Odds & Ends: Howard, Wallace, Lopez, Ellis

While everyone is busy discussing possible deals that would ship Dwight Howard out of Orlando, Magic GM Otis Smith is probably thinking of trades that will bring in talent to convince his franchise piece that staying is the best option for everybody. With a roster full of bad contracts and young assets not worth enough to bring back immediate value, this could ultimately pose as an impossible task. Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel takes a crack at it anyway, offering a few ideas that could get the team some enticing players, such as Monta Ellis and Amare Stoudemire.

Here's a look across the league at some other rumors that are being batted around:

• Matt Steinmentz of CSNBayArea.com gives his views on the rumored deal between Golden State and New Jersey centered around  Brook Lopez and Monta Ellis. He argues from the Warriors viewpoint that giving up your best player for a center who does not rebound wouldn't be a smart decision. Especially since they already have David Lee, a big man who's able to face up with the ball, just like Lopez. 
• The New York Times NBA blog, Off The Dribble, takes a stab at analyzing how effective Rasheed Wallace could be if Los Angeles did in fact sign him to come aboard for the rest of 2012. The consensus feeling is that if Wallace does in fact come back, defense would be the one thing in his game he's guaranteed to bring with him. Meanwhile, the Lakers still need someone small and athletic to create off the dribble and defend the pick and roll.
• The next super team may be in Dallas, but only if they can fit everyone in at an appropriate financial number. Zach Lowe of SI.com's The Point Forward gives a brilliant breakdown of what the Mavericks would have to do, exactly, if they wanted to lock up both Dwight Howard and Deron Williams this summer. In the end, it's not as easy as it seems.
• In his preview piece for tonight's game between Boston and Cleveland, Sam Amico from Fox Sports Ohio writes that a Jermaine O'Neal for Michael Beasley trade has been making the rounds lately. In terms of salary and production the deal makes moderate sense, but if you're Minnesota there must be more you could get back than a hobbled big man. Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors recently wrote about Beasley as a possible trade candidate.