Numerous reliable sources including ESPN and Yahoo! Sports are reporting the Los Angeles Lakers are finalizing a blockbuster four-team trade to acquire Dwight Howard fom the Orlando Magic.
Three of agents with players involved in the historic deal say the teams are expected to complete the trade on a call with league officials on Friday. Magic officials have yet to confirm with Howard that a deal has been made.
In the said deal, The Lakers will send All-Star center Andrew Bynum, and the Orlando Magic will add Jason Richardson to the Philadelphia 76ers. The Sixers will send guard All-Star guard Andre Igudola to the Denver Nuggets. The Magic will receive Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, rookie swingman Moe Harkless, three first-round draft picks and a 2013 second-round pick from the Nuggets (by way of Golden State). And finally the Lakers will receive Dwight Howard along with Earl Clark and Chris Duhon from the Magic.
Orlando, Los Angeles and Philadelphia had discussed a three-way deal, but needed a fourth team to take Iguodala and provide Orlando with necessary future draft picks, sources say Denver joined the talks in the past week.
Howard’s contract ends after this season. He is expected to wait until the end of the season if he signs an extension with the Lakers as he can get a longer deal in free agency.
