Dwight Howard Rumors: Tuesday
Another day, another round of Dwight Howard rumors. You can check out yesterday's updates here and follow along with today's Howard-related items below. You'll find any new updates up top throughout the day:
- A person close to Howard tells Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel (via Twitter), "We want to work it out [in Orlando]."
- The Magic are still telling anyone who calls on Howard that they're buyers, not sellers, and that they aren't interested in moving D12, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Some teams believe the Magic, while others think they'll eventually change their stance. One source tells Wojnarowski that Howard's apparent uncertainty is validating the Magic's confidence: "Don’t underestimate how much it means to Dwight to be a pillar in that community. Everyone else wants to pull him out of there, but I’m not so sure that’s where his heart is."
- Some clubs believe no one in the Magic organization wants to tell owner Rich DeVos that they recommend trading Howard, says Wojnarowksi. Adds one rival exec: "They’re going to reach a dead end here. It’s just a matter of time."
- Jason Fleming of HoopsWorld breaks down five hypothetical trades involving Howard and potential suitors, ultimately concluding that Orlando won't receive equal value in any of them.
- In talking with Magic brass, Howard has conveyed his love for the team and city, sources tell Fred Kerber of the New York Post. "I really don’t think [Howard] knows exactly what he wants to do," said one of Kerber's sources.
- If Howard had decided to remain with the Magic for another year, we would have heard about it by now, says Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. Schmitz expects that Howard still intends to test free agency this summer.
- Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel says Howard should know the Magic are serious about winning without the team having to force a deadline deal to try to bring in more reinforcements around him.
Kennedy On Clippers, Allen, Celtics, Crawford
Here's a look at some highlights from tonight's column from Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld..
- Over the next week and a half, the Clippers will make a strong push to land a starting shooting guard, according to multiple sources close to the situation. Los Angeles has been in search of a two-guard ever since losing Chauncey Billups for the year. As of right now, Randy Foye and Travis Leslie are the only true shooting guards on the roster and the club has expressed interest in Ray Allen and Jamal Crawford, according to sources.
- The Celtics aren’t actively shopping Allen but are listening to offers. It’s unclear what Boston would want in exchange for the 36-year-old, though many teams have expressed interest in him.
- Sources say that Crawford will opt-out of the final year of his contract to test free agency this summer and the Trail Blazers may look to move him before the deadline. The Clippers are expressing interest along with the Timberwolves. The Clips tried to sign-and-trade for Crawford over the offseason, but the Hawks didn’t want to take back any contracts.
- Other two-guards who could be on the move include the Grizzlies' O.J. Mayo, Courtney Lee of the Rockets, and Anthony Morrow of the Nets. If any of the three guards are made available, the Clippers can be expected to be in the mix. Recently, I broke down the case for New Jersey parting with Morrow.
- Sources believe that the Magic will hold onto Dwight Howard past the trade deadline. There are members of the organization who remain optimistic that Howard will re-sign this summer if the right moves are made. The Magic will pursue players like Steve Nash and Monta Ellis before the deadline, but it'll be an uphill battle due to their lack of trade chips outside of Howard.
Atlantic Notes: Celtics, Rondo, Raptors, Nets
The Celtics enter tonight's contest against Houston riding a four-game winning streak thanks in no small part to the play of Rajon Rondo. Rondo was nothing short of stellar on Sunday afternoon, finishing with 18 points, 20 assists and 17 rebounds en route to his second triple-double in three games. Here's a look at the C's and the rest of the Atlantic Division..
- Zach Lowe of Sports Illustrated took a gander at Rondo in an attempt to quantify the point guard's trade value. Rondo's performance could arguably suffer if he were without Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen to spread out defenses, but Lowe wonders if he might benefit working with less shooters and more off-the-dribble help.
- With star prospect Jonas Valanciunas thriving in Lithuania, the Raptors should consider moving Andrea Bargnani prior to the trade deadline, writes AJ Mitnick of Sheridan Hoops. In Lithuanian league play the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft is leading the league in scoring with 16.1 PPG and third in the league with 7.6 RPG in just 22.8 minutes per game.
- Nets coach Avery Johnson is disappointed for Brook Lopez as the center will be out of action for at least three weeks with a sprained ankle, writes Colin Stephenson of The Star-Ledger. Lopez remains centerpiece of the team's efforts to trade for Dwight Howard but Stephenson writes that it gives Orlando something more to think about before pulling the trigger.
Odds & Ends: Randolph, Carter, Bulls, Vazquez
While the returns of J.R. Smith and Wilson Chandler from the Chinese Basketball Association grabbed more headlines over the last month or so, there are other former NBA players still returning from overseas in search of NBA gigs. One such player is former 76ers forward Shavlik Randolph, who averaged 24.7 PPG, 11.9 RPG, and 1.6 BPG in China this season. According to Sportando, Randolph is "in serious talks" with two NBA clubs and could sign a deal soon. While we wait to see if the Duke product can find his way back to an NBA roster, let's check out a few more links from around the league….
- With the Raptors looking to trade or release Anthony Carter, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel thinks the point guard could be a solid insurance policy for the Heat.
- After Richard Hamilton left last night's game with another injury, K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune wondered whether the Bulls will need to acquire a shooting guard via trade. Prior to last year's deadline, Johnson says, Chicago discussed deals for O.J. Mayo and Courtney Lee. The Bulls announced today that Hamilton is day-to-day with a shoulder contusion and mild sprain.
- The Magic still own the NBA rights to 2005 draft pick Fran Vazquez and hope to bring him over for next season, according to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
- David Thorpe of ESPN.com (Insider link) lists the five best "chemistry" guys potentially available at the deadline. His picks: Pau Gasol, Paul Millsap, Gerald Wallace, Chris Andersen, and Rajon Rondo.
- Ailene Voisin of the Sacramento Bee questions why the Kings felt they had to make the decision to exercise Keith Smart's 2012/13 option so soon.
- A few potential first-round draft picks could be running out of time to showcase their in-game skills, writes Chad Ford of ESPN.com in an Insider-only piece.
Minor Moves: Gadzuric, Cavs, Ford, Tyler, Cousin
We'll keep tabs on all of Tuesday's notable international and D-League-related moves right here:
- Less than a week after signing with the D-League, Dan Gadzuric has already been traded, and will join the Texas Legends, tweets Scott Schroeder of Ridiculous Upside.
- The Cavaliers have assigned Christian Eyenga and Luke Harangody to the Canton Charge, the team's D-League affiliate, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer (Twitter link). It's the second D-League assignment this season for both players.
- Having finished his one-day stint with the Austin Toros, T.J. Ford has been recalled by the Spurs, the team announced today. Ford is returning from a torn left hamstring that has sidelined him for all but ten games this season.
- The Warriors have recalled Jeremy Tyler from their D-League affiliate, the team announced in a press release. Tyler played five games for the Dakota Wizards during his assignment, averaging 15.6 points and 7.8 rebounds in 28.8 minutes per game.
- Marcus Cousin, not to be confused with DeMarcus Cousins, has signed with Venezuela's Guaiqueries de Margarita, according to Sportando. The 6'11" Cousin appeared in four games with the Jazz last season.
Dumars: Pistons “Talking To Everybody”
In an interview with David Mayo of MLive, Pistons GM Joe Dumars talked extensively about the trade deadline and its impact on his team. Dumars didn't share many specific details about trade discussions, but the interview produced a number of interesting tidbits, so let's round up the highlights….
- Rival GMs "always ask for the home run," says Dumars. For teams talking to the Pistons, that means asking about Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight. While Dumars wouldn't go so far as to call those players untouchable, he acknowledged that there are some guys he's "much less likely to move."
- The Pistons are "talking to everybody," though Dumars wouldn't put odds on the likelihood of a deal — he said that depends at least as much on what other teams are willing to do as on what Detroit is willing to do.
- Dumars on what he tells teams up front: "We're not going to do anything to jeopardize our future, we're not going to do anything to tie our hands going forward."
- Dumars conceded that he may spend an inordinate amount of time talking trades, but said it's important to do your homework and keep tabs on the needs of the other 29 clubs.
- The Pistons haven't completed a trade in recent years, but that doesn't mean Dumars is itching to make a move: "Only if it's a good deal. The objective is not just to make a deal. The objective is to do what's right for the organization."
Boris Diaw Asks Bobcats About Buyout
Boris Diaw is in the last year of his contract, but it looks like he could change teams before the summer. According to Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer, Diaw has asked the Bobcats about buying out his contract.
"Boris and I had a meeting prior to the All-Star break, maybe Wednesday before. We talked about quite a few things," Bobcats president of basketball operations Rod Higgins said. "The issue with the buyout, it was raised on their side, from [agent] Doug [Neustadt]. We haven't gone down that road any further."
Although Diaw's minutes and scoring are down for the Bobcats this season, he's still contributing in a variety of ways, averaging 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists to go along with his 7.7 points per game. However, reports have suggested the 29-year-old has clashed with coach Paul Silas, who would like to see Diaw shoot more often. Considering Diaw has a career-low .414 FG% and has just as many field goal attempts per 36 minutes as in his last two years with the Bobcats, I could understand if he was reluctant to hoist up more shots.
Since the Bobcats would like to maintain cap flexibility going forward, it may be challenging to find a taker for Diaw's $9MM without taking on salary themselves. Still, Higgins says he'll explore all trade possibilities before considering a buyout for the former first-round pick.
"No question," Higgins confirmed. "Those [buyout] conversations, if they happen, would happen after the deadline."
Five Western Contenders To Watch At The Deadline
During this lockout-shortened season, the playoff race in the Western Conference is even more intriguing than usual. Although the Thunder sit comfortably atop the conference standings (their 4.5-game lead over second-place San Antonio is equal to the Spurs' 4.5-game lead over eighth-place Houston), they're not considered the overwhelming favorites to come out of the West. With plenty of basketball to be played and plenty of time for teams to improve their rosters, here are a few Western Conference contenders who could make a splash before the trade deadline:
- Thunder: While Oklahoma City hasn't been the subject of many trade rumors in recent weeks, GM Sam Presti has a history of striking unexpected deals. With the Thunder hoping to eventually lock up James Harden and Serge Ibaka to join Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook for the years ahead, I can't imagine them agreeing to take on a deal with years left on it. But if the club can find a shooter or offensive-minded big man on a short contract to upgrade its bench, I think they'd be glad to move Daequan Cook and Nazr Mohammed to make it happen. And as Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld pointed out yesterday, if the Thunder are concerned about the health of Thabo Sefolosha, they could explore a deal for a defensive wing player to replace him.
- Lakers: Unlike the Thunder, the Lakers have found it impossible to avoid trade chatter, so much so that Derek Fisher and Kobe Bryant held a players-only meeting to ensure no one was distracted heading into the second half. But the rumblings are justified — the Lakers hold a valuable $8.9MM trade exception and could be a player or two from becoming legit title contenders again. Point guard and small forward are the Lakers' most glaring needs, with the team eyeing Ramon Sessions, Raymond Felton, Kirk Hinrich, Leandro Barbosa, Michael Beasley and others. I don't expect a blockbuster Pau Gasol trade, but I'd be shocked if the Lakers stood pat. Sending one of their first-rounders to the Cavs for Sessions still makes the most sense to me.
- Grizzlies: They expect to get Zach Randolph back in the lineup soon, and have played very well even without their All-Star. The addition of Randolph will likely be the most significant move the Grizzlies make, but they're an intriguing club to keep an eye on just in case. Memphis currently sits slightly above the luxury tax line, and owner Michael Heisley has no desire to be a taxpayer, so the team figures to make a move at some point to get below that threshold. Could that mean moving O.J. Mayo? The fourth-year guard has been the subject of trade rumors for years, and as a potential restricted free agent, his $5.63MM cap figure represents an expiring deal.
- Mavericks: Caught between defending their title and preparing to make a run at marquee free agents this summer, the Mavs are trying to win now without compromising their future cap flexibility. While it seems as if they're reluctant to break up the team until after the season, you have to think that if they got an offer they liked for Shawn Marion, they'd take it. I don't expect the Mavs to be major players at the deadline, but it'll be interesting to see how they continue to balance their present and future goals.
- Rockets: When Jesse Blanchard of Hoops Rumors assessed the Rockets' stocks, he pointed out that, while the team lacks a star, it also doesn't possess any awful players or contracts. The Rockets have a number of players that could be interesting trade pieces, including reasonably-priced starters like Kevin Martin, Luis Scola, and Samuel Dalembert, and a plethora of expiring deals. I think GM Daryl Morey will make some sort of trade by March 15th, though it remains to be seen whether it'll be a move with an eye toward the coming postseason or the future. Houston would love to get its hands on Pau Gasol, but I don't think that's happening unless they include Kyle Lowry in a package.
Raptors To Part Ways With Anthony Carter
The Raptors will release Anthony Carter if they can't find a trade partner in the next week and a half, according to Doug Smith of the Toronto Star. The move would reduce Toronto's roster to 14 players.
Carter, who signed with the Raptors prior to the season for the veteran's minimum, has seen very limited playing time in Toronto this season. The 36-year-old has averaged 2.0 PPG and 1.4 APG in 8.7 MPG over 24 contests, and hasn't seen the floor in three March games for the club.
According to Smith, the move isn't necessarily a precursor to another transaction, though it would leave a roster spot open for a 10-day signing or trade. The Raptors just prefer to give their young players more court time and give Carter the opportunity to catch on with a contender.
Raymond Felton Addresses Trade Rumors
Raymond Felton posted a double-double in his return to the starting lineup last night, as his 11 points and 10 assists helped earn the Trail Blazers a home victory. After the game, Felton got some questions about his play on the court, but also talked plenty about the trade rumors surrounding him as March 15th approaches. The point guard told reporters, including Joe Freeman of the Oregonian, that he'd like to remain a Blazer for at least the rest of the season (Twitter link).
"I still like this team that we have," Felton said. "We have a young team, a lot of young guys that can really play. I definitely still want to be here."
Having been part of the Carmelo Anthony blockbuster at last year's deadline and then traded again in June, Felton is no stranger to trade rumors. The 27-year-old acknowledged that bouncing from team to team can be frustrating, but said that he was determined not to let the whispers bother him.
"I do understand it's a business," Felton told reporters, including Ben Golliver of Blazer's Edge. "I just don't worry about it. I see guys go through it, stressed out about trade rumors. I'm not going to be that guy. Oh yeah, it bothers them real bad. It's not going to be me."
The Lakers have reportedly engaged in "exploratory talks" with the Blazers about the possibility of acquiring Felton, who was profiled as a trade candidate by Hoops Rumors' Chuck Myron last week.