The New Jersey Nets and the Orlando Magic are reportedly "close" on a trade that would send Dwight Howard up the east coast to the Nets, according to our New Jersey blog Nets Daily.
In an interview on ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike Friday morning, Chris Broussard said the Nets and Magic are already working on a trade that would send Dwight Howard to the Nets and that a deal is "very close to happening". ESPN later tweeted that Broussard believes the "Trade could take place today".
Broussard who broke news of Howard's intentions, said the deal, as he understands it, would be Howard and Hedo Turkoglu for Brook Lopez and two first round draft choices, presumably the Nets two picks in 2012: their own' first round pick and the Rockets lottery-protected pick obtained in the Terrence Williams trade a year ago.
The trade would immediate catapult the Nets into the contender conversation, and would probably mean extended contracts for both Deron Williams and Dwight Howard. As for the magic, it would be an invitation to start rebuilding in earnest.