If Howard got traded to the Nets, they get beaten more times every year since they are in the same conference. The picks too that Orlando were gonna get from them won't be of any value since the Nets will be battling with the Heat year over year for the Eastern Conference Championship. That makes it even difficult for ORL to get to 2nd place in the Eastern Conference.
That's the beauty of unprotected picks versus the ones Orlando got. No matter how the Nets do during the regular season, those picks still have the potential to maybe turn out to be the 1st overall selection. A small percentage of that happening yes. But it can still happen. Still better than what you have now where your pick has absolutely 0% chance of landing in the lottery.
I'll also take Afflalo and Harrington over Humphries and Lopez because them two will just take their mediocrity in Orlando along with their huge contract. Haven't seen the Humphries/Lopez combo take NJ out of the bottom yet unlike Afflalo and Harrington's Denver whose been in the playoffs for the last 2 years. Afflalo can be the best shooting guard Orlando has for the past few years. He's in his prime at 26, brings in defense while scores 15ppg too. Harrington was a strong candidate for 6th man last season, he can provide the energy and scoring from the bench. Vucevic has good potential in becoming a productive center. I actually liked that pickup because his numbers are similar to Marcin Gortat(when he was back in Orlando) and Omer Asik's stats. And he can even shoot the 3. Given some good playing time and touches, I hope he does well. Let's also not forget Harkless, Philly's first round pick this year. I've seen his scouting reports prior to the draft and had wanted him for Orlando so Turk can be let go. He was being compared to Andre Iguodala/Trevor Ariza for his defense. Him and Afflalo will make life a bit more difficult to the opposing team's wings. Marshon Brooks though is an interesting piece but Orlando already has JJ Redick who plays similarly. Orlando also got McBob and Eyenga. McBob is very entertaining to watch. Then Eyenga, uhm who? 
Brook Lopez is already an nba caliber starting Center at 24. He puts up about 17ppg and 7rpg for his career. These kinds of centers don't grow on tress as they say. And he has yet to approach his prime years so the potential to be a 20-10 center is there. Kris Humphries is a double-double figure contributor averaging 14ppg and 11rpg. At 27, also has yet to approach his prime. Afflalo while being a starting 2, his talents are quite common in today's NBA. They are a dime a dozen. The likelihood of finding a player similar to Afflalo's talents are significantly better than finding a seven foot big that produces numbers to what Lopez produces. Harrington at 32 who scores as much as Humphries during the 2012 season, isn't that much effective in rebounding at 6ppg. Humphries is younger, more athletic, more active, rebounds better, quicker, you can always plug in Humphries at that 6th man role and since he is younger, can potentially produce better results. You also already have Glen Davis who plays similarly and is 6 years younger. Big Baby is more versatile since you can plug him at the 5 and can produce unlike Harrington who is strictly a power forward. Marshon Brooks on potential likewise would seem to be more talented than JJ Reddick. As for Harkless, it just adds to the logjam at the 3 and 4 spots where you already have Davis, Hedo, Harrington and Nicholson. And none of those are centers.
Which brings us back to what Hennigan wants. If he totally rebuilds from scratch, The returns for Brook Lopez would probably be a top 5-8 protected pick. Humphries for a late 1st rounder... or both for a huge trade exception. Afflalo would probably be 2 second round picks. Vucevic late first rounder or 2nd round pick. Harrington..... nothing but a filler for future trades.
If the Magic want to at least stay conpetitive, Lopez immidiately plugs a hole at center and Humphries at the 4. You can have your 6th man in Big Baby. If not, Lopez and Humphries would fetch more in the open market than Afflalo and Harrington will.
With Vucevic, you are banking on potential. He may or may not pan out. Lopez right now is a starter-quality center. He is already established. The problem with Vucevic though is he seems to be soft. Gortat and Asik are bangers. Vucevic is more finesse in the mold of a Pau Gasol. And in the NBA, a finesse center having success in today's game is rare. And if you are going for potential, Houston's 1st round picks have more upside. Royce White has been compared to the great Charles Barkley in both versatilty and quickness for his size. Why settle on an Andre Iguodala/Trevor Ariza clone in Harkless when you can have Sir Charles.
The draft picks they got were also well spread. As per Kobe, he will retire in 2 to 3 years and leave the team to Howard. Then Nash and Gasol may not be there by then too, even if they were, they are too old to play by then. So that means that pick from the Lakers got to be good by then. Philly and Denver doesn't have Howard and they don't have teams to dominate their respective conferences so I believe their picks are good enough. The thing is, you can't trade a superstar and expect the pick you get to be a lottery pick because the team that gets your superstar gets better.
One thing you're forgetting though is there's a big difference between the picks the Nets and Rockets are willing to offer. And these are unprotected lottery picks. Picks from the Nets and Rockets still have a chance of landing Orlando the 1st to 3rd overall selections.
With the Lakers, Nuggets, and Sixers picks, no matter how bad those teams become, those same picks will never take a whiff of the 1st overall selection. Since they are lottery protected, Orlando couldn't even touch the 14th pick.
And if you want lottery picks, Houston's offer has the most potential. These are unprotected picks with Houston willing to take on Howard w/o the guarantee he will resign. Indications suggest he won't. So Houston will be a lottery team for years to come.
