Dwight Howard Rumors: Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers Discuss Blockbuster Howard Trade with Denver Nuggets, Philadelphia 76ers, According to Report

The Orlando Magic have discussed trading Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers as port of a four-team deal also involving the Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Though no trade is imminent, Wojnarowski says, the talks between the teams "have grown serious over the course of this week."

As part of the deal, Orlando would receive All-Star big man Pau Gasol from Los Angeles and veteran shooting guard Arron Afflalo from Denver. Orlando would then look to trade the 32-year-old Gasol, who is owed more than $38 million over the next two seasons, to another team in order to gain even more assets.

It's possible the Magic could end up with Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who made the first All-Star appearance of his career in 2012. Wojnarowski says that under the framework of this trade, the Magic would receive either Bynum or Gasol, while the 76ers would receive the other.

Notably, the Magic would not shed any of their undesirable contracts in this proposed deal.

Howard has long wanted out of Orlando and a meeting with Rob Hennigan in Los Angeles weeks ago did not go well, according to reports, as Howard indicated he would neither sign an extension with the Magic nor re-sign with them when he becomes a free agent on July 1st, 2013.

Howard could have become a free agent on July 1st, 2012, and would have been free to sign with the New Jersey Nets, his top destination, had he not waived the Early Termination Option in his contract on the day of the NBA trading deadline.

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