The Dwight Howard trade drama continues to drag on, now with the Atlanta Hawks – his hometown team – trying to get into the mix.
Sources said the Hawks are “not the best option,” but the Magic have to consider them and others as the look to move the all-star center. Meanwhile, the Nets, according to ESPNewYork.com, are growing weary of the Magic’s indecision and will pull out of discussions if a deal is not reached by Wednesday.
The Nets have been trying to acquire the Magic’s star center but need other teams to help facilitate the blockbuster trade. Sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Nets and Magic were cautiously optimistic that the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Ciippers would help them facilitate a four-way trade to send Howard to Brooklyn.
In that proposed trade, according to sources, the Nets would receive Howard, the Nets would receive Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark n the proposed deal. The Magic would get Brook Lopez, Luke Walton Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson and three first-round draft picks — two from the Nets and a lottery-protected first from the Clippers. The Cavs would get Kris Humphries, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines and a first-round pick from the Nets and $3 million in cash. The Clippers would receive MarShon Brooks.
However, Yahoo! Sports reported today that the Cavaliers dropped out as a potential team in the trade talks. The website also reported that if the Nets were to acquire Howard, it likely would have to be in a trade between Brooklyn and the Magic, with no other teams involved.
One source told ESPNNewYork.com’s today that the Nets will be ready to move on from their pursuit of Howard if they can’t agree on trade with the Magic by Wednesday.
If the Nets and Magic try to rekindle a mult-team trade proposal, league sources told ESPN.com on Monday that the Charlotte Bobcatscould be a potential trade partner in a Howard to the Nets trade, as well.
Further hurdles exist, however, in that Lopez, Humphries, James, Williams, Johnson and Gaines would all have to agree to sign-and-trades to move them.
As part of their due diligence, the Nets and Magic have exchanged medical information on Howard, who had back surgery, and Lopez, who had foot surgery, sources said.
It had been previously reported that Humphries’ agent, Dan Fegan, is still trying to convince Humphries to settle for a deal that will be guaranteed for just a year. But Fegan refuted those reports Tuesday.
“I haven’t spoken to any teams about a one-year deal for Kris,” said Fegan, who also represents Howard. “Period. End of story.”
