The web that is the Dwight Howard trade continues to grow as the Cavaliers have apparently backed out of the deal after failing to agree to terms with restricted free agent Kris Humphries. Reports now have the Bobcats or the Timberwolves entering the fray as a third team to help facilitate a deal between the Magic and the Nets for the All-NBA center.
The deal has completely ballooned now and could involve more than 10 players and four teams to get done.
The principle pieces appear to have Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark heading to Brooklyn; Brook Lopez, Damion James, Sheldon Williams and Armon Johnson plus picks heading to Orlando; MarShon Brooks and Quentin Richardson off to the Clippers and Kris Humphries to the Cavaliers or, now, the Bobcats.
Charlotte’s involvement seems to be contingent on Humphries taking a one-year deal. It has been widely reported that Humphries, who shares an agent with Dwight Howard, is looking for a three-year deal.
This trade seems to be getting more and more complicated as the days go on. And pretty soon Brooklyn has said it would like to shelve the idea and move on with building its team. Orlando, again, seems to be in no hurry to get a deal done, preferring to wait for an offer it can live with.
One offer many thought the Magic could live with would have been an Andrew Bynum deal with the Lakers. That deal appear to have lost some legs when Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reported Bynum might not sign an extension with Orlando when he himself becomes a free agent in 2013.
However, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel said during halftime of NBATV’s broadcast of the Magic’s summer league game against the Nets that reports that Bynum would not sign an extension in Orlando were not “exactly true.” Schmitz said he spoke with Bynum’s representatives this past weekend.
An Orlando and Los Angeles deal though has not gained much momentum since rumors started circulating late last week that something might be happening. Certainly not as much as this rumored deal with the Nets. One key sign of that was the report that came out Monday that Orlando was reviewing Brook Lopez’s medical information. This step, Crossover Chronicles was told, has not been taken when it comes to Bynum at least.
If you had to put a handicap on this thing, the Nets offer appears to be the most serious. This does not mean however that it eventually gets done. The Magic have been notoriously patient with this thing.
And everyone seems to recognize Orlando is not done exploring either. Ric Bucher of ESPN.com reports the Magic have re-opened negotiations with other teams, including possibly Howard’s hometown Hawks. Orlando has made it pretty clear they wil explore every option.
Pretty soon though, Brooklyn will want to move on. That deadline is believed to be some time this week.
Until the trigger is pulled, everyone is on hold.
