Inside the Sixers: Sixers unlikely to get Orlando's Howard

There's a sentiment among some fans that the 76ers are making a mistake by not throwing their hat into the sweepstakes for Orlando center Dwight Howard.

Here's something they should know: The Sixers, like every other team in the league that would like to have the league's best center, have no doubt inquired about his availability.

They should also know this: Team president Rod Thorn would personally drive any players on this roster to Orlando if Howard - and that's crucial here - or the Magic wanted to make that deal.

Problem is, Howard doesn't want Philly the same way Philly wants Howard. (And looking at those thousands of empty seats at the Wells Fargo Center on a nightly basis, one has to wonder sometimes if Philly even likes quality professional basketball.)

Howard has made it clear that he wants to continue his career in either New York or Los Angeles. Period. Why do you think that the only teams mentioned in trade talks with Orlando are the Lakers, the Knicks, the Clippers, and the soon-to-be Brooklyn Nets?

The most out-of-the-blue Internet-concocted trade involving the Sixers and the Magic has Andre Iguodala, Spencer Hawes, and some draft picks getting shipped to Orlando in exchange for Howard.

So, Orlando is going to give up the best big man in the game in exchange for a player viewed as grossly overpaid and a center who is having a nice little season but has yet to show that he can stay healthy?

As John McEnroe famously said, you cannot be serious.

Why would the Magic - who repeatedly say they want a big man - find this deal even remotely as attractive as one with the Lakers that would have to involve, say, Pau Gasol or Andrew Bynum? Or what about a deal with the Clippers that would fetch the hyper-athletic, 6-foot-11, 265-pound, 23-year-old specimen DeAndre Jordan? He's not Howard, but his ceiling looks to be pretty high.

Even dealing with New Jersey is dramatically more appealing to the Magic because it would probably at the very least involve 7-footer Brook Lopez - 20.4 points, six boards, and 1.5 blocked shots per game last season - and a lottery pick.

If he's traded to New Jersey, point guard Deron Williams - got a good look at him this past week, remember? - has already said he'd re-sign with the Nets, so it requires only a modicum of common sense to recognize that Howard would more than likely re-sign to play alongside a top-three point guard in the media capital of the world.

Any team that considers itself to be in the mix for Howard had better know that it's the front-runner to re-sign him over the summer. Otherwise he turns into a half-season rental, and that team will have pretty much gutted itself of any assets.

There just aren't enough assets here to lure Howard. Elton Brand has 12 years behind him, and that includes his best seasons. Does anyone really know what type of player rookie Nik Vucevic will develop into? Jrue Holiday? Orlando already has an all-star playing the point in St. Joseph's alumnus Jameer Nelson. Go down the 76ers roster, player by player, and it's relatively easy to deduce why Orlando's response to a deal with the Sixers would be thanks, Philly, but no thanks.

Howard could simply walk away at the end of the season, but why would the Magic let that happen? Does anyone seriously believe that it is their organizational goal to replicate the blunders of Cleveland and Toronto, franchises that are still years away from recovering because they failed to deal LeBron James and Chris Bosh?

Orlando will deal Howard, it just won't be here. There will be a frenzy of jockeying for position for Howard right up until the March 15 trade deadline. But if you're looking for the Sixers to be a player in this one, think again.

Potential destinations for Orlando's Dwight Howard, who is expected to be traded before the March 15 deadline, and players who might be involved in a deal:

Los Angeles Lakers: Acquire Howard; Magic receive Andrew Bynum, another player, and draft pick(s).

New Jersey Nets: Receive Howard and Hedo Turkoglu; Orlando receives Brook Lopez, Jordan Farmar, and Anthony Morrow.

New York Knicks: Acquire Howard; Orlando receives Amar'e Stoudemire.

- John N. MitchellEndText