Hope Dwindling For Nets-Dwight Howard Trade; Magic Focusing On Lakers?

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- It seems the Nets have some company in the Dwight Howard sweepstakes.

Brooklyn's play for the embattled Magic star is quickly losing steam, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

"I think the chances are remote," Wojnarowski told WFAN's Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts on Tuesday. "Orlando is just not very interested in what the Nets have. In fact, I'm reporting now that ... Orlando's really moving its focus to the Lakers and Andrew Bynum."

Many thought Howard would no longer be an option for the Nets after their agreement with Atlanta for guard Joe Johnson. But Brooklyn's "goal" is to assemble a trio of Johnson, Howard and Deron Williams, according to NBA insider Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com.

The teams are "discussing" a deal that would send Howard to Brooklyn for Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks and the Nets' first-round picks in 2013, 2015 and 2017, ESPN's Chris Broussard tweeted Tuesday morning.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports confirmed the trade scenario, though he warned via Twitter that nothing is "imminent" and "it isn't the only one Orlando is working on."

"Orlando GM Rob Hennigan also trying to engage the Hawks, Rockets, Lakers and possibly Mavs in Howard talks," Berger tweeted. "Full-court press."

The Nets reached an agreement with the Hawks for Johnson on Monday, according to multiple reports. The combination of Johnson and Howard could be more than enough to sway Williams into re-signing with the Nets.

Howard may have put Orlando in a rough spot when he told Yahoo! Sports there's "only one team" that he'd pass on free agency for after the 2012-13 season.

That team is thought to be Brooklyn. Magic general manager Rob Hennigan confirmed Monday that Howard reissued a trade request to the Nets on Friday.

"What I can tell you is he's Dwight Howard," said Hennigan. "He's one of the best players in the NBA, so a lot of teams have interest in Dwight, as they should, and it's our job to continue to analyze what's in the best interests for us and how we go about making that decision."

But will Hennigan be able to find a more enticing package for what Howard insists would be a one-year rental?

"(Bynum) is the player that they want," Wojnarowski told WFAN. "If they're going to get a player back that they're going to have to pay max money -- or close to max money -- it's not going to be Brook Lopez."

Stay tuned.

Think Howard will be bound for Brooklyn by the end of the week? Be heard in the comments below...