NBA Trade Rumors: Why Dwight Howard to the New Jersey Nets Will Never Happen

There have been a lot of trade rumors involving Dwight Howard coming to the New Jersey Nets, and fans of the team are getting excited about what the future might hold.

ESPN's Marc Stein reported that the team was preparing a "trade package featuring Brook Lopez" in exchange for Howard, and the offer would additionally include two future first-round picks to the Magic.

Let's slam the brakes on that scenario coming to fruition.

First and foremost: That deal is nowhere near enough in return for Howard.

Some might not comprehend just how talented a player Orlando's big man is, as there's no doubt that he's a once-in-a-generation type of player.

Howard has the chance to go down in history as one of the most physically dominant athletes to ever play, and the impact he has on the other players around him is unlike any other center currently in the game.

The three-time reigning Defensive Player of the Year is not a player who hits the trade market every season, and the Nets will be laughed off the phone if the team presents the Magic with the offer outlined above.

Before Nets fans completely freak out about the improbability that Howard lands with the team, there is certainly some evidence that suggests he'd entertain the idea of playing in New Jersey.

Over the summer, Howard visited Russia and listed both Deron Williams and Anthony Morrow as players he'd like to team up with at some point during his career, and both of those guys are currently employed by the Nets.

The Nets are also moving to Brooklyn next season, and with the Barclays Center set to be the team's new home, Howard would have plenty of exposure as the face of a franchise that will be undertaking a fresh image.

That's all good and fine, but that's the cup-half-full perspective.

There are other much more appealing offers the Magic could potentially receive for Howard than the one the Nets are prepared to present.

With all of the speculation that Howard could eventually wind up in Los Angeles with the Lakers, it is worth noting that it's the Lakers that can present arguably the best offer the Magic could receive.

Los Angeles could very easily offer a package built around Andrew Bynum, and a source "close to Bynum" already holds the belief that the young man will play in Orlando this season.

After Bynum, the Lakers can also offer Pau Gasol and/or Lamar Odom in exchange for Howard, a level of talent in return which would be enough to keep the Magic competitive in the short term while continuing to build for the future.

Lakers fans might scoff at the idea of giving up both Bynum and Gasol in exchange for Howard, but the team has serious salary concerns going forward with their star players.

Gasol collects around $57 million over the next three seasons, and with Kobe Bryant making more than $80 million over that same span, an aging Gasol may not be worth such a sizable investment.

No team—not the Nets or any other franchise—can present an offer as attractive as that one while also appealing to Howard's clear desire to play in a large market where he has a chance to win on a continuous basis.

Howard is no fool. He is well aware that no matter how many personal accolades he collects to his name, his legacy as a player will ultimately be tied to winning at the highest level.

In other words, how many rings does he have in the collection?

The chance for Howard to play alongside Kobe Bryant and in the Los Angeles spotlight is appealing, but he might have some concerns about the inevitable comparisons to Shaquille O'Neal.

But would it be enough for Howard to say no to playing his home games at Staples Center?

It's tough to place that bet.