By Josh Robbins, The Orlando Sentinel –
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Magic’s Dwightmare appears to be nearing an end.
The Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers reached a deal in principle on a four-team trade that would send Howard to the Lakers, ESPN reported late Thursday night.
In turn, the Magic definitely were set to receive Denver shooting guard Arron Afflalo, Denver forward Al Harrington, Philly center Nikola Vucevic, Philadelphia rookie small forward Moe Harkless and one future first-round pick from each of the three other teams.
Meanwhile, the deal also would send Orlando swingman Jason Richardson and L.A. center Andrew Bynum to the Sixers and Philly swingman Andre Iguodala to the Nuggets.
Magic general manager Rob Hennigan and CEO Alex Martins did not return messages Thursday from the Orlando Sentinel.
But the deal, as reported, no doubt will leave many Magic fans underwhelmed. Earlier Thursday, it appeared that the Magic might receive All-Star Pau Gasol from the Lakers, but Gasol is no longer in the mix, a league source familiar with the deal told the Sentinel.
Some NBA observers speculated that the details of the Magic’s talks with the Lakers, Nuggets and Sixers were leaked by the Magic in order to prompt Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey to improve his offer for Howard.
In any Howard deal, the Magic wanted to trade away the long-term salaries of such players as Richardson and Chris Duhon.
The Magic would begin a full rebuilding project once they trade away Howard, and it seems unlikely that the franchise would want to keep Gasol or Afflalo for the long term.
Afflalo, a 26-year-old shooting guard, is slated to earn about $31 million the next four seasons if he invokes his player option for the 2015-16 season.
Magic assistant general manager Scott Perry, a former Detroit Pistons executive, is familiar with Afflalo from Afflalo’s tenure with the Pistons.
Howard desperately wants to be traded, and he made that point clear to Hennigan during a face-to-face meeting in Southern California on July 25.
The Lakers have emerged as Howard’s preferred trade destination — at least until the Brooklyn Nets can jump back into the picture when Brook Lopez becomes trade-eligible on Jan. 15.
Howard would not answer a question about the potential trade to the Lakers when a TMZ paparazzo confronted him Thursday afternoon.
The Magic had shown little interest in acquiring Bynum, who arguably is the NBA’s second-best center. Magic officials have been concerned about the health of Bynum’s knees, and it’s unclear whether Bynum would want to re-sign with the Magic in free agency.
