The news that Dwight Howard is planning on staying with the Orlando Magic next season has major ripple effects on the New Jersey Nets, who were long seen as the favorites to land Howard either by trade or in free agency. That throws the future of Nets star Deron Williams into question, as he can become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Despite this, the Nets do not appear to be interested in trading him before Thursday's deadline, according to ESPN's Marc Stein.

All signals from all angles point to Nets rebuffing any trade interest in D-Will over next 4 1/2 hours. That's what they're telling teams

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) March 15, 2012

With the possibility of a Howard-Williams union in Brooklyn fading, many NBA insiders believe Williams will leave and sign with his hometown Dallas Mavericks in the summer. If that happens, the Nets will have traded significant assets for a player that spent less than a season and a half with the franchise.

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