch him walk away for nothing in free agency, Howard's days in Orlando are quickly coming to an end. The Magic are too old and have too many bad contracts to make a move to acquire another star to make a run in the East.

With that being said, the Lakers and Nets seem to be popular landing sports for Howard.  Chicago, Boston and Atlanta remain strong possibilities as well.

No ones mentioned the Cavaliers, because they don't have near enough to offer for Dwight's services, right?

I say wrong.

Let's start with what the Magic would want in return.

Obviously they would look for young talent to bring in and build around.  The Cavaliers would refuse to trade Kyrie Irving, but everyone else should be fair game.

A package beginning with fourth overall pick Tristan Thompson and third year player Omri Casspi would be a nice start, but still far from enough.

What about salary relief?  The Magic would want to package either Gilbert Arenas or Hedo Turkoglu and their baffling-bad deals along with Howard. 

The Cavaliers could send Antawn Jamison and his $15 million expiring deal to Orlando, and also include Baron Davis and the two years left on his deal for the three on Arenas's contract.

Orlando, receiving two nice young players, an expiring $15 million and getting rid of Arenas might be tempted, but would likely still refuse the deal.

Cleveland's first round pick in 2012 should seal the deal.

A final trade scenario would look something like this:

Cleveland gets: Dwight Howard, Gilbert Arenas

Orlando gets: Tristan Thompson, Omri Casspi, Antawn Jamison, Baron Davis, 2012 first round pick.

The pick would likely be a top five, netting the Magic a player like Harrison Barnes or Austin Rivers to build their franchise around.

The Cavs would now have a core of Kyrie Irving and Dwight Howard for the future while still maintaining players like Ramon Sessions, Anderson Varejao, Daniel Gibson and Christian Eyenga with whatever they can get out of Arenas.

Is this trade a possibility?  Certainly.

Should it happen?  Absolutely not.

As tempting as acquiring a player like Howard would be, the Cavs would be wise not to do it.

The 2012 first round pick is the key to their future as an organization, and would have to be given up in any deal for Dwight.

Sacrificing two possible long term starters in Casspi and Thompson would cripple the team as well, not to mention taking on the three years and $60 million Arenas is still owed.

Also, a team with Irving and Howard would definitely be in the playoffs, but likely wouldn't be able to surpass Chicago or Miami for top spot in the East. Since the 2012 first rounder and two young starters were traded, it would be tough to improve the team much from that point on.

Like the Magic in recent years, the Cavaliers would now be stuck.

Howard would also be less inclined to sign an extension with the Cavs when teams like Boston and New Jersey should have the cap space necessary to sign him.

Cleveland would be wise to keep the 2012 pick along with Thompson and Casspi, and bring in one of the many talented players in next years draft to build around.

Dwight Howard to Cleveland possible?

I say yes, although ultimately a bad deal for the Cavaliers to make.