Sooner or later, you knew the Dwight Howard trade talk would resurface. And Yahoo! Sports reports that two new teams have entered the fray to potentially execute a deal that would get the disgruntled all-star center out of Orlando and to the Los Angeles Lakers.
According to the website, the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers have been in discussions with the Lakers and Magic about a four-team blockbuster deal would drastically alter all teams involved.
Talks have taken place this week and have “grown serious,” Yahoo! reported, citing league sources, although a trade is not considered imminent.
Here’s the reported proposal, according to the website: Andrew Bynum, the all-star center who is up for a new contract but has not yet received one from the Lakers, and Pau Gasol, who is playing for Spain in the London Olympics, would be traded from L.A. Howard and Denver forward Al Harrington would join the Lakers; Philadelphia all-star swingman Andre Iguodala, who is playing well for Team USA in London, would be shipped to Denver.
Bynum would end up with the 76ers and Gasol and Nuggets guard Arron Affalo would be moved to Orlando.
The proposed scenario also includes the Magic receiving draft picks and salary-cap relief, the sources told Yahoo.
A source familiar with the discussions characterized the proposed trade as a “rehashed rumor” to ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Near the end of July, Howard met with Magic general manager Rob Hennigan and reiterated that he still wants to be traded, and if he isn’t will leave the team as a free agent after next season.
The Lakers’ position on Howard has remained relatively unchanged for the past few months, league sources familiar with the situation have told ESPNLosAngeles.com. The Lakers always have been willing to trade for Howard without assurances he’d re-sign with them after the season, believing that once Howard experienced a championship culture he would want to stay.
