The four-team trade that would send Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets and Nets center Kris Humphries to the Cleveland Cavaliers is far from a done deal, according to The Akron Beacon Journal.
The article says that talks are ongoing, but adds that "finishing off this deal won't be easy."
The Beacon Journal cites Yahoo Sports, which is reporting that, as it stands now, the Cavs would send Luke Walton's expiring $6 million contract to the Orlando Magic and then receive Humphries and Sundiata Gaines from Brooklyn, along with $3 million. The Cavs would also get Orlando's Quentin Richardson and a first-round pick -- whose pick, exactly, is not yet clear.
The biggest stumbling block, according to the Beacon Journal, is Humphries:
The Nets need to find a place to park his salary to make the trade work. With more than $20 million in cap space, the Cavs are a logical fit. They were heavily involved with trade talks between the Nets and Magic regarding Howard around the trade deadline last season, but the negotiations crumbled when Howard waived his Early Termination Option and agreed to remain in Orlando through this coming season.
Shortly after signing the paper, he reiterated his request to be traded.
A deal could work if the Nets can find a place to put Humphries in a sign and trade. The Cavs are willing to take Humphries and give up some of their cap space if it means acquiring another first-round pick, but it's believed they don't want to commit to him beyond this season.
This is problematic because Humphries reportedly doesn't want to play on a one-year contract, as he did last season.
Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM.com reported on Twitter that the Minnesota Timberwolves and Charlotte Bobcats are willing to facilitate the Howard-to-Brooklyn deal if Cleveland or the Los Angeles Clippers back out.
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