Nets Balancing Lopez Future With Pursuit of Howard Jason Szenes for The New York Times Brook Lopez (11) would like some resolution on where he will be playing next season. LAS VEGAS - The Nets" hopes of landing Dwight Howard and creating a juggernaut in Brooklyn were dealt a potentially fatal setback Wednesday afternoon when the Orlando Magic suspended trade talks surrounding their superstar center. A person involved in the negotiations confirmed that the talks between the Nets and Magic were over, at least for now, and quite possibly for good. The Nets were moving to re-sign their top two remaining free agents, Brook Lopez and Kris Humphries, both of whom would have been used as chips in a sign-and-trade arrangement. But once Lopez and Humphries re-sign with the Nets, Lopez cannot be traded until Jan. 15 and Humphries until Dec. 15. By then, the Magic could conceivably find a better deal elsewhere. Howard has demanded a trade to Brooklyn, where he would join Deron Williams and Joe Johnson in a star-studded lineup capable of instantly contending in the Eastern Conference. But the Nets never have been able to assemble the assets to satisfy the Magic, despite attempts to involve multiple teams in a deal. Howard, who can become a free agent next summer, has insisted that he would only re-sign with the Nets. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets have nevertheless pursued a trade in the belief that he can be persuaded otherwise. The Nets will not have salary-cap room for several years and are thus no threat to sign him as a free agent. In a hastily called news conference, the Magic's general manager, Rob Hennigan, would not rule out keeping Howard into next season. "We haven't ruled out anything," he said.