Report: Blockbuster Trade Taking Shape For Dwight Howard
ORLANDO (CBSMiami) – It appears that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard may finally be getting his ticket to the Brooklyn Nets after all.
According to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski, Orlando would send Howard, Jason Richardson, and Earl Clark to Brooklyn in exchange for Brook Lopez, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Luke Walton and three or four 1st round picks.
Additionally, the Cleveland Cavaliers would receive Orlando's Quentin Richardson, Brooklyn's Sundiata Gaines, Kris Humphries on a one-year contract, a first-round pick and $3 million from the Nets, according to Wojnarowski.
Brooklyn would then send guard Marshon Brooks to a fourth team to acquire another draft pick to send to the Magic.
The deal would put together a big four in Brooklyn of Deron Williams, Joe Johnson, Gerald Wallace, and Dwight Howard. The Nets would use up almost all of its salary cap on those four players, so any other additions would likely have to be at the veteran minimum.
Howard and Williams would likely sign max contracts to stay with Brooklyn, but that will keep the Nets' salary cap situation a mess in succeeding years as Joe Johnson's mammoth contract will pay him $19.7 million this year, and between $21 and $24.8 million in the next three years.
The deal is described by Wojnarowski as "fluid" with different players and third and fourth teams being discussed at different times.
5 P.M. UPDATE: The Los Angeles Clippers have been approached to be the fourth team in the trade. Under the scenario, Los Angeles woudl receive MarShon Brooks from the Nets and send a lottery-protected first-round pick to the Magic, according to CBSSports' Ken Berger. Clippers management is considering the deal.
