The Orlando Magic have spent weeks, if not months, pursuing possible avenues to trade Dwight Howard before this summer. But as their options grow thinner and they begin to think about keeping the superstar center, a new idea has emerged: keeping Howard and teaming him with Steve Nash. Â Read more after the jump.
League sources have told CBS Sports insider Ken Berger that the Magic haven’t ruled out making a play for Nash, if the Phoenix Suns decide to deal him to a contender before the March 15 trade deadline.
Nash turns 38 in a couple weeks and is well into his 16th NBA season, but the durable point guard continues to play 80 games a season and remains one of the most productive playmakers in the game. He has said publicly that he won’t ask the Suns for a trade, but as the championship window closes in Phoenix, the franchise may look to rebuild by trading their veterans.
As for the Magic, this may be their last chance to win a title with Howard, whose five-year, $83 million contract expires this summer. Adding Nash this season could potentially help them over the hump.
“We want [Howard] to win a championship,†Magic CEO Alex Martins told Berger. “We want to win a championship as much as he does. Our owner [Rich DeVos] is 85 years old, and for the last few years we’ve definitely been doing everything we can to try and win a championship for him. He deserves it as much as anybody.â€
