NBA Trade Rumors: Dwight Howard to Nets and Moves You Won't See Coming

The Nets will make an offer that neither Dwight Howard nor the Orlando Magic can refuse. That will set the table for a string of wild personnel moves that helps shape this year's NBA. 

It's been a crazy road to get the NBA back on track. So now that the lockout is over it should only track that it will be a crazy free agency/preseason trading season.

There are plenty of players available in free agency. There are also some big name players, like Howard and Chris Paul, that will be free agents next year. This makes those guys likely trade pieces.

There are several teams that have the right to feel they are close to a championship. This is going to lead some aggressive and surprising moves.

Howard Traded to Nets

This move will happen because the entire Nets franchise depends on it. The Nets made a blockbuster trade to acquire Deron Williams last year with the hope that they could sign him before he opted out of his contract and became a free agent in 2012.

That means everyone on the Nets roster except Williams is fair game. The Nets package will obviously center around Brook Lopez.

Lopez is just 23 years old and he is an All-Star caliber center. He also played in all 82 games last year which makes him a more enticing piece than the highly rumored trade with the Lakers for their oft-injured center Andrew Bynum.

The trade package is also likely to include Anthony Morrow. Morrow is just 26, and one of, if not the best three point shooters in the game.

Howard will have to agree to a long term deal to make this trade come true, and the Nets have enough to offer him to make this happen. 

They have a huge market, and can put him alongside an elite point guard for years to come. This will give Howard an elite team and a big market to call his own.

Arron Afflalo in Sign and Trade to Bulls

The Bulls need a shooting guard. They don't have the cap space to go out and sign an unrestricted free agent like Jamal Crawford or Jason Richardson.

This leaves them looking to the trade market, and that will lead them Afflalo.

Afflalo will be a perfect fit for the Bulls. He is a good defender that moves his feet well, and most importantly he is an adequate scorer, and an excellent spot up shooter.

He average 12.6 points per game last season and shot 42 percent from three-point land.

The Nuggets shooting guard is a restricted free agent, and Denver certainly isn't going to let him walk for nothing. They will match any offer, or trade him if the right package appears.

The Bulls have enough depth that they could put together an enticing package without trading one of their core players.

The trade package would likely center around young center Omer Asik and Ronnie Brewer. Both players would fit in nicely with Denver's team concept and are excellent defensive players. 

This would bolster their depth and give them all kinds of options should they want to pursue another trade.

Chris Paul to Lakers

With Dwight Howard off the market the Lakers aren't just going to sit idly by. They will take the package of Andrew Bynum and Lamar Odom they were offering to the Magic and dangle it in front of the Hornets.

This will be the best offer New Orleans is going to get for the game's premier point guard.

Paul will be exactly what the Lakers need. They have lacked athleticism, quickness, penetration and shooting. Paul brings all of that and then some.

Paul and Bryant will form an all around effective backcourt that is a nightmare on the offensive end, and Paul will excel in a pick and roll game with Gasol.

Paul wants to go to the Knicks. However, the Knicks don't have the pieces to offer in a trade, and the Lakers have more than enough to entice Paul into signing a long term deal in LA.

Nene to the Clippers

The Clippers are in an excellent cap situation. They will use that space to target the prize of this free agent class and add a little front court defensive help for Blake Griffin.

Nene is excellent on pick and roll defense. This will help free up Griffin to focus on grabbing defensive boards, and limit any situations where Griffin was obligated to help off of his man.

Nene would also combine with Griffin to give the Clippers one of the fastest front courts in the league.

This would give the Clippers one of the most complete big men combinations in the league, and greatly enhance the maturation of Griffin.