Pay a king's ransom to get Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET NBA Trade Deadline? Wait until this summer when Howard, the superstar center, can be a free agent and hope to win what is sure to be a very expensive bidding war?
That is the choice facing the New Jersey Nets this week. ESPN's Chris Broussard reports tha the Nets want to make the trade now rather than gamble on winning the bidding war later. Broussard says the Nets would "rather trade for Howard this week and have the security of knowing he's a Net, even if it means losing some of their good young pieces and draft picks."
The Nets would likely have to include rookie guard MarShon Brooks and young center Brook Lopez, as well as draft picks, to make a deal happen. Broussard also indicated the Nets are trying to entice a third team into the deal to sweeten the offer to Orlando.
The Nets, who are moving to Brooklyn next season, have pretty much thrown all their eggs into the Howard basket. If they don't land Howard they probably lose point guard Deron Williams to free agency as well, leaving them without a competitive team as they start over in Brooklyn.