Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

The Warriors are still willing to trade for Dwight Howard even without assurances—or any real likelihood—that the current Orlando Magic center would sign a long-term deal to remain in Golden State beyond the season, multiple outlets are reporting.

The Warriors are willing to part with some of their best players—certainly including Monta Ellis—in order to acquire Howard and take the chance that they can convince him to sign a long-term contract. Howard’s list of teams with which he’s willing to sign a new contract are understood to be limited to the Lakers, Nets and Mavericks.

Rookie Klay Thompson and power forward David Lee could also be shipped to Orlando in exchange for Howard, and the Warriors would have to be willing to take on Hedo Turkoglu and the two years and $23 million left on his contract, NBA.com’s Scott Howard-Cooper tweets.

Several things would have to align for such a deal to happen, the San Jose Mercury News writes, including that Orlando “would have to focus on Ellis, (Ekpe) Udoh and maybe Lee, and also agree to keep (Stephen) Curry and possibly even Klay Thompson OUT of the package.”

The San Francisco Chronicle reports, “Warriors sources said there is little to the buzz about dealing Ellis for New Jersey center Brook Lopez. They’re still convincing themselves that they’re in the running for Orlando center Dwight Howard, who has made it abundantly clear that he doesn’t want to play in the Bay Area.”

ESPN’s Chris Broussard, however, reported Wednesday that the Magic are interested in acquiring Ellis to pair with Howard rather than take back Ellis as part of a Howard trade. Broussard added that the Warriors have little that appeals to the Magic, so a three- or four-team deal may be necessary for Orlando to add Ellis.

Said Warriors coach Mark Jackson, “That’s for the front office. We have dialogue every day, but my focus is on getting better every possession, every quarter, every game. We talk about how we can get better and how we can accomplish our goals, which are to get to the playoffs and have a legitimate chance to win it all.”
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