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Pat Williams On Howard, Bynum, Nets

December 4th, 2012 at 3:48pm CST by Zachary Links

The Magic scored a tremendously satisfying win on Sunday when they downed Dwight Howard and the Lakers. Powered on the offensive end by Arron Afflalo and Glen Davis, the Magic employed the "Hack-A-Howard" strategy and forced the big man to try and win the game from the charity stripe. Yesterday, Magic senior vice president Pat Williams spoke with 95.7 The Game to about the post-Howard era in Orlando and Steven Cuce of Sports Radio Interviews has the goods..

How’s this year going without Dwight Howard? How’s the transition going?

Well, it cleared up very nicely [Sunday] night in Los Angeles. Oh boy, Orlando Magic fans were dancing in the street last night. That was a beautiful win for us. We’ve been struggling up to that point. The Dwight thing has calmed down. It was tumultuous for 12 months, really, and just difficult. What are you going to do when your great player and top guy says, ‘I don’t want to be here anymore?’ Move me on. It’s extremely difficult and we had to deal with it the best we could. We tried to convince Dwight to stay here and this could be his long-term home and he was … far better off being here, but he didn’t buy it. And New York or L.A. seemed to have the lure for him. We made the best deal we could and it was a big one — a four-team trade and one of the biggest in NBA history. We ended up with six players and five future draft choices. It was a massive trade, but I think it settled here and the fans’ position was if Dwight didn’t want to be here, so be it and we move on and let’s start fresh. So that’s really what we’ve done, and I think we’ve got a nice, young ball club. I think we are going to be OK.”

What made Dwight Howard change his mind last summer after he said in March he wanted to stay with the team?

“Dwight is a pleaser at heart. Deep down he really is a good guy. He had a lot invested here in eight years out of Central Florida and I think the pressure got to him. It was building and building and building. It was trade, trade and trade. As we got to the trade deadline, I think Dwight was just panic-stricken. Where was this all going to lead? The simplest way was just going to be sign this extension. I don’t think his agent had anything to do with it. I don’t think anyone would have advised him that because it was just a few months from free agency, and I just think the pressure was so great that the safest way to break it was just to sign the one-year extension and take the pressure off, and he made a little press conference and a little speech saying, ‘I love Orlando.’ Then, the next thing you know, this back injury takes place and then he disappears and we never saw him or hear from him again until the middle of the summer. We did meet with him and went out to see him and tried to convince him to stay. … It made no headway. It was not on his agenda and it turned out Brooklyn was his first choice. That all didn’t work, and finally the L.A. trade. Now he’s still a free agent after this year, so who knows what’s going to happen or where he is headed next?”

Why didn’t the deal for Dwight Howard with the Brooklyn Nets work out for Brook Lopez?

“I guess there were a lot of ins and outs with that. I just want to say that one of the fears with him was the tendency, as he got hurt, that he’s got a history with feet and ankle problems. He’s out again now. I think that was a big part of it, and then of course people say then, ‘Why not Andrew Bynum? Why didn’t you get Andrew Bynum?’ Well, I don’t think we’d be real happy with Andrew Bynum right now. If he were sitting here it would be a mess. We made the best deal we could with these other pieces that came from around the league, and I think it was the best deal we could have made based on potential of injury and what was best for our team.”

Magic Notes: Nelson, Howard, McRoberts

December 3rd, 2012 at 8:56am CST by Zachary Links

Last night in Los Angeles, the Magic pulled off a stunner with their 113-103 victory over the Lakers. The win was understandably emotional for Orlando as they proved their worth against their former franchise anchor Dwight Howard. Guard Arron Afflalo led the way with 30 points and also chipped in five rebounds and five dimes. Glen Davis was also key in the win with 23 points and 12 boards to help power his young team. Here’s more on the Magic..

Nelson made sure after the game to point out that he could have left Orlando as a free agent, but stayed because the Magic organization and fans have been true to him, tweets John Denton of NBA.com. “I definitely want to be in Orlando. I could have gone somewhere else, but this organization has been so, so true to me,” said Nelson (Twitter link). Nelson signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Magic in the offseason that could pay him more than $25MM.
Last night’s focus was obviously on Howard facing off with his former team, but former Lakers forward Josh McRoberts has fit in well with his new team in Orlando, writes Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com. McRoberts’ numbers have improved across the board even as he is being asked to guard three different positions. The former Duke product didn’t see much playing time in L.A. but is averaging 16 minutes per game for the Magic.
The Magic have put the drama of the Dwightmare in the rear view mirror, writes Mark Medina of the Los Angeles Daily News. Glen Davis admitted that Howard’s potential departure dominated the locker room conversation last year but says that the cloud no longer hovers over the team.
Nelson also confessed that last night’s win meant a little extra to the Magic after the drama that they went through at the end of Howard’s run, Denton tweets.

Celtics Notes: Kenyon, Sullinger, Joseph, Collins

December 2nd, 2012 at 12:21pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Celtics are scuffling in the early going, and after last night's loss to the Bucks, they're 9-8 and in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, just a game in front of the Pacers for the final playoff position. There's plenty of time left in the season, but with a defense that's right at the league average statistically and rebounding that's among the NBA's worst, the team's problems are clear. There's more on why the Celtics are hesitating to make a move that might address those issues, as well as other Boston news below.

In his weekly NBA roundup, Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe says the Celtics are shying away from signing free agent Kenyon Martin because of his personality, noting that differences between Martin and Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro led the Clips to pass on re-signing him this summer.
Glen Davis sees the similarities between himself and Jared Sullinger, and though he believes Celtics basketball president Danny Ainge envisions Sullinger as another Davis, Big Baby thinks the rookie has plenty to learn on the defensive end, as Washburn passes along.
In a separate piece, Washburn notes that Celtics second-round Kris Joseph, assigned to the D-League today for a second time, doesn't mind shuttling back and forth between Boston's affiliate and the big club.
Jason Collins has replaced Chris Wilcox as Kevin Garnett's backup, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers predicts the job will trade hands between two minimum-salary signees multiple times this season. A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com has details.
After two seasons of better than 40% shooting from behind the arc for the Rockets, Courtney Lee is knocking down just 24% of his three-point attempts since coming to the Celtics in an offseason sign-and-trade, as Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com observes.

Notes On Dwight Howard

December 1st, 2012 at 5:59pm CST by Michael Pina

On the eve of Dwight Howard's first game against his former team, the Orlando Magic, several teammates, coaches, and Howard himself have weighed in on the controversial past and mysterious future of basketball's best center.

ESPNLA.com's Ramona Shelburne has a story with quotes from people on the Lakers side (including head coach Mike D'Antoni, Chris Duhon, and Howard), and the Orlando Sentinel's Brian Schmitz has quotes from the Magic side (including Glen Davis, J.J. Redick, Arron Afflalo, Jameer Nelson, general manager Rob Hennigan, and head coach Jacque Vaughn.

Eastern Notes: Stoudemire, Evans, Bayless

November 28th, 2012 at 10:59pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Wizards finally broke through tonight, winning their first game in 13 tries with a victory over the Blazers. With a tough stretch ahead, however, it doesn't seem like they'll be catching anyone in the Eastern Conference standings soon. Here's the latest from around the East.

Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com hears Amare Stoudemire would accept a bench role when he returns from injury, and that the Knicks are indeed considering making Stoudemire, on a nearly $100MM contract, their sixth man.
Offseason sign-and-trade acquisition Reggie Evans could earn Sixth Man of the Year consideration if he keeps up his mastery of the boards for the Nets, opines A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com.
The Raptors were high on the idea of re-signing Jerryd Bayless, according to coach Dwane Casey, but the point guard decided to go to the Grizzlies instead, tweets Ryan Wolstat of the Toronto Sun.
The pressure has been on Magic GM Rob Hennigan as soon as he took the job, and after trading Dwight Howard, he must be right about his next big move, argues Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel.
Vincent Goodwill of the Detroit News rates Kyle Singler among the top five rookies, identifying him as a steal for the Pistons on his three-year, $3.135MM deal (Twitter link).
The Pistons had no idea Brandon Knight would fall to them at pick No. 8 in the 2011 draft, and had been targeting Tristan Thompson and Markieff Morris instead, as Keith Langlois of Pistons.com reveals via Twitter.
Nets newcomer Mirza Teletovic said he isn't concerned by his lack of playing time as he spoke about his adjustment to the NBA with Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News (Sulia link).
Omri Casspi, in the last year of his rookie deal with the Cavs, is among the league leaders in three-point shooting after working on his shot in the offseason, notes Bob Finnan of The News-Herald.

Kyler On Gasol, Redick, Varejao, Lakers, Fredette

November 28th, 2012 at 10:25am CST by Luke Adams

Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld took to Twitter today to field a variety of trade-related questions from his followers. Some of Kyler's tweets were particularly notable, so let's round up the highlights below (all links go to Twitter)….

The Lakers have kicked the tires on Pau Gasol trades in the past and are aware that any move they make would be a downgrade. Kyler notes that if the team falls out of contention, a Lamar Odom-esque salary dump is a possibility, but it's hard to imagine that happening this season.
Even though J.J. Redick is on an expiring contract, a deal isn't necessarily likely since Redick fits the culture the Magic are trying to establish. Asked specifically about a potential swap with the Timberwolves involving Redick and Derrick Williams, Kyler says the Magic would want to include at least one bad contract in that type of move.
The Cavaliers continue to say Anderson Varejao isn't available, but Kyler thinks the team will have to cash him in at some point.
The Hawks still intend to re-sign Josh Smith next summer and build around him.
Having traded most of their first-round picks in other deals, the Lakers no longer have the draft picks to facilitate a contract dump, so the team will find it difficult to move a point guard like Steve Blake or Chris Duhon.
The Lakers have talked about the possibility of adding Mickael Pietrus, Delonte West, or Raja Bell, but nothing is close.
Kyler also reiterates a point he's made before, saying Jimmer Fredette is unhappy with the Kings.

Eastern Notes: Wizards, Bobcats, 76ers, Barbosa

November 26th, 2012 at 2:16pm CST by Luke Adams

The game that was supposed to kick off the Nets' new era in Brooklyn nearly a month ago will finally take place tonight. Initially scheduled for November 1st, the Knicks' first visit to the Barclays Center was postponed by Superstorm Sandy. Besides being the first time the crosstown rivals will face one another in Brooklyn, the game also has signifigance in the standings, where the 9-3 Knicks and 8-4 Nets are atop the Atlantic Division and trail only the Heat in the Eastern Conference.

As we await the evening's battle of New York, here are a few odds and ends from around the East:

Michael Lee of the Washington Post explains how the six-year contract Gilbert Arenas signed back in the summer of 2008 continues to affect the Wizards.
The Wizards' and Bobcats' diverging fortunes this season can be partly attributed to the teams' offseason roster building, according to ESPN.com's John Hollinger (Insider link).
If the Sixers aren't comfortable committing to a long-term deal for Andrew Bynum next summer in free agency, there will be some alternatives on the free agent market, says John Smallwood of the Philadelphia Daily News.
Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe spoke to Glen Davis about his time with the Celtics and his role with the rebuilding Magic.
The Celtics signed Leandro Barbosa this fall to be a scorer off the bench, but the club has been impressed with his defense as well, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com.

Odds & Ends: Warriors, Dwight, Davis, Brewer

November 24th, 2012 at 3:11pm CST by Chuck Myron

It's an eight-game night in the NBA, and while not much attention will be focused on the Bobcats–Wizards tilt, it's certainly a change to find the 6-5 Bobcats on the other side of a game in which a team is starving for a win. While we wait to see if Washington can get its first victory in 11 tries this season, here's more from the Association.

In a guest editorial for the Bay Area News Group, former Warriors and Grizzlies executive Andy Dolich expresses doubt that the Warriors will be able to open their arena on the San Francisco Bay by 2017, given the lengthy environmental impact review process that must take place (hat tip to Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com).
Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com wonders if Dwight Howard, a free agent this summer, will question his commitment to the Lakers if the team's struggles continues (Twitter link).
Glen Davis is looking forward to getting his first win against the Celtics, who traded him to the Magic before last season, notes Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.
Corey Brewer has bounced around the league since he was picked seventh overall in in 2007, but with free agency looming next summer, the Nuggets' system has helped him finally live up to his promise, observes Ric Bucher of 95.7 The Game (Sulia link).
Benjamin Hoffman of The New York Times wonders what might have been if the Nets had kept their 2012 first-round draft choice and used it to select Damian Lillard, just as the Blazers did with the pick after they landed it in the Gerald Wallace deal.
Lillard is atop the rookie rankings compiled by Chris Bernucca of SheridanHoops.com.
Rookie Jae Crowder has been impressive at times for the Mavs, but his transition to the NBA has not been seamless, as Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star Telegram examines.

Dwight Howard Notes: Silver, D-Will, Nets, Magic

November 19th, 2012 at 6:03pm CST by Chuck Myron

The Dwight Howard saga was the dominant storyline of the year 2012, and while he seems content to be a Laker even as free agency looms this summer, a lot of people are taking a look back on more turbulent times as the Nets prepare to play the Lakers tomorrow night. It seemed for much of the year that Howard would end up in Brooklyn, but Deron Williams was convinced otherwise long before most others, as we detail below.

Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel has more on deputy commissioner Adam Silver's comments about the way Howard left the Magic. Silver reiterated that the incentive to keep stars with their original teams is one of the league's aims in CBA negotiations.

Earlier updates:

While others are looking back, Williams is focused squarely on the present, writes Sam Amick of USA Today. "Dwight was never (an option for the Nets)," Williams said. "I don't think (the Magic) were ever going to trade him to us, so it doesn't matter. When he opted in (to his contract for another season in mid-March), it kind of took that option away."
Howard seems content to put the Nets, as well as Williams, in his past as well, as Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com documents, and it seems the friendship between the two former Team USA teammates has soured. "That’s my decision," Howard said, presumably referring to his decision to opt in. "My life. If he’s upset because I made a decision for me, then so be it. If he doesn’t want to be friends because I’m on another team, then so be it. There’s no need to smooth things over."
Deputy commissioner Adam Silver, who will take over for commissioner David Stern in 2014, won't look back fondly on this year's "Dwightmare" for the Magic, reports John Denton of Magic.com (Twitter links). "It's an unfortunate circumstance and I don’t want to sugarcoat it," Silver said, referring to Howard's departure from the Magic. "This is not the way we like to see it happen."

Odds & Ends: Redick, Kapono, Brand, Grizzlies

November 19th, 2012 at 4:53pm CST by Luke Adams

The Wizards will be looking to win their first game of the season tonight, while the Spurs and Grizzlies will aim to be the first teams to nine wins. As we await the evening's seven-game slate, let's check out a few odds and ends from around the NBA:

J.J. Redick is on an expiring contract and there's been speculation that he's a candidate to be traded, but if it were up to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, the Magic would keep Redick and re-sign him at season's end.
Jason Kapono and Greek team Panathinaikos finalized a contract agreement last week, but the deal may have hit a sang after complications with Kapono's wife's pregnancy, according to Nikos Varlas of Eurohoops.net. The two sides are in constant contact to determine whether Kapono will be able to travel to Greece this week, but there's a chance the contract could be voided.
Speaking to Joel Brigham of HoopsWorld, Elton Brand talked about the 76ers' decision to amnesty him this summer, noting that the team informed him of its intentions early on and that there are no hard feelings there.
Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio talked to Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace about putting together a team that's off to the best start in the NBA this year.
Current Knicks GM Glen Grunwald acquired Tyson Chandler and a number of other players during the last two offseasons, but Donnie Walsh deserves plenty of credit too for the Knicks' turnaround, considering the moves he made before Grunwald took over, says George Willis of the New York Post.
After all the offseason additions the team made, the Clippers will now have to figure out how to balance minutes and egos, writes Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.
Keith Schlosser of Ridiculous Upside wonders if Juan Dixon will be the latest NBA veteran to use the D-League as a means of auditioning for NBA clubs.