Report: Brooklyn Nets "close" to landing Dwight Howard from Orlando Magic

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly close to landing center Dwight Howard in a four-team trade. (Steven Freeman/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets are "close" to an agreement to acquire All-Star center Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic in a trade that would also involve the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers, reports ESPN.com's Chad Ford.

But according to multiple reports, the deal is not yet imminent.

The proposed deal would send Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark to Brooklyn; Brook Lopez, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson, Cleveland’s Luke Walton and three first-round picks to Orlando; Orlando’s Quentin Richardson, Brooklyn’s Sundiata Gaines and Kris Humphries, a first-round pick and $3 million to Cleveland; and Brooklyn's MarShon Brooks to the Clippers for another first-round pick, reports Ford.

CBSSports.com's Ken Berger reports that the Clippers have not officially agreed to trade a first-round pick for Brooks. He also reports that other teams are in the mix for Brooks and could act as the fourth team in the deal.

NBA.com's David Aldridge also reports that, although there is a framework in place for the deal involving the Cavaliers, the Nets are still looking for other teams to potentially fill Cleveland's role in the trade should the agreement break down.

The Nets and Magic have engaged in talks to send Howard to Brooklyn over the past year. When the Nets acquired guard Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks, it appeared initially that the team would be out of the running for Howard. But while the trade has made coming to terms on a deal for Howard more difficult, the two sides are still reportedly close to an agreement.

Talks between the teams heated up over the weekend. The deal has appeared to grow increasingly likely, with numerous reports noting that pieces of the deal were falling into place.

With so many moving parts, though, a finished deal could take time or still fall apart. The trade will involve multiple sign-and-trade deals that must be finalized. Cleveland reportedly has reservations about taking Humphries on more than a one-year deal. But Humphries' agent Dan Fegan told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix that a one-year deal has not been discussed. The most likely solution would be a multi-year deal with only one season guaranteed, but Mannix reports that Humphries would not accept that type of deal.

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