Dwight Howard Rumors: Tuesday
Over the weekend, a report surfaced suggesting a conversation with Kobe Bryant had soured Dwight Howard on the possibility of a trade to the Lakers. In a message to Peter Vecsey of the New York Post, Bryant insisted there was no truth to the story. Regardless of whether or not such a conversation happened, it appears Howard prefers New Jersey to Los Angeles. Here are Tuesday's updates on Howard, with the latest up top:
- Following the preseason trade request from Howard's camp, Magic CEO Alex Martins no longer deals with Howard's agent Dan Fegan, tweets Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. Only GM Otis Smith speaks with Fegan now.
- While Howard's list of preferred destinations still only includes the Lakers, Nets, and Mavs, Schmitz tweets that the Clippers would be "fools" not to trade Blake Griffin if Howard said he would sign a long-term deal with the Clips.
Odds & Ends: Lin, Billups, Williams, Kaman
Lakers star Kobe Bryant eclipsed former teammate Shaquille O'Neal as the fifth all-time leading scorer in NBA history as he put up 28 points in a 95-90 loss to the 76ers. Personal records aside, Kobe's main focus remains on securing a sixth championship ring which is becoming increasingly difficult as the Lakers dropped to 14-11 on the season, with nine of those losses coming on the road. Let's take a look around the league on what was a busy Monday night for the NBA.
- Jeremy Lin scored 28 points in his first start for the Knicks this evening in a 99-88 victory over the Utah Jazz. Lin, 23, wouldn't have even received this opportunity if Baron Davis' recovery had stayed on track, tweets NBA.com's Scott Howard-Cooper. With his strong performances of late, Lin is nearly assured of his contract becoming guaranteed on Friday.
- Isiah Thomas' career came to an end thanks to an Achilles injury against Orlando back in 1994, says Pistons beat writer Vincent Goodwill (via Twitter). A similar fate may hold true for Chauncey Billups who left Monday's game against the Magic in the fourth quarter with what may be a left Achilles tear.
- If Billups' injury turns out to be as severe as predicted, Clippers GM Neil Olshey should be commended for his decision to not shop Mo Williams even when his team's roster was overloaded with point guards.
- Jimmy Smith of The Times-Picayune describes the Hornets' decision to return Chris Kaman to the active roster as a way to build a highlight-reel in order to improve trade offers. In his first game back with the Hornets, Kaman, 29, scored 10 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and made two blocks in a 100-92 loss to the Kings.
Odds & Ends: Heat, T-Wolves, 76ers, Jackson
On this day in 2008, the Heat parted ways with Shaquille O'Neal, shipping him to Phoenix in exchange for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Although Shaq saw a boost in his production for the next year and a half, he didn't win a playoff series in Phoenix — the Suns fell to the Spurs in the first round in 2008, then failed to make the postseason a year later. Here are a few items of note from around the league, starting with one of Shaq's former teams:
- In a perfect world, the Heat would add a bulkier center and a veteran point guard, writes Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
- Teams can begin signing players to 10-day contracts today, as Chuck Myron outlined in our primer over the weekend. At SB Nation, Scott Schroeder looks at a few D-League players who are candidates for NBA contracts.
- The Timberwolves have assigned Malcolm Lee to their D-League affiliate in Sioux Falls, tweets Jerry Zgoda of the Star Tribune. A 2011 second-round pick, Lee had knee surgery in December and has yet to make his NBA debut.
- John Hollinger of ESPN.com (Insider link) wonders if the 76ers could clear cap space and pursue Eric Gordon this offseason.
- Magic GM Otis Smith shouldn't have acted on Dwight Howard's personnel suggestions and signed Glen Davis this offseason, argues Mike Bianchi of the Orlando Sentinel.
- Meanwhile, Chris Paul, who's all too familiar with trade rumors, has some words of advice for Howard, as Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel writes.
- Stephen Jackson told Charles F. Gardner of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that he couldn't say whether or not he's asked Bucks management for a trade.
Kyler On Nash, Howard, D’Antoni
In an NBA AM piece for HoopsWorld, Steve Kyler shares a few updates on some trade candidates and a coach on the hot seat. Let's check out the highlights….
- Suns sources indicate they're open to a two-year extension for Steve Nash at the end of the season. Nash could earn more money by staying in Phoenix than he could by signing elsewhere, so that could be a reason he and his agent haven't expressed any desire for a trade.
- The Lakers have always been behind the Nets and Mavericks on Dwight Howard's list of preferred destinations, according to Kyler. Howard views the Nets as Plan A, with the Lakers, Mavericks, and Magic as backup plans, Kyler hears.
- The Magic, who could offer Howard significantly more money than any other team this summer if they keep him, still believe they can retain their star center. Until Howard makes it unquestionably clear that he'll leave in free agency, the Magic won't feel obligated to move him.
- Although the Knicks probably need to replace Mike D'Antoni, there's no clear candidate to step in for him, says Kyler. An outside replacement is unlikely during the season, and none of the in-house candidates would represent a clear upgrade.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Sunday
Saturday, it was reported that a phone conversation between Kobe Bryant and Dwight Howard has soured the Magic center on the prospect of playing for the Lakers. Today has been relatively quiet in the area of Howard-related rumors.
- HoopsWorld's Alex Kennedy appeared on NetsAreScorching TV and stated that he strongly believes Howard will end up on the Nets, citing the center's close relationship with Deron Williams and the allure of a new arena in Brooklyn as selling points.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Saturday
Yesterday, it was reported that Dwight Howard's camp informed the Lakers that the center would opt out of his contract and test free agency if he is traded to Los Angeles. Howard, according to sources, also might be skittish about the idea of following Shaquille O'Neal's footprints with a move from Orlando to L.A. Meanwhile, Ken Berger of CBSSports.com writes that the Lakers are still among the center's finalists, along with the Nets and Mavericks. We'll keep track of all of today's news on Howard right here..
- Kobe Bryant told Dwight Howard he envisions the big man playing a Tyson Chandler-like third-fiddle role behind himself and Pau Gasol, a source tells Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM. Rudolph reiterated reports that Howard has told the Lakers he won't sign an extension with them if he's dealt to the team.
- A source close to Howard told Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (via Twitter) that Bryant is the reason why the 26-year-old is leaning away from the Lakers. "Kobe messed it up. That's all I can say for now," the source told Kennedy.
Draft Notes: Irving, Harkless, Moser
The Cavs are relying on top-pick Kyrie Irving for heavy minutes, notes Tom Reed of The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and a rotation shortened by injuries is taking its toll on the team, Reed says. The heavy use must not be affecting Irving's play, however. Justin Kubatko notes in The New York Times that Kyrie Irving is quietly on his way to perhaps becoming the first rookie to ever shoot 50% from the floor, 40% from three-point range, and 80% from the free-throw line.
Here are a few notes as teams try to find the next Irving in preparation for June's draft:
- Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv reports multiple sources have said St. John's freshman Moe Harkless may enter the draft. The 6-foot-8 Harkless is rated as the 36th best prospect by DraftExpress.com. Zagoria quotes a scout who predicts a "great future," but wishes he'd stay another year.
- ESPN projects UNLV sophomore forward Mike Moser, a UCLA transfer, as a late first-round pick (Insider only), but Moser tells Jim Beseda of The Oregonian that he's glad to be a Rebel and isn't planning on leaving for the draft after this year.
- Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel wonders what would have happened if the Magic hadn't passed over Danny Granger for Fran Vasquez in the 2005 draft.
Dwight Howard Rumors: Friday
Updates on the latest Dwight Howard rumors have been a daily feature over the course of Hoops Rumors' first week. Considering we still have exactly six weeks until the trade deadline, that trend may continue for a while yet. Here are Friday's Howard items, with the newest updates up top:
- Mary Schmitt Boyer of the Cleveland Plain Dealer wonders why Orlando no longer appears to be an attractive destination for NBA free agents – specifically why the Magic haven't sold Howard on the idea that they can attract stars to come to him, as opposed to the other way around.
- Howard's camp has informed the Lakers that the center would opt out and test free agency if he's dealt to Los Angeles, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.
- Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM suggests the Nets should just wait out the Howard sweepstakes, since he seems interested in signing with them on the open market after the season.
- The Magic figure to push for resolution one way or the other when March arrives, says Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. The club said the DeVos family hasn't asked the Magic not to trade Howard until after the All-Star game in Orlando, Schmitz tweets.
- The Nets are quietly confident they can land Howard, with a team source telling Fred Kerber of the New York Post the team is "more than just 'in the mix.'"
- Kerber also hears from sources that Howard isn't overly enthusiastic about going to the Lakers because Shaquille O'Neal's shadow looms. After the disagreement between the two about the "Superman" nickname, I could buy that Howard would be reluctant to again follow in O'Neal's footsteps with an Orlando-to-L.A. move.
- One executive to Kerber, on the possibility of trading for Howard without being sure he'd sign a contract extension: "To bring in a player of that magnitude without assurances he’d be staying would be professional suicide."
- In an interview with 710 ESPN in Los Angeles (via ESPNLosAngeles.com), former Lakers GM Jerry West said if he were an executive in a situation similar to Howard's, he would call the player's bluff: "I don't think any agent or player is going to leave $30MM on the table. I just don't believe that's going to happen."
Berger On Howard, Williams, Chandler, Nash, GMs
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
Lakers Hesitant On Sessions
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.