Despite earlier reports that Dwight Howard "blew it in March" when he waived his opt-out clause with the Orlando Magic and that the Brooklyn Nets were no longer pursuing a trade for the superstar center, at least one NBA insider thinks a deal could still happen this summer.
Chris Sheridan reported Monday evening that the Nets "remain very much in the hunt" for Howard.Wrote Sheridan:
The goal is to have a Big Three of Deron Williams, Dwight Howard and Johnson, and it remains doable if the Magic are willing to play ball, a league source tells SheridanHoops.com.
Orlando would have to accept a package of Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, Gerald Wallace, MarShon Brooks and multiple future first-round draft picks, and the Howard deal would take the form of a massive sign-and-trade.
Howard, of course, has been insistent that the Nets are the only team with whom he will sign a long-term contract. Since Howard waived his opt out, however, the Magic will have to "play ball" to make it happen. Unless suitors like the Houston Rockets and Dallas Mavericks back out of the Howard sweepstakes, Orlando certainly does not have to cave to Howard's wishes.
If the Magic do, however, pairing Howard, Williams and Johnson would be a dream scenario for the Nets as they move into the new Barclays Center and start a new chapter of their franchise history in Brooklyn.