"The Mavericks traded forward Josh Howard and Drew Gooden to the Washington Wizards on Saturday in a seven-player deal that sent Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Dallas.

Howard was in his seventh season with Dallas, a span filled with promise and disappointment since being the 29th overall pick in 2003. Gooden, who spent the end of last season with the Spurs before being signed by Dallas last summer, will be going to his eighth team in eight NBA seasons.

The deal, which was announced just before the start of Saturday night's All-Star activities in the Mavericks' home arena, is a significant move for Southwest Division-leading Dallas (32-20). The Mavericks lost five of their seven games before the All-Star break, and play four games in five nights starting Tuesday in Oklahoma City.

"It makes us significantly better," Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said. "Sometimes giving guys a fresh home I think re-energizes them, and will work the other way too. I think Josh will find himself re-energized with the Wizards."

For the Wizards (17-33), the trade appears to signal the breaking up of a team that was expected to contend for a playoff spot.

The Wizards had already lost Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton when both were suspended last month by the NBA for the rest of the season. Both admitted to bringing a gun into the locker room after a dispute stemming from a card game on a team flight.

The Mavs also get guard DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations from Washington. James Singleton and Quinton Ross go to the Wizards to round out the deal."