The Cleveland Cavaliers could help the Brooklyn Nets land Dwight Howard in a three-way trade with the Orlando Magic.
According to ESPN.com sources, Orlando and Brooklyn are getting closer to convincing the Cavaliers that they should take free agent Kris Humphries from the Nets in order to make way for Howard.
Along with Humphries, Marshon Brooks is also in the mix as a potential trade item for the Nets.
According to the ESPN.com report, multiple sources have told the site that there is a growing reluctance in the NBA to facilitate the kinds of three-team trades that sent Steve Nash to the Los Angeles Lakers.
“You can talk about the new (luxury) tax all you want, but if the Lakers get Nash and the Nets get Howard, then what did the new CBA accomplish?” one GM told ESPN.com. “You have to realize part of long-term planning is making sure you don’t help create teams you can’t beat.”
Trade talks between the Magic and the Nets had been stalled, but according to ESPN.com sources, they resumed early Monday morning.
Accoring to a report by Yahoo Sports, the proposed deal would send Howard, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark to Brooklyn, and the Magic would receive the Nets’ Brook Lopez, Damion James, Sheldon Williams, Cleveland’s Luke Walton plus three future first-round picks. Cleveland would receive Orlando’s Quentin Richardson, Brooklyn’s Sundiata Gaines, Kris Humphries, a first-round pick and $3 million from the Nets.
Brooklyn also would send Brooks to a fourth team to get them an additional first-round pick to send to the Magic.
The Los Angeles Lakers, who have also been chasing Howard, seem to be dropping out of contention in light of Monday’s reports on Howard’s trade situation.
