The drama of where Dwight Howard will end up may finally be coming to a close as soon as Monday, as reports indicate that Orlando and Brooklyn are close to a deal.
Orlando has made recent trade news, sending away Ryan Anderson to New Orleans, which will continue to keep focus around Dwight Howard.
According to reports, Orlando made significant progress in trade discussion involving the Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers. Jarrod Rudolph or RealGM reports the deal, which possibly could include 11 players and multiple draft picks, is "near completion."
Howard, 25, is Orlando's all-time leading scorer, a six-time All-Star, and a three-time Defensive Player of the Year. In a recent meeting with Magic GM, Rob Hennigan, Howard indicated that he'd like to be dealt to Brooklyn.
It's unknown which other players may be involved, and where they'd wind up, but it's likely that Cleveland would agree to take on Nets big man Kris Humphries in exchange for compensation from the Nets. Orlando, however, shows no interest in Humphries and instead would receive a talented star in Brook Lopez.
Though there seems to be progress made for the Nets, there's another team in the Howard auction that has a NBA legend campaigning a Howard move.
Former Michigan State and Los Angeles Lakers star Magic Johnson wants Howard playing for the Lakers, and has even expressed his opinion on Twitter.
Magic tweeted;
@DwightHoward would be the final piece to make the @Lakers a championship team for a long time.
If the Lakers were to somehow acquire Howard, the odds on the Lakers winning the Western Conference in the 2012-13 season would be high. The Lakers would be clear favorites out the west with 7 or 8/1 odds, second behind the Miami Heat who stand at 5/2.
