By Josh Robbins, The Orlando Sentinel –
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Cleveland Cavaliers might receive a standing ovation the next time they play in Orlando, because the Cavaliers, in a roundabout way, could prevent Dwight Howard from going to the Brooklyn Nets.
The Cavaliers have withdrawn from discussions about a potential three-team trade with the Magic and the Nets, Yahoo! Sports reported.
The Cavs’ decision didn’t mean that a deal that would send Howard to Brooklyn was dead. It just meant that the Nets had to try to find a third team that was willing to take unrestricted free agent Kris Humphries or that the Nets and the Magic had to agree to a two-team deal.
Meanwhile, the Magic continued to discuss possible deals with the Houston Rockets, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Atlanta Hawks.
The Rockets have wanted to acquire Howard even though Howard, who has just one year left on his contract, has indicated he only wants to play long-term for the Nets.
But a three-team trade also is a possibility. HoopsWorld reported that the Magic, the Rockets and the Lakers have discussed a possible deal that would send Howard to the Lakers, center Andrew Bynum to the Rockets and a mixture of young players and draft picks to the Magic.
Magic general manager Rob Hennigan hopes to shed as many long-term contracts from his roster as possible to gain some salary-cap flexibility; he also wants to acquire as many draft picks as possible to aid in what could be a long, and painful, rebuilding process.
For days now, Magic fans have railed against any deal that would allow Howard to go to Brooklyn, his preferred destination.
Part of fans’ anger stems from spite: not wanting Howard to get his way.
But other fans and some NBA insiders believe that the Magic would be making a mistake in trading Howard for a package with 7-foot-tall center Brook Lopez as its main asset. Lopez, a Nets restricted free agent, is a very good offensive player, but he struggles on the defensive end of the court and as a rebounder.
In addition, Lopez missed all but five games last season after he suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and after he sprained his ankle. Fans and some NBA insiders believe the Magic would be taking an enormous risk if they acquire Lopez in a sign-and-trade deal because he would command enormous annual salaries over four seasons.
Still, Howard’s stated desire to play only for the Nets has inhibited other teams’ trade offers and may have made a three-team deal involving the Nets and the Cavaliers — had the Cavaliers not pulled out — the best option for Hennigan.
The only certainty for the Magic appears to be that the team’s decision-makers have no desire to keep Howard with the team when training camp begins in late September or early October. Team officials don’t want questions about Howard’s future to hang over the franchise as they did this past season, and they fear that having Howard on the roster would disrupt team chemistry and severely complicate the job of any new head coach.
Magic CEO Alex Martins has said publicly that the team will not enter training camp with Howard unless he agrees to a long-term extension.
Bynum, arguably the sport’s second-best center, has been injury-prone for most of his pro career. But he, like Howard, has just one more season remaining on his contract. Magic officials are reluctant to acquire Bynum unless he gives them some assurance he would remain beyond the 2012-13 season.
