Dwight Howard Rumors: Thursday
Dwight Howard led the way in Orlando's win over Washington at the Amway Center last night, scoring 23 points and pulling down 18 boards. A single victory over the Wizards won't silence the trade rumors swirling around Howard and the Magic, but getting back in the win column may temporarily calm the panic over the team's recent slide. After checking out the Howard rumors from Tuesday and Wednesday, you can follow today's updates here:
- According to Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld, sources close to the situation continue to say that New Jersey is Howard's first choice, and that D12 will try to sign with the Nets as a free agent if the Magic don't trade him.
- The Magic aren't actively engaged in any trade discussions for Howard at the moment, Kyler adds.
- In an Insider piece for ESPN.com, Bradford Doolittle of Basketball Prospectus explores three possible trades that could send Howard to the Bulls.
Atlantic Notes: Bogans, Pietrus, Raptors, D’Antoni
Let's round up a few Thursday morning items out of the Atlantic division….
- Keith Bogans is at a loss trying to explain why he was out of work so long, says Fred Kerber of the New York Post. The newest Net told Colin Stephenson of the Star-Ledger that he's been "sitting at home for a month and a half, going crazy." Bogans, who signed with New Jersey yesterday, will received a guaranteed pro-rated portion of the veteran's minimum.
- Mickael Pietrus talked last night about his decision to sign with the Celtics, and Ben Rohrbach has the quotes at WEEI.com: "To be honest with you, the reason I came to the Celtics is because of coach Rivers and KG…. [Kevin Garnett] makes everybody play hard. I was like, that’s going to be a good fit for me to play with the man."
- Raptors GM Brian Colangelo put in some face time with top draft pick Jonas Valanciunas for the first time since last summer, as Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun writes. Following the visit, Colangelo said everyone "is certainly on the same page."
- There are strong indications that Mike D'Antoni will keep his job past Super Bowl Sunday, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post. There's some hope that a healthier and rejuvenated Knicks squad can still turn things around.
Clippers Have Yet To Make Offer To Martin
The Clippers haven't extended a contract offer to Kenyon Martin yet, according to Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times. However, Turner says the team is willing to offer Martin their mini mid-level exception, or "room" exception, of $2.5MM.
Chauncey Billups has talked about wanting to bring Martin to L.A., and the 6'9" power forward recently met with Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro and VP of basketball operations Neil Olshey. I think they may be the best fit for Martin, but the Clips aren't the only team interested — yesterday, we heard that at least five other clubs were involved, with Martin expected to make a decision by this weekend.
While Martin will reportedly make up his mind soon, there's no rush for him to decide, or for the Clippers to extend a formal offer. The 34-year-old can't sign with an NBA team until the season ends for the CBA's Xinjiang Flying Tigers, which won't happen until at least February 16th. Martin will be in for an even longer wait if his former team in China earns a playoff spot, as Jon Pastuszek explains at NiuBBall.com.
Rockets, Pacers Frontrunners For Kaman?
THURSDAY, 8:42am: A source tells Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune that the Pacers, rather than the Rockets, may actually be the leading candidates to land Kaman.
WEDNESDAY, 4:36pm: Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston tweets that, while the Rockets have discussed Kaman with the Hornets, chances of the two sides working out a deal are low.
1:54pm: The Hornets continue to shop Chris Kaman, and according to SI.com's Sam Amick, a frontrunner has emerged in the sweepstakes. The Rockets have had "extensive discussions" with New Orleans about Kaman and appear to be in the lead for the center, Amick reports.
According to Amick, no deal is close, but certain pieces have been discussed, including Hasheem Thabeet and Jordan Hill. Both former first-round picks are in the last year of their contracts, which would give the Hornets the opportunity to clear Thabeet's $5.13MM salary and Hill's $2.86MM off their books in the offseason. Houston also has plenty of other assets that could interest the Hornets, including Jonny Flynn's expiring contract and a handful of draft picks. When NBA.com's David Aldridge and SI.com's Zach Lowe examined Kaman's possible destinations this week, both concluded that the Rockets are among the best fits.
A number of clubs have been linked to Kaman since the 29-year-old asked to be traded. Of those teams, the Hawks and Warriors don't appear to be serious suitors, a source tells Amick. The 76ers are also thought to be out of the running, as we heard this morning.
Magic Sign Ish Smith
The Magic have finalized their signing of Ishmael Smith, as Scott Schroeder of Ricidulous Upside writes. Yahoo's Marc Spears first reported last night that Orlando was expected to add the recent D-League signee today.
Smith, 23, signed a contract with the D-League earlier this week, but didn't even play a single game before the Magic plucked him off the roster of the Los Angeles D-Fenders. Orlando is his third NBA stop so far this season, after he was cut by the Grizzlies and Warriors earlier in the year.
Smith's contract likely isn't guaranteed yet, Schroeder adds. The Magic waived Larry Hughes to clear a roster spot for Smith.
Odds & Ends: Hughes, Smith, Martin, James
Here are a few miscellaneous tidbits from around the league…
- Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel reports (via Twitter) that the Magic have waived guard Larry Hughes. The 33-year-old guard had played in eight games for the Magic this season.
- Marc Berman of the NY Post reports that J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin are on the Knicks radar. The Knicks will have to wait until Smith and Martin are no longer obligated to their respective teams in China to be able to make an official offer. New York still possesses a 2.5MM mini mid-level exception and will have to waive one player to make room for any free agent addition this season.
- Mike James was waived by the Chicago Bulls after appearing in three games. The 36-year-old point guard has been looking to work his way back into the league and had earned a call-up by the Bulls after three games in the NBA D-League. The Bulls roster now stands at 13.
Heat Make Offers To Przybilla, Martin
Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com reports that the Miami Heat have offered contracts to both Joel Przybilla and Kenyon Martin.
We heard earlier about the mutual interest between Przybilla and the Heat, and it was reported that a decision is expected to be made by the end of this week. Ira Winderman of South Florida Sun Sentinel indicated (via Twitter) that Przybilla is leaning toward selecting the Heat over the Bulls, who have also shown interest. It was also noted that Kenyon Martin could make his decision by this weekend as well.
The current Heat roster stands at the maximum of 15 players, so Miami would need to find a way to clear a roster spot for Przybilla and/or Martin if they accept their respective offers. Terrell Harris and Mickell Gladness, two rookies who are currently playing on unguaranteed contracts, are candidates to be waived.
Knicks May Target Ramon Sessions
With the New York Knicks struggling to find consistent play from the point guard position and the uncertainty of Baron Davis' health, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes that the team could look to explore a trade for Ramon Sessions of the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Although he is shooting 35% from the field and 33% from 3 PT range, Sessions has been averaging 9.0 PPG and 4.6 APG in 22 minutes off of the bench. When asked specifically about the team's interest in the Cavs guard, head Knicks coach Mike D'Antoni appeared open to the idea: "I’m sure it would be thoroughly discussed and looked at. Whatever will make our team better we’ll do it."
The fifth-year guard has the ability to opt out of his contract and become a free agent at the end of this season. Sessions, who is currently the backup point guard to rookie Kyrie Irving, had shown previous interest in joining the Knicks as a free agent before landing with the Timberwolves in 2009.
Odds & Ends: Nowitzki, Noah, Heat, Wizards
This year's later-than-usual trade deadline means we shouldn't expect the same amount of February player movement we'd normally see. Still, flipping the calendar page from to January to February means we're that much closer to seeing a few deals go down. While we wait to see where Dwight Howard, Chris Kaman, and the rest of this year's trade candidates land, let's round up today's odds and ends from around the league:
- Asked about his future in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Dirk Nowitzki said he plans to play "at least two more years" in the NBA (hat tip to BallinEurope.com). I wouldn't read too much into that statement — even when Dirk's current contract with the Mavericks expires in 2014, he'll be just 36. I'd be surprised to see him retire at that point, barring a major injury or drop-off in the next couple seasons.
- Joakim Noah admitted to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune that the pressure he felt after signing a $60MM contract extension with the Bulls contributed to his struggles early this season.
- The Heat have kept their expectations for the Eddy Curry experiment in check, and still may look to add another center, according to Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sentinel. Their first choice is presumably Joel Przybilla, who will reportedly decide between the Heat and Bulls this week.
- Despite the team's struggles this season, president Ernie Grunfeld doesn't intend to abandon the Wizards' long-term strategy, as he tells Michael Lee of the Washington Post.
- Chris Paul's departure has left something of a leadership void in New Orleans, writes Jimmy Smith of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
- Marcus Banks has officially joined the D-League's Idaho Stampede, tweets Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside. The eight-year NBA veteran signed with the D-League last week.
Northwest Links: Chandler, Thunder, Timberwolves
In a must-read New York Times piece, Jim Yardley discusses the relationship between the NBA and China, with a focus on Wilson Chandler's decision to sign with the Zhejiang Lions. Agent Chris Luchey was fielding offers for Chandler from Italian teams as well — offers that allowed for an opt-out if and when the lockout ended.
"We had 15 different conversations about what happens when the lockout ends," Luchey said. "I told him 100 times: 'The season is going to go. There is going to be a season.'"
Ultimately, the Nuggets' restricted free agent decided to sign in China, meaning he can't return to the NBA until the CBA season ends. When he makes it back, it sounds like he'll draw plenty of interest.
Here are the rest of this afternoon's links on the Nuggets and their Northwest division rivals:
- In a mailbag for the Denver Post, Benjamin Hochman discusses the likelihood of the Nuggets adding Chandler or Kenyon Martin later in the season.
- Russell Westbrook, who recently signed a long-term extension to remain in Oklahoma City, tells SI.com's Sam Amick that all the questions about his relationship with Kevin Durant just brought the two players closer together.
- Rick Adelman's offense makes it easy to succeed, and the Timberwolves shouldn't have any regrets about parting ways with players who struggle with it, opines Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune.
- The Timberwolves' strong play is having a significant impact on the Hornets/Clippers Chris Paul trade, as Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writes.