Report: Golden State Warriors Chasing Dwight Howard

According to Yahoo! Sports, the Warriors are willing to take a chance by trading for Dwight Howard with no guarantee that he’ll sign a long-term deal. (Team management doesn’t exactly deny the report when asked about it.): “Golden State management is willing to take Howard as a one-season ‘rental,’ with the hope of selling him on signing a long-term deal before he enters free agency this summer. Like most teams, Golden State has inquired with Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith, but the Magic have yet to commit to aggressively pursuing a trade of Howard. For the Magic to become intrigued with package, two things would likely have to appeal to them: rebuilding around young point guard Stephen Curry; and the Warriors’ salary-cap space to absorb the three years and $34 million left on Hedo Turkoglu’s contract. The possibility of the pursuit could be complicated by questions about the sturdiness of Curry’s surgically repaired right ankle. The Warriors are willing to part with either of their two guards – Curry or Monta Ellis – but teams clearly will watch how Curry recovers from his recurring ankle sprains. The Utah Jazz own the Warriors’ 2012 first-round pick, which is protected through No. 7, but Golden State would give its next available first-rounder to the Magic. The availability of the rest of the Warriors roster, plus future picks, would be wide open for negotiation, sources said. Most teams aren’t willing to gut rosters to get Howard only to lose him to free agency in the summer. Yet, the Warriors made a run for Chris Paul as a rental, and are determined to offer more for Howard, a franchise center. Golden State is probably five years away from a new downtown San Francisco arena that will be more appealing to star players, but owners Joe Lacob and Peter Guber are determined to sell a top-five media market and rabid fan base to players. They would have to take a huge risk to make a deal for Howard, but sources said they’re determined to try whatever it takes to satisfy the Magic’s needs for a trade – including the construction of more complicated three- and four-team trade scenarios.”