Latest On Four-Team Dwight Howard Talks
We've still got plenty of time left in the day, and our round-up of Dwight Howard rumors for Monday is already getting a little too lengthy. So rather than keep tacking on more details to it, let's round up what we know so far right here.
According to various reports, the Magic and Nets have engaged the Cavaliers and Clippers in talks to facilitate a deal involving Howard. There are a lot of moving parts, but the framework of the proposed deal looks something like this:
Dwight Howard Rumors: Monday
It may not be many more days until our long national Dwightmare is over. Yesterday's reports on Howard suggested talks involving the Magic, Nets, and Cavaliers were getting serious, and that Orlando plans to make "one last sweep" around the league before deciding whether to accept the Nets' offer. While we wait to see if anything is agreed upon today, here are the latest rumblings on the Howard front:
- Chad Ford's ESPN.com report includes some more slight tweaks to the framework described below. Ford adds Chris Duhon to the list of players headed to the Nets, suggests the Magic would receive one fewer first-rounder (a total of three instead of four), and says the Cavs would receive $3MM in cash.
- Ford's report, along with tweets from the Cleveland Plain Dealer and Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, suggest that the Cavs and Clippers still aren't entirely on board. The Plain Dealer tweets that talk of a deal getting close is premature, while Berger says the Clips haven't agreed to anything yet and are one of several potential fourth-team facilitators in the mix (Twitter links).
Earlier updates:
Dwight Howard Rumors: Sunday
11:02pm: The Magic, Nets and Cavs are in "serious talks" about a deal involving Dwight Howard and others, reports Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, who said Magic executives will meet Monday morning to determine if the deal is the right one, and an agreement could come sometime Monday (Twitter links). The Magic will complete "one last sweep" around the league before deciding whether to pull the trigger on the 11-player trade, says Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM.com (Twitter links). A key to the deal could be the willingness of the Cavs to take MarShon Brooks from the Nets, because the Magic isn't interested in the swingman, report Chris Broussard and Brian Windhorst of ESPN.com. Many teams concerned about competitive balance are reluctant to facilitate a blockbuster deal, Broussard and Windhorst report, so the Magic and Nets must overcome that obstacle.
9:58pm: The Sixers are also a possibility to acquire Humphries as part of a three-team that would send Howard to the Nets, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld notes via Twitter. In an email to Tom Moore of PhillyBurbs.com, Sixers president Rod Thorn indicated a move may in the works, but declined to give details.
Mavericks, Cavaliers, Rockets May Interest Bynum
Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski tweets that the Mavericks and Cavaliers are teams with cap space that could interest Andrew Bynum during his pending free agency in 2013. He also mentions the Rockets as another potential suitor. The Lakers recently exercised Bynum's $16.1MM team option for the 2012-13 season, and the 24-year-old center is currently slated to become a free agent next summer.
Odds & Ends: Hinrich, Bulls, Meeks, Mayo, Tolliver
- Ersan Ilyasova plans to meet with Bucks owner Herb Kohl on Tuesday, which is seen as an important opportunity in the team's effort to retain the 6'10'' forward (Gery Woelfel of the Journal Times reports). Earlier this week, we reported that Milwaukee offered a deal worth around $40MM over five years.
Free Agent Rumors: Meeks, Sessions, Gee, Cavs
The Rockets are now in play for free agent guard Ramon Sessions, a source tells Jeff Caplan of ESPNDallas.com. The 26-year-old is said to be seeking a starting job and the security of a multiyear deal, something that the Mavericks seem prepared to offer. We ran down the day’s free agent rumors earlier today, here’s the latest batch..
Free Agent Rumors: Redd, Camby, Stiemsma
Brandon Roy, Jason Kidd, and Jamal Crawford were among the players to reach agreements with new clubs yesterday, while Nicolas Batum and Jeremy Lin agreed to lucrative offer sheets that their current teams are expected to match. What will Friday bring? Here are the latest rumors on a number of free agents still on the market:
- The Suns and Bulls are the two teams "most heavily in the mix" for Michael Redd, says Chris Tomasson of FOX Sports Florida.
- Marcus Camby will meet with the Heat tomorrow and the Knicks next, tweets Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. Feigen adds that Camby likely won't meet with the Rockets until there's resolution on Omer Asik.
Earlier updates:
Cavs Sign Dion Waiters, Tyler Zeller
The Cavs have signed first-round picks Dion Waiters and Tyler Zeller to rookie contracts, according to a team release. Waiters, 20, was selected fourth overall by Cleveland after starring at Syracuse in the backcourt. Zeller, 22, was drafted 17th overall by the Mavericks and dealt to the Cavs in a draft night trade. The former UNC forward/center won the ACC Player of the Year award during his senior year. Bob Finnan of The News-Herald says Waiters received a four-year $16.7MM deal while Zeller obtained a four-year, $7.4MM contract (Twitter links).
Free Agent Rumors: Hill, Dragic, McGee, Shved
Happy Fourth of July to all of our American readers! Even though it's a holiday, we're expecting more free agent developments, so we'll be providing our usual updates all day long. Here are a few of Wednesday's more minor free agent rumors, with the latest items added to the top of the page throughout the day….
- Frank Isola of the New York Daily News tweets that Grant Hill will either join Steve Nash in signing with the Lakers or retire.
- Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic tweets that the Suns are unwilling to offer Goran Dragic the $10MM per year he is reportedly seeking.
- Ken Berger of CBSSports.com (Twitter link) hears that negotiations between JaVale McGee and the Nuggets are "going well."
Earlier updates:
Odds & Ends: Noah, Cavs, Pistons, Raptors
The U.S. squad for the 2012 Olympics has been hit hard by injuries, but Team USA isn't the only country that will see NBA players miss the London games. Already facing concerns over Tony Parker's health, France will be without Joakim Noah this summer, the Bulls big man told L'Equipe (French link). K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune confirms the news, noting that Noah will miss the Olympics to rest and rehab the ankle he sprained in the playoffs.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the NBA on Independence Day….
