Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

SI.com reports that Howard would have interest in signing with the Miami Heat and Los Angeles Clippers if he is not traded by the NBA Trade Deadline on Thursday.

As nuts as it sounds, rival executives say they believe Orlando will hold onto Howard after the trade deadline. Howard’s camp thinks so too.I’m told Howard prefers going to free agency. Doesn’t want a team he is traded to gutted just to get him.

If Howard goes to free agency, throw out the three-team (Dallas, NJ, LAL) list. It’s open season for bidding. LeBron, part II.Two teams sources say tell SI Howard will have interest in: Clippers and Miami. There are cap issues, but the interest is real.

Well, Howard’s soap opera has been a “look at me, tell me how much you like me and want me” affair from the start, so it makes sense in the most cynical way possible that he would extend the performance for another four months and gain the full media circus that goes with free agency. In July there are no annoying games to distract everyone from their hero worship.

So, why the Clippers and the Heat specifically? First, and most obviously: both are ready to win titles now with stars already in place and Howard has said he’s focused on winning a title. Second: both represent major NBA stages of the future and Howard loves the attention. Third: both have potential frontcourt assets with big-dollar contracts to help facilitate a sign-and-trade in the summer. The Clippers, for example, could offer center DeAndre Jordan and parts. The Heat, if interested, would likely build their package around All-Star forward and third wheel Chris Bosh.

Indeed, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com reported back in January that the Clippers would be a natural sign-and-trade landing spot for Howard.

The Clippers are not involved in any way, shape or form in current trade talks with the Magic, nor has Howard or Fegan asked for or been given permission to speak with the other team in L.A. That’s because the Clippers are not a trade option for this season, but rather a logical landing spot for Howard via a sign-and-trade after he opts out of his contract July 1.

Given the timing here, let’s keep in mind that any and all reports this week are about influencing moves before Thursday, not moves after Thursday. In other words, we must ask why would these teams be raised in connection to interest for Howard right now?

The answer there clearly seems to be to up the ante on the trade offers Orlando is receiving. The Clippers and the Heat represent two of the four biggest bogeymen — along with the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Chicago Bulls — in the NBA. The immediate reaction when a star is linked to one of these teams: “Oh God, no, it’s not fair, they’ve got enough talent already.” If any of the teams linked to trading for Howard needed a little extra nudge or reminder of what might happen if the deadline passes and he doesn’t move, this report essentially represents their worst nightmare.

Would anyone really panic? Should anyone panic? Yes, this is fear-mongering to a certain degree, but they wouldn’t have a choice.

A sign-and-trade involving Howard next summer would be in the $20 million per year range over four years.

It would be difficult and expensive — but not impossible — for the Clippers to pay Howard, Chris Paul and Blake Griffin at the same time, and that process would be made easier in the short-term because Griffin will be on his rookie deal through the end of 2012-2013. For comparison’s sake, the Clippers would be paying that potential trio is the neighborhood of $45 million next season. The Los Angeles Lakers are currently paying Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum a combined $57 million. If Gasol isn’t traded by next season, the trio will make nearly $63 million. Howard in a Clippers uniform doesn’t sound so crazy now, does it?

 

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WRITTEN BY Ben Golliver | NBA Blogger & FULL STORY HERE