In 2012, the New Jersey Nets were ready to make their fresh move to Brooklyn and pursue Dwight Howard. Howard made it clear to the people around him that he would not be back as a member of the Orlando Magic that next season in 2013. He preferred one destination, the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets.
To this day no one knows why that Nets and Magic trade did not go through, but we do know that there were plenty of reports saying that Brooklyn had been offering Orlando Brook Lopez as well as two first-round draft picks for Howard. Some weird things to think about folks.
In 2016, we’re four years removed from these reported trade talks and Dwight Howard is going to be looking for a new home once again, do we see Dwight finally land in Brooklyn after all these years? It may seem like it’s a stretch to say the least, but at the end of the day, Brooklyn may end up with the player they had so desperately wanted years and years ago.
When you look at Dwight Howard, he carries a lot of baggage, the former all-star was at one point being praised as one of the best centers of all time and the best center in the game, now it seems like not too many really care about “Superman.” The 30-year-old has had multiple surgeries over the past few seasons and has seemed to have been a shell of the former star we saw in Orlando. The idea of Dwight in Brooklyn can surely aggravate already upset Nets fans, but the idea of Dwight in Black and White is something that is worth a look.
When you think of possible scenarios it only seems to make sense, but still is very complicated. Trade Brook Lopez and possibly snag a couple of assets and draft picks from a team in need of a dominant center, then convince Dwight to come play in Brooklyn, sounds easy right? That’s where we all may be wrong, we were all convinced Dwight would be heading to the shiny new Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn back in 2012 and look how that turned out. Dwight isn’t easy to win over but if that Nets can find a way to do it, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give Howard a shot and acquire some draft picks or pieces from a team in exchange Brook Lopez as well.
Although the idea of getting value for Brook Lopez seems intriguing, it also is a little more intriguing to think about a potential huge starting lineup including BOTH Dwight Howard and Brook Lopez. I would not want head into the paint only to get punished inside by that combo if I was going up against those two monsters.
At the end of the day though do either Dwight Howard or Brook Lopez fit into the Nets’ plan for the future? Looking at what coach Atkinson wants from his team, it seems he wants a team that can get up the floor and run well in transition, one thing neither of those men can do well. So if you’re the nets at what point do you change your plans if Dwight is open to coming along board the ship the you’re trying to steer?
Do you trade Brook Lopez for assets, draft picks and pursue Dwight Howard? Or do you simply trade Brook Lopez for assets and or draft picks and call it a day?
No one really knows what Sean Marks and the Nets have in mind but one has to think, Dwight Howard in Brooklyn may not be too much of a stretch to think about as people are saying it is. Just like that we may see Dwight in a Black and White uniform next season sharing the front court with Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez. That is quite an intriguing thought for Nets fans to think about