Dwight Howard wanted Nets trade, but says Lakers are 'blessing in disguise'

New Lakers center Dwight Howard admitted he wanted a trade to the Nets in the offseason. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dwight Howard said Thursday that he did indeed prefer a trade to the Brooklyn Nets this offseason, but added that where he ended up — with the Los Angeles Lakers — is a "blessing in disguise."

"I did want to go to Brooklyn. That's a place where I told the Magic that I really wanted to go," Howard told Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on ESPN NewYork 98.7 FM. "[But] I was traded to the Lakers, and I think it was a blessing in disguise.

" … I think there's a reason why everything happened the way it happened. So far it's been an unbelievable experience for me. … It's like a dream come true."

After an offseason filled with trade rumor after trade rumor, Howard was finally dealt to the Lakers from the Orlando Magic in a four-team trade. Howard had pressed for a trade to Brooklyn and numerous reported deals were close to being finalized, but all of them fell through. The Magic also had serious discussions involving the Houston Rockets.

But Howard said Thursday he was pleased with how everything shook out.

"I thought I was going to get traded at the beginning of the year, actually, that's when I asked for it," he said. "But everything happened for a reason. I had to go through last year to get to where I'm at today. It's made me a stronger and better person for it. I had to go through the hell and the stormy forecast to come out to a place like this … and I'm thankful for it."