Trades That Should Happen: Vince to Orlando

With the NBA trade deadline looming, the FanHouse looks at potential trades out there that would make the NBA a better, brighter, place.

Rumor has it that Young Dwight wants it, and the Magic organization has gone out of its way to deny...so this one's worth considering. The Nets seem dead-set on going into rebuilding mode, which means Vince will be opting out this summer. So they have that incentive to move him now and get something in return. His roots are in the Orlando area, and we all know how much Carter values stuff like fam and manners.

What's more, he'd be a perfect fit for the Magic. Orlando is one big time scorer away from some serious playoff vigor. Laugh if you must, but Howard really is that good, and remember, this is still the East. And laugh if you must at the suggestion that Carter can be that missing ingredient. He's too flaky to be the focus of an offense, but when he's on there are few players who can match his prowess on offense. The troika of Howard, Meer Meer, and Carter is the kind of well-built nucleus that championship dreams are based on. Notice: I said dreams, not reasonable hopes.

The two nagging questions: wouldn't the Nets want him as far away as possible, and who do the Magic give up? I can understand worrying about the former if we're talking divisional rivals, but in this case? It's an afterthought. The Nets aren't making a run, especially if they trade Kidd, and the East is such a mess that playoff spots are there to be lost, not grabbed up. Given the Nets's willingness to look for cap relief and draft picks, the Magic shouldn't have to surrender too much. Without firing up The Trade Machine, I'm envisioning something with other Darko or Tukgolu as the centerpiece. Either of these would allow NJ to save face, while accomplishing their un-PR-friendly goals.