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Dwight Howard Rumors: Wednesday

July 4th, 2012 at 10:16am CST by Luke Adams

Yesterday's round of Dwight Howard rumors was fairly eventful, featuring reports that the Magic are discussing deals with a number of teams, including the Lakers and Nets. The Nets still appear determined to put together a complicated package for Howard, though their increasing cap figure will make it difficult. The Lakers, meanwhile, seem willing to offer Andrew Bynum, but only with Metta World Peace in the deal as well, and only if D12 agrees to sign a long-term deal. I don't think that package gets it done for a Magic team looking for cap relief.

We'll round up today's Howard updates right here, so check back throughout the day for the latest:

Dwight Howard Rumors: Tuesday

July 3rd, 2012 at 4:43pm CST by Luke Adams

4:43pm: The Magic haven't ruled out trading Howard to the Nets, and continue to talk to the Lakers, tweets Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.

12:54pm: The Lakers are prepared to offer Bynum and Metta World Peace in exchange for Howard, providing Dwight agrees to sign an extension, tweets Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM.com. Based on Wojnarowski's report, I'd be a little surprised if Orlando agreed to that deal. Plus, it would hinge on both big men agreeing to sign new contracts.

The Magic would include Jason Richardson in any Howard deal, Rudolph adds in a second tweet.

12:49pm: The Magic are focusing on Lakers center Andrew Bynum as their top target in Howard trade talks, according to Adrian Wojnarowski. However, the Magic would likely want more than just Bynum for Howard, and they'd need assurances that Bynum, who is also entering the final year of his contract, would sign an extension.

Wojnarowski adds that there's another trade scenario that involves a "significant player" that intrigues the Magic, but the team and player are unknown.

8:42am: There's not "great enthusiasm" within the Magic front office that the Nets can put together the most appealing offer for Howard, tweets Wojnarowski. However, the Magic also haven't received an offer from any team that they feel is enough to seriously consider trading Howard now, Wojnarowski adds in a second tweet.

8:03am: For progress to be made on the Magic/Nets talks, a third team would need to agree to take Humphries in the deal, tweets Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

7:49am: The Magic and Nets have re-engaged in talks on a possible deal for Dwight Howard, reports ESPN.com's Chris Broussard (all Twitter links). According to Broussard, the two sides are discussing a trade that would send Howard to Brooklyn in exchange for Kris Humphries, Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, and three first-round picks (2013, 2015, 2017).

Such a trade would be tricky financially, particularly if the Nets also take on Hedo Turkoglu, as Chris Mannix of SI.com suggests they're willing to (Twitter link). Sign-and-trades for Lopez and Humphries would be subject to Base Year Compensation — if their new salaries are more than 20% larger than their old salaries, then the Nets would use either their previous salary or 50% of their new salary (whichever is greater) for trade purposes, while the Magic would use their full salary. For instance, if Lopez signed for $10MM in year one, it would act as $5MM for the Nets' salary-matching purposes.

Ken Berger of CBS Sports confirms the talks between the Magic and Nets, but says those aren't the only discussions Orlando is having (Twitter links). According to Berger, GM Rob Hennigan is also trying to engage the Hawks, Rockets, Lakers, and possibly Mavericks. Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld hears that Dallas has been aggressive in pursuing Howard, but says the Lakers and Clippers are reluctant to deal without assurances D12 would sign an extension (Twitter links).

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Dwight Howard Rumors: Monday

July 2nd, 2012 at 11:30pm CST by Luke Adams

The first day of free agency was a busy one on the Dwight Howard front, as reports suggested D12 was upset with the Magic and that Orlando was discussing potential trades with the Lakers, Nets, and Rockets. Howard denied saying that the Magic "blackmailed" him and told Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM.com that he was tired of hearing reports cite unnamed sources when discussing his situation, but also said he'd only re-sign with one team if he were traded — presumably the Nets. We'll track the latest on Howard throughout the day, with the latest updates on top of the page:

The Mavs' offer for Howard could include some combination of Rodrigue Beaubois, Vince Carter, Dominique Jones and Brandan Wright, Jared Cunningham, Bernard James and Jae Crowder, plus draft picks and a sign-and-trade of Ian Mahinmi, a source tells Dwain Price of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Earlier updates:

Ric Bucher of ESPN.com hears the Nets are not out of the running for Howard, with the Mavs and Nets sharing space atop the big man's wish list (Twitter link).
With the Nets likely no longer an option for Howard, the Mavs have replaced Brooklyn as D12's single preferred destination, tweets Ric Bucher of ESPN.com.
The Nets would have preferred to deal for Howard instead of Joe Johnson, ESPN's Chris Broussard says, but the Magic were unwilling trade partners. Howard's decision to opt in with the Magic in March scuttled any chance of him going to the Nets, a source tells Broussard (Twitter links).
Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld points out the Nets could still acquire Howard by doing a sign-and-trade that sends Brook Lopez to Orlando (Twitter link). However, as Al Iannazzone of Newsday tweets, the Magic hasn't wanted Lopez.
In spite of Howard's request to be traded to Brooklyn, there's no Nets deal that interests the Magic, tweets TNT's David Aldridge.
Matt Steinmetz of CSNBayArea.com tweets that the Warriors have "been there, done that" regarding Howard trade talks, and suggests there's nothing going on now.
A source tells SI.com's Sam Amick that there's no chance Howard is traded to the Clippers if the Magic ask for Chris Paul or Blake Griffin, which of course they would.
Magic GM Rob Hennigan confirmed today that Howard asked to be traded and prefers the Nets, tweets David Baumann of BHSN and News 13. According to Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link), Hennigan said teams have shown "significant" interest in Howard, but talks are still preliminary.
David Pingalore of WKMG Orlando adds the Sixers to the list of teams that have discussed a possible Howard trade with the Magic.
The Warriors are still willing to trade for Howard even with no assurances that he'd re-sign, tweets ESPN.com's Chris Broussard.
The Nets are determined not to "wait around" for a Howard deal to materialize, says Ken Berger of CBSSports.com. As Berger writes, both the Nets and Rockets appear to be moving forward with alternate plans.
Steve Kyler of HoopsWorld adds the Clippers to the list of team that have expressed interest in Howard. According to Kyler, the Magic will likely look to deal Howard quickly, though there is no internal rush to make a bad deal.

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Warriors Dropping Out Of Dwight Howard Race

July 2nd, 2012 at 5:44pm CST by Chuck Myron

We're following all of the day's Dwight Howard rumors right here, but the news out of Golden State is worthy of its own post. Warriors co-owner Joe Lacob said today that he doesn't expect the team to go after Dwight Howard via trade, as Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com writes.

Howard Will Only Re-Sign With One Team

July 1st, 2012 at 11:49pm CST by Zachary Links

Dwight Howard says that he will not re-sign with a team outside his preferred list of trade destinations, writes Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The Magic star also denied using the term "blackmail" with regards to the Magic front office convincing him to waive his early termination option.

"There’s only one team on my list and if I don’t get traded there, I'll play the season out and explore my free agency after that," said Howard, who is reportedly seeking a trade to the Nets but would not name the team.

Lakers, Nets, Rockets Talking Howard Trade

July 1st, 2012 at 2:07pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lakers and Magic have had preliminary contact about a possible deal for Dwight Howard, league sources told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The Nets and Rockets have also talked to Magic officials, sources said.

Howard Upset With Magic; Orlando Exploring Trade

July 1st, 2012 at 1:36am CST by Luke Adams

The situation between Dwight Howard and the Magic is getting ugly, tweets Chris Broussard of ESPN.com, who says Howard feels the team made promises they didn't keep to get him to waive his early termination option. Ric Bucher of ESPN hears that the players' union is considering legal action on Howard's behalf in hopes of eliminating D12's opt-in and making him a free agent this summer (Twitter links).

Howard Meets With Hennigan, Wants Trade To Nets

July 1st, 2012 at 1:07am CST by Chuck Myron

SUNDAY, 1:07am: The new management team in Orlando won't trade Howard until it has completed its due diligence, tweets TNT's David Aldridge. According to Aldridge, Hennigan and the front office won't let outside talk force them into making a decision before they're ready.

SATURDAY, 10:23pm: Howard has sought to nullify his decision to opt in to the final year of his contract, Broussard reports, but the players union will not pursue the complaint. There's no chance such a nullification will happen, league sources tell Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld (Twitter link). Howard told Hennigan he thought the Magic had blackmailed him into opting in, according to Broussard.

Magic GM Talks Nicholson, Howard, Nelson, Coach

June 29th, 2012 at 12:19am CST by Luke Adams

Magic GM Rob Hennigan contemplated moving up or down in the first round of tonight's draft, but ultimately decided to stay put and draft Andrew Nicholson. He told reporters, including John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com (Twitter link), that Nicholson was "the best player on the board," in Orlando's estimation. Hennigan also made a number of other comments to Orlando media tonight, so let's round up the highlights (all Twitter links, via Denton, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel, and Josh Robbins of the Sentinel)….

Dwight Howard To Lakers Still Being Discussed

June 28th, 2012 at 6:16pm CST by Luke Adams

6:16pm: The Rockets continue to exhaust all possibilities to acquire Howard, but if Houston is unable to put together a suitable package, the Lakers could move in on D12 in the next few weeks, says Sam Amico of FOX Sports Ohio (Sulia link).

6:01pm: A trade that would send Dwight Howard to the Lakers and Andrew Bynum to the Magic is still being discussed, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (via Twitter).

It's not clear, based on Woelfel's tweet, whether the two sides are engaged in trade discussions, or whether the Lakers and/or Magic are internally discussing the possibility. However, reports have suggested for weeks that Howard is the only player that would make the Lakers seriously consider moving Bynum.