The New Jersey Nets need Dwight Howard.
Badly.
The team is 2-9 and is only better than the Washington Wizards in the entire NBA. They need to make a move to change that around and save what is left of the 2012 season.
And they can do just that by trading for the best center in the NBA, the Orlando Magic's Dwight Howardâ€"a player who wants to be in New Jersey.
Read on to find out how and why the trade must happen.
Attendance
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The Nets have some of the worst attendance in the NBA and a large part of that is due to the fact that they are a bad team.
In 2011, they finished 28th out of 30 teams in attendance, averaging only 14,179 fans per game.
This season, they are 24th with an average of 15,550 fans per game. But that number will keep going down because the attendance numbers are skewed by sellouts on Opening Night and a game against the Heat, a team that sells out almost every arena they visit.
If they can get Dwight Howard, it will spark a new-found interest in the team, like how the arrival of Blake Griffin did to the Los Angeles Clippers last season. That new excitement around the Nets would only increase when they move to from Newark, New Jersey to Brooklyn, New York next season.
Deron Williams
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Deron Williams has expressed that he wants to stay a member of the Nets after this season (Williams was traded to New Jersey at last season's trade deadline).
But let's be honest here.Â
Williams doesn't want to play for a loserâ€"and right now, the Nets are looking like losers.Â
So if the Nets want Williams to re-sign with the team and join them in Brooklyn, they need to prove that they are serious. They need to become contenders. And if they can get Dwight Howard, they will show Williams that they are committed and want to winâ€"now.
Eastern Conference Opponents
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The Eastern Conference may not have the depth that the Western Conference has but it is very top-heavy.
And those teams at the top all have something in commonâ€"multiple superstars.
The Celtics may not be as dominant, but they turned around their team by adding future Hall of Famers Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. The Heat (pictured) have turned into the team to beat by singing LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Chicago has Derrick Rose and Carlos Boozer. And New York is trying to balance a frontcourt-heavy team with Amar'e Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler.
The bottom line is, if you want to contend in the East, you have to team up big names with other big names. So for New Jersey, Deron Williams is a start, but Dwight Howard is the necessary next step.
Dwight Howard's Impact
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Dwight Howard's arrival in New Jersey would give them an immediate and legitimate post presence. He and Deron Williams would be able to work magic off of the pick and roll together.
His presence in the paint would also bring double teams any time that he touched the ball, freeing up shots for Williams or even MarShon Brooks (if they can keep him).
Essentially, Howard would be the same player he currently is in Orlando, only he could have a greater positive impact on his team because of the fact that he is playing alongside one of the best point guards in the game, Deron Williams.Â
Howard would love the spotlight that being on the Nets would put him under and he, like Williams, longs to play alongside another elite player.
The Trade
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The toughest part of this bold move that New Jersey needs to make, is putting together a trade package that Orlando will accept.
The obvious center piece will be center Brook Lopez (pictured) who is currently out with a broken foot. Thanks to the extended trade deadline, which is now March 15th, Lopez should have time to heal and be evaluated by the Magic.
Around Lopez would likely be multiple players and one or two draft picks. Who might those players be? Honestly, everyone except for Deron Williams is pretty expendable. If New Jersey could hold onto any pieces besides Deron, they would most likely choose to keep Kris Humphries and MarShon Brooks.
If Orlando is unhappy with the Nets' offer, New Jersey should pursue a third team to get involved to complete it.
New Jersey needs a hero. They need to do everything they can to make that hero Supermaâ€"I mean Dwight Howard.
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