Mobile Menu
HEADLINES

Magic Rumors

Berger On Howard, Williams, Chandler, Nash, GMs

February 3rd, 2012 at 9:03pm CST by Alex Lee

Ken Berger of CBSSports weighed in on the Dwight Howard situation, Deron Williams and several other hot NBA topics.  Here is a quick summary of his updates:

  • Dwight Howard would already be on his way out of Orlando if he was able to make a decision on a destination, according to a person close to the situation.  Rival executives believe that after the All-Star game in Orlando, the Magic will be forced to move him.  
  • Berger says that despite reports to the contrary, the Lakers are indeed one of Howard's finalists, along with the Mavericks and Nets.  The Lakers would prefer to move Pau Gasol in a deal over newly named All-Star starter Andrew Bynum. 
  • While the Nets are encouraged by Deron Williams' outlook on the team, the team knows that it must complete a Dwight Howard-sized deal to resign the point guard. 
  • Despite league-wide concern over how the Kenyon Martin situation shook out in China, the Nuggets remain committed to signing Wilson Chandler.
  • Steve Nash has not requested a trade, but if he should, the Suns would do all they can to accommodate his request. 
  • On top of the Lakers interest in Ramon Sessions, the team has also discussed the possibility of adding Gilbert Arenas.  
  • Berger suggests the following front office members have uncertain futures:  Wizards GM Ernie Grunfeld, Pistons team president Joe Dumars, Kings team president Geoff Petrie, Raptors team president Bryan Colangelo
Repost Share Send via email

Lakers Hesitant On Sessions

February 3rd, 2012 at 7:48pm CST by Alex Lee

The Lakers are one of many teams interested in trade candidate Ramon Sessions.  According to Marc Stein, the Cavaliers would be looking for at least one of the Lakers two first-round picks in 2012. 

Stein says Los Angeles is balking at including either of their first-rounders, or their $8.9MM trade exception, until they have a clearer understanding of Dwight Howard's situation in Orlando.  The Lakers interest in Howard is well documented, and they clearly don't want to jeopardize any of their trade assets in a deal for Sessions if there is a chance they can land Howard. 

The Lakers received one of their 2012 first-round picks and the $8.9MM trade exception when they dealt Lamar Odom to Dallas in the offseason. 

 

Repost Share Send via email

Dwight Howard Rumors: Thursday

February 2nd, 2012 at 11:43am CST by Luke Adams

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.
Repost Share Send via email

Magic Sign Ish Smith

February 2nd, 2012 at 8:12am CST by Luke Adams

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.

Repost Share Send via email

Odds & Ends: Hughes, Smith, Martin, James

February 1st, 2012 at 8:55pm CST by Ryan Raroque

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.  
Repost Share Send via email

Dwight Howard Rumors: Wednesday

February 1st, 2012 at 1:03pm CST by Luke Adams

According to GM Otis Smith, Dwight Howard's camp has yet to inform the Magic of any preferred destinations besides the Lakers, Mavericks, and Nets, despite rumblings of Chicago. That was one of the many updates we heard yesterday in the roundup of Howard links. What will today bring? We'll recap the latest on D12 right here:

  • ESPN.com's Chris Broussard (Insider link) thinks it's time for Howard to force a trade, preferably to the Nets, since the center's previous "request" left too much room for interpretation. Broussard argues Howard is worried too much about his brand and hurting the city's feelings, even though the Magic superstar knows he won't be in Orlando much longer.
  • Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld fielded a number of Howard-related questions via his Twitter feed today. Among the higlights: Kyler views the Nets as the frontrunner, and thinks there's less than a 25% chance that Howard stays in Orlando (Twitter links). I'm in agreement on both counts.
Repost Share Send via email

Magic Expected To Sign Ish Smith

January 31st, 2012 at 11:00pm CST by Ryan Raroque

This post was originally published on February 1st.

According to Marc Spears of Y! Sports (via Twitter), the Orlando Magic are expected to sign point guard Ish Smith on Thursday. With Jameer Nelson recovering from a concussion and not expected to return until Monday night against the Clippers, the Magic looked to add help at the point guard position.  

Smith played in six games for the Golden State Warriors and had averaged 4.5 PPG and 1.5 APG in 10.5 MPG before being waived in January. The Charlotte native produced in a standout game against the New York Knicks earlier this season in which he scored 11 points, dished out 4 assists, grabbed 6 rebounds, and had 2 steals in 29 minutes.  

Smith had recently signed a contract to play in the NBA D-League. 

Repost Share Send via email

Dwight Howard Rumors: Tuesday

January 31st, 2012 at 8:42pm CST by Luke Adams

There are still more than six weeks until the 2012 trade deadline, but it doesn't appear that the Dwight Howard trade rumors will slow down for a single day until we get resolution. Orlando GM Otis Smith claims he doesn't intend to make any big moves in the near future, but the Magic's play on the court has onlookers thinking D12's days in Orlando are numbered. Yesterday, Howard indicated he wouldn't mind playing with Derrick Rose, and ESPN's Ric Bucher heard Stephen Jackson would be another preferred teammate of Howard's. Here are today's updates:

  • Despite Howard indicating that he would be open to playing in Chicago, Magic GM Otis Smith told Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel that Howard's camp has not told the Magic that he has expanded his list of preferred trade destinations beyond his original three teams: the Nets, Lakers, and Mavericks.  Smith added that he does not believe that the Magic have lost bargaining power due to their recent losing streak.
  • Until Howard definitively says he'd sign an extension with the Bulls, the topic is a non-starter, tweets K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. Earlier today, Johnson predicted the Mavericks will be the team to land Howard.
  • After running through potential Howard scenarios, ESPN.com's Larry Coon concludes that Howard probably be won't be wearing a Magic jersey after March 15th, but could be a free agent this summer.
  • Howard's role of leader in the Magic clubhouse has been lost, says Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. According to Wojnarowski, everyone is resigned to the inevitable fact that Howard will be gone, sooner or later.
  • J.J. Redick to Wojnarowski on the elephant in the room: "As long as [Howard]’s here, it will be a distraction because it’s all anybody talks about when they talk about our team. We don’t hear it? Of course we do."
  • Ken Berger of CBSSports.com says we know how the Howard situation will eventually end, but not how bad it will get before then.
  • LeBron James and Chris Bosh may have taken flak for fleeing Cleveland and Toronto respectively for South Beach, but at least they played out their contracts without asking to be traded, writes Peter Vescey of the New York Post. Vescey adds that he doesn't think the Bulls should break up their team to make a blockbuster deal for Howard.
  • Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel advises fans at Amway Center to try to forget about the Howard drama for a night and show the Magic some love on Wednesday.
Repost Share Send via email

Magic GM: No Plans For Major Moves

January 31st, 2012 at 9:49am CST by Luke Adams

As trade rumors continue to swirl around Dwight Howard, Magic GM Otis Smith insists he doesn't intend to make any major moves, according to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel. Having lost its lost four games, Orlando has struggled recently, but Smith says the team's slump doesn't change his plans.

"I think you look at your team as a whole and understand that we have to fight through whatever we have to fight through and you continue to evaluate everything top to bottom," said Smith. "That's what you do. When it's time to make a change, you make a change."

Although Howard has requested a trade and is an incredibly desirable commodity, Smith is hamstrung by a number of the team's other assets. Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson are underperforming and are on expensive multiyear contracts, while recent free agent signings like Jason Richardson, Glen Davis, and Earl Clark can't be moved until March 1st.

I expect the team's front office to stay the course for the next month, hoping for an improvement in the team's performance. It seems highly unlikely the Magic make a move before March 1st, particularly since the All-Star Game takes place in Orlando on February 26th. If the team is still struggling at the start of March though, all bets are off.

Repost Share Send via email

Latest On Dwight Howard

January 30th, 2012 at 7:36pm CST by Chuck Myron

Derrick Rose would be open to having Dwight Howard join him in Chicago, as indicated by his comments to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. Here's the latest about the Magic big man who could be on the move:

Repost Share Send via email
Load More Posts