Report: Knicks Considering Trade For Dwight Howard
ORLANDO, Fla. (CBSMiami) – Business may be about to pick up in a big way for the Orlando Magic and center Dwight Howard.
According to multiple reports, the Orlando Magic have talked with the New York Knicks about a possible trade that would send Howard to the Knicks in exchange for Knicks power forward Amar'e Stoudemire and center Tyson Chandler.
For the Magic, they must make a quick decision on Howard. If he will not re-sign with the team long-term, and he's given no indication he will; then the Magic have to trade him to get some pieces rather than losing him for nothing once free agency starts.
On the other hand, the Knicks spent a lot of resources trying to secure a lineup that includes Carmelo Anthony, Chandler and Stoudemire.
The Knicks gave Stoudemire a max contract to get him to New York and then gave up half the franchise to get Anthony into a Knicks uniform.
The Knicks used their one-time amnesty clause in the offseason to sign Chandler in order to fortify the middle of its defense.
But, the Knicks have struggled mightily to start the season. The Knicks are currently in third place in the Atlantic Division and on the outside looking in from the playoffs race.
The problem for the Knicks has been the ball will stop offensively with either Stoudemire or Anthony.
Carmelo has been the primary issue as the ball stops rotating once he gets the ball and he moves into more of an isolation type-mode and eventually shoots the ball.
If the Knicks did pull the trigger and trade for Howard, it would give the team the most notable big man since Patrick Ewing was manning the middle in the 1980's and 1990's.
Howard averages 21 points and 16 rebounds per game this season along with 2.4 blocks.
Last season, New York traded Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, the team's 2014 first-round pick, a Warriors 2012 second-round pick, and a 2013 Warriors second-pick along with $3 million in cash for Anthony.
If the trade went through, the Knicks would have a gaping hole at power forward with the likes of Josh Harrellson, Jared Jeffries, Jerome Jordan, and Steve Novak to man the power forward position.
The team is also still banking on Baron Davis being a major contributor down the stretch, which given his injury history is a major gamble.
But, the pressure is on the Knicks to right the ship in a hurry and bringing in Howard might be the catalyst that owners need to hire former Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls head coach Phil Jackson out of retirement.
Jackson is a former Knicks player and has said recently the possibility of coaching the Knicks is intriguing.
