NBA Rumors: Orlando Magic Must Trade for Chris Paul to Keep Dwight Howard

The Orlando Magic want to keep Dwight Howard, and according to a report from BHSN, he prefers to stay with them. This means the Magic must make a strong move for the one player who would have enough impact on the team to convince him that Orlando is his best chance to win. That player is Chris Paul.

Paul and Howard are friends, and it would appear the acquisition of CP3 would be enough to sway Howard to stay. The move would probably have to be accompanied with the club using the amnesty option on either Hedo Turkoglu or Gilbert Arenas.

Arenas would seem like the best option for the amnesty clause, as Turkoglu's spot-up shooting could be valuable with Paul and Howard. It must be refreshing for Magic fans to hear that D-12 is at least open to returning, which does not appear to be the case with Paul in New Orleans.

If Paul is primarily interested in winning, he has to be open to joining the Magic. New York, his likely first choice, seems nearly impossible from a trade standpoint, though he could apply pressure by saying he will only sign there. That would force the Hornets to either have him rot in New Orleans for the remainder of the year and sign with the Knicks as a free agent, or take the terrible trade assets the Knicks have to offer.

Jameer Nelson, JJ Redick and Brandon Bass are a much better package than anything the Knicks could offer. Plus, none are under contract past 2012-13. 

This is the one trade possibility that could help everyone involved.