According to ESPN.com, here would be the other pieces in a deal also involving Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers: The Magic also would receive Luke Walton, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson and three first-round picks, two from the Nets and a lottery-protected one from the Clippers. The Nets also would get Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark.

The Cavaliers would end up with Kris Humphries, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines, a Nets first-round pick and $3 million from Brooklyn. And, when the dust settled, the Clippers would have MarShon Brooks.

Yes, the Magic would shed the salaries of Duhon and the two Richardsons, who combine to make $12.1 million next season and $12.9 million in 2013-14. But, say what you want about Lopez, there's nothing inspiring about the other four players the Magic would receive. And there are no certainties with the first-round picks.

From the looks of this deal, Hennigan must be patient. If need be, play it out through the summer. Maybe even take it into next season. It sure couldn't hurt.

If he hasn't done it already, Hennigan might want to pick up the phone and talk to Denver Nuggets executive Masai Ujiri, who was in a similar spot with Carmelo Anthony two years ago. Anthony, like Howard, had asked to be traded. And Ujiri, like Hennigan, was thrown into his situation as a rookie general manager.

For Ujiri, it worked out well because he exercised patience. Anthony ended up being dealt to New York just before the trade deadline in February 2011 along with Chauncey Billups and other pieces for a package that included Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Timofey Mozgov, Raymond Felton and a first-round pick.

One possible difference is the Nuggets were able to pit the Knicks and Nets against each other to raise the price of what they got back. Howard apparently now only wants to go to Brooklyn.