As the NBA Trade Deadline approaches, everyone is wondering if Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard gets traded or the Magic make a move to appease Dwight and hope to sign him long-term to remain in Orlando. The problem with that however is that Orlando does not have many moveable or attractive trade pieces outside of Howard, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.
I would likewise be willing to (not so boldly) wager -- if I partook in such activities -- that the Magic have zero chance of completing the fantasy acquisition of a backcourt stud that can wow Howard. You've surely heard by now that the players they're chasing are Phoenix's Steve Nash and Golden State's Monta Ellis. Orlando, though, has nowhere close to the trade assets to acquire either one.
The Magic are going to have to get creative if they want to find another backcourt player to add to the Magic or just bite the bullet and see what they can get for Howard before they're left with nothing in free agency after the season. One thing is for certain however, is the Magic will need to start dangling more than Hedo Turkoglu, who's contract is an albatross in any trade discussions. Stein also notes that if the Magic want to dump off Hedo in a trade, they're going to have to give up some future first-round draft picks as well.
Said another front-office source of the $18 million that Turkoglu is guaranteed over the next two seasons after this one: "They'd have to be willing to throw in at least two [future] first-round picks to get someone to take him."
For more on the Orlando Magic and potential trades at the NBA deadline, visit SB Nation's Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post.