NBA Trade Speculation: 10 Teams That Can Make Legit Offers for Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard: The most (only?) dominant big man in the league right now. Will he be traded, stay with Orlando or leave in free agency?

If Orlando is convinced that they will lose him, they should trade him to avoid a LeBron situation. Otherwise, they would be crazy to move him.

Here are 10 teams that can make legit offers if it comes to that. There are three basic requirements:

1. Decent trade pieces. Orlando actually has to say yes, so it has to be a somewhat reasonable deal.

2. There still needs to be a decent supporting cast. There would be no reason to leave Orlando for a bad team.

3. It has to be an okay market. It doesn't have to be a huge one, but cities like Sacramento, Minnesota and Milwaukee were not included.

10. Golden State Warriors

Trade Offer: Monta Ellis, Ekpe Udoh, Dorell Wright, Klay Thompson, Jeremy Tyler, Louis Amundson, Charlie Bell, 2014 first-round pick for Howard, Hedo Turkoglu, and Quentin Richardson.

The Magic get three decent young pieces for the rebuild in Thompson, Tyler, Wright and Udoh. Ellis would either be sent to a third team or traded later. A rebuilding team wouldn't be a good situation for Ellis in his prime.

Amundson and Bell are just expiring contracts to make the money work.

Supporting Cast

Stephen Curry would play an excellent Robin to Howard. Imagine the pick-and-roll plays.

David Lee would round out their trio. Howard would make up for Lee's lack of defensive prowess, while Lee could space the floor a bit. Reggie Williams would likely be in the starting lineup as well.

As will be a recurring theme here, Turkoglu and Richardson are part of the deal to save Orlando money. They can all contribute though.

9. Los Angeles Lakers

Trade Offer: Andrew Bynum, Lamar Odom, Derek Fisher, Devin Ebanks, Matt Barnes, Darius Morris, future picks for Howard, Gilbert Arenas and Chris Duhon.

The Magic get rid of the troublesome Arenas contract (and the smaller but still bad Duhon contract). Bynum is potentially the second-best center in the league. Fisher, Barnes and Odom are included primarily for their contracts, though Odom could land some good pieces in a deal with another team.

Ebanks and Morris are young players, though neither is expected to do any more than play a role.

There is a significant risk that Bynum will suffer more injuries. Also, Orlando may not want to send the best center in the league to the Lakers—again.

Supporting Cast:

Howard and Pau Gasol would be a great post tandem. They would also be accompanied by a solid role player on the wing named Kobe Bryant.

8. Chicago Bulls

Trade Offer: Joakim Noah, Luol Deng, Omer Asik, Ronnie Brewer, C.J. Watson, 2012 pick, conditional first-round pick (CHA) for Howard, Turkoglu, Duhon and Richardson.

This trade may include some of the highest quality players of any other potential trades. What keeps it from being higher is that the players are more suited for role-play on a contending team.

However, Noah is a talented young center, which is hard to find. Same with Asik, on a smaller level. Deng's value would probably be maximized if he were sent to another team.

Supporting Cast:

Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard would be a great pick-and-roll duo if Rose's three-point shooting continues to improve. Howard has reportedly wanted to play with Carlos Boozer as well.

Taj Gibson provides a little big-man depth. The rest would primarily be three-point shooters to spread the floor.

Imagine coach T's defense with Howard at his disposal.

7. Portland Trail Blazers

Trade Offer: Nicolas Batum, Greg Oden, Marcus Camby, Chris Johnson, Armon Johnson, Elliot Williams, rights to Victor Claver and Joel Freeland, future picks for Howard, Turkoglu and Duhon.

Nicolas Batum would be a potentially big part of the rebuild with his high ceiling. Like Bynum (though way less proven) Oden could potentially be the second-best center in the league if he's healthy.

Williams and the Johnsons haven't proven much, but have intriguing talent. Freeland and Claver look to be legit NBA players, currently playing in Spain.

Camby is an expiring contract and might be re-directed to another team or retire. This deal is kept from being higher on the list by the amount of question marks with and Portland's inability to trade their 2012 first-round pick.

Supporting Cast:

Howard and LaMarcus Aldridge would be the best twin towers since Duncan-Robinson. Add Gerald Wallace and that may be the most intimidating defensive frontcourt ever.

Raymond Felton and Wesley Matthews, plus whatever Brandon Roy can provide, would be more than adequate guard-play.

6. New Jersey Nets

Trade Offer: Brook Lopez, Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Johan Petro, Damion James, Stephen Graham, MarShon Brooks, Bojan Bogdanovic, 2012 conditional pick (HOU) and future first-round pick for Howard and Arenas.

Lopez is the best part of this package. He doesn't replace Howard by any means, but is probably a top 10 center. Morrow and Farmar are good young role-players. James, Brooks and Bogdanovic are young question marks.

The Nets' ability, and likely willingness, to absorb Gilbert Arenas helps a lot. Their cap-space means the Magic get instant savings, which is important because they will want to be under the luxury tax without Howard.

Supporting Cast:

Deron Williams and Howard would be a great combo. After that the cupboards are pretty bare—Travis Outlaw and potentially Kris Humphries would be their best supporting players.

They would be in a Knick-like position of mortgaging all their supporting talent for a star and would have to fill out the roster with veterans.

But with those two stars the team would be a legit contender—even if I was the starting shooting guard.

5. Houston Rockets

Trade Offer: Luis Scola, Kyle Lowry, Chase Budinger, Courtney Lee, Hasheem Thabeet, Jordan Hill, Marcus Morris, Donatas Motiejunas, 2012 pick (NY), future picks for Howard, Duhon, Turkoglu and Richardson.

This offer comes with some of the most talent and biggest question marks.

Scola is another player that would likely be sent to another team. Lowry may have a second-straight breakout season and become a top 15 point guard in this scenario.

Budinger and Lee have proven their talent. They aren't stars, but are definitely good players. Thabeet is still very raw and unproven, but is young and very tall. Hill is a role player and may be a starter.

Morris and Motiejunas are obviously questions since they haven't played. But their talent is plain to see. Orlando would have a good supporting cast in place if they could draft a star.

Supporting Cast:

Kevin Martin would be a great second fiddle to Howard. Goran Dragic, Patrick Patterson and Chuck Hayes would be among the remaining role players.

Dwight could spend a lot of time with Hakeem Olajuwon here. Maybe Yao would even come help with his free throws.

4. Atlanta Hawks

Trade Offer: Al Horford, Josh Smith, Jeff Teague, Zaza Pachulia, Pape Sy, picks for Howard, Turkoglu, Duhon, Richardson and Ryan Anderson.

Horford is a great building block. Smith is also a borderline All-Star who might make fans miss Howard less with his dunks. Jeff Teague is a talented young point who is probably ready to start.

This offer contains a lot of talent. The red flags for Orlando would be trading Howard to a division rival and that the amount of talent might put them in the no-man's land of mediocrity.

Supporting Cast:

Joe Johnson would be Howard's running mate on the wings. Kirk Hinrich, Jamal Crawford (if re-signed), Marvin Williams and the complement of Orlando players would provide the needed support.

The starting lineup would be a good fit for Howard.

Everyone else can hit threes. Hinrich is unselfish and plays good defense. Johnson can create his own shots and is a solid passer and defender. Williams is an underrated perimeter defender.

3. Memphis Grizzlies

Trade Offer: Marc Gasol*, Rudy Gay, Xavier Henry, Sam Young, Greivis Vasquez, Josh Selby for Howard, Turkoglu, Duhon and Richardson.

Rudy Gay would be a star for Orlando. Marc Gasol is likely a top 10 center and is still pretty young. Those two alone are a pretty good return if Orlando's hand is forced.

Henry, Young and Vasquez are nice young players. Selby is a talented rookie.

Supporting Cast:

Zach Randolph and Howard clearly love each other ( see above). Good luck getting a rebound against that dominant low-post tandem.

Mike Conley, O.J. Mayo and Tony Allen, all good players, would remain. Shane Battier would be a good re-sign for this team.

This is a good return for Orlando and a dominant supporting cast. Memphis almost didn't make the cut though, because of their market. 

2. Los Angeles Clippers

Trade Offer: DeAndre Jordan*, Erik Bledsoe, Al-Farouq Aminu, Randy Foye, Ryan Gomes, and 2012 first-round pick (MIN) for Howard and Turkoglu.

Jordan is a very nice young center, with great athleticism and potential. Aminu and Bledsoe are good prospects coming off their rookie seasons. Foye and Gomes are role players that make the salaries work.

But the huge piece in here is the Timberwolves' unprotected 2012 pick. With that pick and the loss of Howard, the Magic would almost certainly have two top 10 picks, and very likely two top five, in the great 2012 draft class.

That is the best chance for them to land a new star in the draft.

With the three young players coming over, plus two high picks, the Magic would have a great core for their re-build.

Supporting Cast:

C Howard

PF Blake Griffin

SF Turkoglu/Free Agent

SG Eric Gordon

PG Mo Williams

Tell me that's not a lineup you'd go to battle with.

Griffin and Howard in the post is tantalizing enough. Add sweet shooters, budding star Gordon and LeBron's former Robin, Mo Williams, and that is a fantastic lineup. Chris Kaman would back up Howard and Griffin.

1. Oklahoma City Thunder

Trade Offer: Russell Westbrook, Kendrick Perkins, Thabo Sefolosha, Nate Robinson, Nazr Mohammed, Cole Aldrich, Royal Ivey, Byron Mullens, rights to Reggie Jackson and Tibor Pleiss, 2012 pick for Howard, Turkoglu, Duhon and Richardson.

This offer is a little ridiculous because of the sheer size.

The obvious headliner to this deal is Westbrook. After making the All-Star Game and NBA second team, he is a proven star.

Perkins and Sefolosha are great role players with trade value. Another team could be involved or the Magic could trade them later.

Mohammed, Ivey and Robinson are just expiring contracts. Robinson is a crowd-pleaser though, which would help post-Howard.

The young Aldrich, Mullens, Jackson and Pleiss have varying degrees of promise.

Supporting Cast:

The Thunder will be glad to finally get a backup for Kevin Durant (Turkoglu), along with the throw-ins.

Seriously though, adding the dominant Howard to the already potent OKC team would be dynamite.

Taking the ball in against Dwight Howard and Serge Ibaka would be about as appealing as letting Michael Beasley babysit your kids.

Kevin Durant, Howard's co-Batman, plus James Harden and Eric Maynor would round out an explosive and young starting lineup. And the Thunder are perhaps the only team that could trade more than half of their roster and still be a deep team.

They would be the favorites, even over the Heat, for years to come.

Notes

These trades are dependent on the new CBA. There may be provisions making it easier to keep your star player or change trade rules.

Greg Oden, Marc Gasol and DeAndre Jordan would all have to either be signed and traded (if that's still allowed under said CBA) or traded later after they are re-signed.

Their salary numbers were estimated as such:

Oden $8.8 million (qualifying offer amount).

Gasol $11 million.

Jordan $8 million.