The Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets are ramping up the trade talk for Dwight Howard. The Nets are seeking multiple partners to sweeten the pot for Orlando. But some GMs aren’t sure they want to help Brooklyn land the center piece of their mega-team:
Multiple league executives told ESPN.com on Sunday that there is growing reluctance among some teams to participate in the sort of three-team deal that would get Howard to Brooklyn, amid some leaguewide dissatisfaction that the Los Angeles Lakers were able to swing a deal for Steve Nash last week.
Being the cog in creating another super team in Brooklyn, with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson already in the mix, is not palatable to some teams concerned about competitive balance.
“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 said. “You have to realize part of long-term planning is making sure you don’t help create teams you can’t beat.”
The Nets don’t have a lot of assets. Orlando wants no part of Kris Humphries or MarShon Brooks. So Brooklyn is trying to flip those guys for something Orlando values.
Aside from the Cleveland Cavaliers, it doesn’t appear as though many other teams are ready to jump into the fray.
Thank God.
Is it really worth taking on a player with marginal potential or draft pick knowing that you’re helping a conference rival build a super power?
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