NBA Trade Rumors: Knicks Have the Most to Offer for Dwight Howard

Orlando Magic fans went from denial to complete shock after the announcement that Dwight Howard wants to be traded to the New Jersey Nets. After the shock sets in, Magic fans have to consider the inevitable and move to the next step in the mourning process—acceptance.

Rumors are flying around about Brook Lopez or a combination of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Let’s dismiss the latter rumor, considering LA will not give up both players for Dwight, according to Kevin Ding of the Orange County register. So, let us consider Lopez or Bynum.

Lopez is arguably the second-best center in the league but is a distant second defensively. Bynum has shown flashes of his talent when he does play, but he only averages 50 games per year.

I have another thought on a trade with a team right down the road from the Brooklyn Nets, a team with a storied history and the Madison Square Garden. They are the big market team that Dwight desires, and he’ll get all the attention from the media that he desires. He doesn’t have any buddies on the team, but the New York Knicks will make every effort to bring Chris Paul to New York for Big Three II—Dwight, Carmelo and Chris Paul.

With any trade there comes a return. The New York Post reports that the New York Knicks tried to deal Amare Stoudemire in an effort to obtain New Orleans Hornets point guard Paul. The Hornets have denied that any such proposal has taken place, but what else are they supposed to say?

If Amare’s ego is as fragile as most NBA stars today, he just might want to move on to a team who actually wants him. Let’s say a team in a city that he grew up in like Orlando, where he can be the primary scorer and not have to share the ball with Carmelo.

Include newly-acquired Tyson Chandler and promising rookie guard Iman Shumpert, and the deal could work. With any trade for Dwight, he’d have to bring his luggage, Hedo Turkoglu, with him. Amare’s 25 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, paired with Tyson’s 10 points and nine rebounds, could lessen the blow the Magic would endure from the loss of their franchise center.

Amare would bring the star power that neither Lopez nor Bynum have matched in their career. He’s an exciting, intense player that can score, rebound and block shots. His defense is nowhere near Dwight’s, but whose is?