NBA Trade Rumors: Latest on Dwight Howard Sweepstakes

If you are looking for certainties, you need not bother yourself with the curious case of Dwight Howard. Now, if you want some hot rumors mixed with imaginative possibilities, you have come to the right place. 

The world is abuzz with just two things right now. One is a superstar with knee issues who wants to play with his buddies in New York or with a contender for a boatload of cash and praise. That would be Chris Paul. 

The other happens to be the better bet to come out of this winter as the real prize for whoever gets him. This is the man who is truly a Superman of efficiency, consistency and durability. I may even lump him in as a T-1000 or some other fictional indestructible force. 

Here is what we know as a certainty. Howard is a member of the Orlando Magic, and the big man welcomes that notion, at the very least in the short term. 

David Baumann of the Bright House Sports Network has some delightful information if you are a Magic fan. Sources tell Baumann that there is hope for the Magic to hold onto the All-Star center for the long term. There is, of course, a mighty big if involved. 

Baumann writes the following: 

"

Howard's hope is for Magic President Otis Smith to "hit a home run" via trade and acquire another NBA superstar, most notably Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets. Monta Ellis of the Golden State Warriors was another name also mentioned.  The source wished to remain anonymous. 

"

That is a great notion, but you can't expect the Magic to pull off a David Blain-like trick in securing Chris Paul for a roster already loaded with horrible contracts. 

They turned this roster over once in the hopes of keeping Howard in Orlando. You just can't expect it to happen once again, especially with Paul's market quickly coming to a close. 

So what does Howard think about all this? Well you wouldn't expect the affable athlete to treat it seriously with the masses. Here is a hilarious take on the situation in tweet form:

That might be a joke for the fans, but it is nothing but business behind closed doors. It seems Howard has finally spoken with GM Otis Smith behind closed doors and the message is just as we thought. Howard wants to stay...if. 

Bill Ingram, writing for Hoopsworld, reports the two have met and there was at least a modicum of love in the air. 

Ingram writes the following: 

"

...the league’s best center by far still very much wants to be in Orlando, and he is willing to give them every opportunity to keep him. What that means to Dwight is that he wants the Magic to be contenders...Orlando has a short list of players they would like to add in an effort to return to contention. Atlanta’s Josh Smith, Philadelphia’s Andre Iguodala and Golden State’s Monta Ellis are on that list.

"

What this means is that Smith is going to be a busy hombre for the next couple weeks. Don't look for Howard to be dealt anytime soon. 

He has essentially given them a promise to stay in Orlando if they try their damnedest to make this team a shade better. I have every confidence that Smith will try, but also have every confidence he will fail. 

I just don't see the money or parts to make these acquisitions happen. So you have Howard in Orlando. At least for the short term. 

Something tells me he will be pulling his talents from Florida by next summer's end.