Nets Working On Dwight Howard Trade Options In Advance Of Deadline

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NBA Trade Rumors: Nets Working On Dwight Howard Trade Options

The New Jersey Nets are working on potential multi-team Dwight Howard trade options even though the Orlando Magic have not yet signaled that the team will trade the All-Star center before the league's March 15 trade deadline, reports Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix (via NetsDaily). The Nets received permission to speak with Howard about trade possibilities earlier this season, and are considered to be one of the few teams that the center would prefer to be traded to.

But the question remains as to whether the Nets have the assets to pull it off after mortgaging a good portion of the franchise's future to land Deron Williams a year ago. Brook Lopez is considered to be the centerpiece of any Nets' package; Lopez made his season debut last weekend after a preseason injury that required surgery kept him out of the team's first 32 games. The Nets would need to rely on their status as a preferred destination for Howard to gain favor from Orlando.

For more on the Nets, check out NetsDaily.

What Dwight Howard Clippers Rumors Teach Us About Blake Griffin

Dwight Howard trade rumors now include the Clippers, pitching a pipe dream of Blake Griffin and Superman playing side-by-side in Hollywood. It won't happen. But trading Blake Griffin for Dwight Howard? That's not a bad idea.

Dwight Howard Adds Clippers To Trade Wish List, According To Report

Dwight Howard's trade wish list has grown by one team, reports Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops.com, and that team is the L.A. Clippers. The Clips reportedly join the New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Lakers as teams Howard would be open to signing a long-term contract with should the Orlando Magic elect to trade him before he can become a free agent in July.

Sheridan also reports that the Nets are quickly losing their status. New Jersey is just 3-10 as Brook Lopez is recovering from knee surgery and the squad around Deron Williams has struggled mightily.

Howard has been fuzzy about whether he would listen to pitches if the Magic choose to trade him to a team not on his wish list before the March 15 deadline; the Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks have been rumored to be considering making a pitch to "rent" Howard for the rest of the season, then convince him to sign long-term in the offseason. The Magic could also decide to keep him past the deadline and hope a deep playoff run and a higher allowable contract offer keeps him in Orlando.

For more on the Clippers, visit Clips Nation. For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Atlanta Hawks Interested In Magic Center

Most of the Dwight Howard trade rumors were squelched when Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith announced he was taking his All-Star center off of the NBA's trading block, but there's little doubt he'll eventually be traded out of Florida before becoming a free agent. SB Nation's Tom Ziller noted earlier this month that it's basically a decision of when, not if, regarding the Magic's trading of the face of their franchise.

The Magic are apparently thinking along those lines behind the scenes as well, according to ESPN's Marc Stein. Stein reported late Tuesday night that Orlando is looking for a package that included established veterans, something Howard's hometown Atlanta Hawks have apparently offered while the New Jersey Nets continue to wait.

Sources told ESPN.com that the aforementioned Hawks, meanwhile, engaged Orlando in trade talks for Howard earlier this month with an offer believed to be headlined by $124 million guard Joe Johnson and swingman Josh Smith. You have to figure that the Magic, though, would insist on Al Horford if such discussions ever got serious.

The Magic have until March 15 to decide whether to trade Howard or allow him to test the free agent market next summer, but it would seem to be in their best interests to get as much as possible for their All-Star centerpiece. With the Hawks now known to be involved in the discussions, it'll be interesting to see who else pops up before all is said and done.

SB Nation is your spot, by the way, for all of the Dwight Howard trade rumors.

How Long Can Magic Put Off Dwight Howard Trade Talks?

Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Orlando Magic have ended trade talks involving Dwight Howard. The Magic hope to have some early season success and convince Howard -- who has always maintained that he loves Orlando -- that he can compete for championships there. Howard is due to be an unrestricted free agent in July 2012 if he doesn't first sign a contract extension or pick up the 2012-13 option on his current contract.

How long can the Magic wait to trade him, and what are the chances Orlando's hold on Howard will improve compared to its diminishing leverage?

First, we shouldn't assume that Orlando's leverage will necessarily diminish; the Denver Nuggets received a package from the New York Knicks in February as good as one they would have gotten in November in the Carmelo Anthony derby. Why? Because the Knicks remained desperate for a second star to pair with Amar'e Stoudemire. 

The New Jersey Nets have lost bids to grab Tyson Chandler and Nene; chances are now that Kris Humphries returns on a lucrative, short deal and the team reaches for a small forward to replace Travis Outlaw. While Deron Williams was banged up, the Nets went only 7-18 after the All-Star break last season. This probably isn't a playoff team without a significant upgrade on the roster. So the Nets will be desperately after Howard in March as heavily as they are now. (The trade deadline this season is March 15.)

The L.A. Lakers, Howard's other major suitor, will likely also remain enamored of the center, provided that a downgraded roster doesn't run away with the West. (No one expects them to, barring a Chris Paul trade; Lamar Odom is a huge loss.) Howard is so attractive a piece that any team he signals a willingness to remain with long-term will move the skies and Earth to land him. That's not going to change.

But will the Magic become the juggernaut Howard apparently needs them to be? Remember: though the Magic flamed out quickly in last season's playoffs, the team has averaged 55.5 wins per season over the last four years, better than any franchises but the Boston Celtics (58.5) and L.A. Lakers (59). The equivalent of a 60-win team in the shortened season will be one with a 48-18 record -- if Orlando can look like it's heading in that direction, will Howard commit? The Magic did win 59 games in each of the 2009 and 2010 seasons, and Howard didn't seem particularly committed long-term then.

That's the question that seems unsolved for Orlando. Otis Smith has built a huge winner centered around Howard. He bet huge on Rashard Lewis, then Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and GIlbert Arenas. The team is capped out even after accounting for the amnesty provision, which excised Arenas' albatross contract. Few consider Glen Davis an upgrade on Brandon Bass, let alone an upgrade that can push the Magic above the Bulls, Heat and Celtics. Other fronts have been quiet. Is there a killer deal that can turn this team into a true titan in 2011-12? It looks unlikely, unless there's an odd way to send Chris Paul to Orlando.

But given the fact that the Magic will be able to get the same packages offered now in March, there's no harm in holding out hope and praying Howard decides he loves Big Baby and Mickey Mouse.

Magic Reportedly End Dwight Howard Trade Talks

The Orlando Magic have ended trade talks involving their All-NBA center Dwight Howard, reports Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski. The Magic had allowed Howard permission to speak to three teams -- the New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Lakers -- within the last few days, but apparently hope the team will perform well enough that Howard decides to sign a long-term extension or a new five-year contract next July when he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

If the Magic continue to hold steady on Howard, it's a huge blow to both the Nets and Lakers, the two leading candidates to acquire him. The Nets, who struck out on the top big men on the free agent market, were dangling Brook Lopez and draft picks. The Lakers were expected to make Andrew Bynum available.

The Magic have otherwise been mostly quiet in free agency, retaining Jason Richardson and traded Brandon Bass for Glen Davis.

For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Blazers' Gerald Wallace Added To Blockbuster Talks Between Magic, Nets

Dwight Howard trade rumors have not been quite as rampant as the issues circulating around moving Chris Paul, but the Orlando Magic big man is certainly a hot commodity as the truncated training camps mosey into full gear. The latest reports indicate that the Portland Trail Blazers have emerged as trade partners in what looks to be a four-team deal that would allow Howard to end up with the New Jersey Nets.

The Magic would reportedly receive Gerald Wallace from the Blazers and Brook Lopez from the Nets, among other pieces, in the latest deal as reported by ESPN's Marc Stein and Chad Ford.

The Magic would send the albatross contract of Hedo Turkoglu, along with Chris Duhon, to New Jersey while  receiving future draft consideration, according to the ESPN tandem, while Portland would receive multiple first round picks for their role in the trade.

SB Nation's Tom Ziller talked about the Nets' need for Howard now, as opposed to later, as they attempt to become a power in the East.

The Nets are in a pickle, considering that Deron Williams is months away from unrestricted free agency and the team as constructed is heading for a sub-.500 season. (The team went 7-18 after the All-Star Game.) The Nets have relatively little in the pipeline: Derrick Favors and the draft pick that became Enes Kanter were sent off for D-Will, and while a bad season would give the Nets a good pick in a great draft, selling Williams on, uh, John Henson or Perry Jones could be a quixotic effort. The Nets need to ensure that Williams re-signs; to ensure that Williams re-signs, the Nets need to get better now.

Keep tabs on the Dwight saga in this StoryStream and at the wonderful Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Nets Strike Out Again, Need Dwight Howard Before Things Get Ugly

The New Jersey Nets have failed in free agency ... again. The team desperately needs to pull a trade for Dwight Howard, and soon. Also in The Hook: Kwame Brown, DeAndre Jordan and setting cash on fire.

Nets Pushing Hard For Dwight Howard Trade With Possible Four-Team Deal, According To Report

The New Jersey Nets are renewing their strong push to land Dwight Howard in a trade with the Orlando Magic, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. The latest talks center around a four-team deal that would allow the Magic to pick up another strong asset in addition to Brook Lopez, who the Nets are offering at the core of their package.

Howard has been granted permission by the Magic to speak to the Nets, Dallas Mavericks and L.A. Lakers. He is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2012. He hasn't been shy about flirting with the idea of leaving Orlando, with a reported trade request to the Nets the most obvious sign.

The Nets still have plenty of cap space on account of striking out in the team's pursuits of Tyson Chandler and Nene. Chandler signed with the New York Knicks on Saturday, and the Denver Nuggets held on to Nene on Tuesday.

For more on the Nets, visit NetsDaily.

Dwight Howard Trade Request Comes As Relationship With Otis Smith Deteriorates

Dwight Howard requested a trade this weekend and the process of finding a workable deal has been unfolding since. But Howard also felt the need to explain himself on Sunday, sitting down with ESPN's Brian Windhorst to clear the air about his time with the Magic. Howard's chief complaint, it seems, is Magic general manager Otis Smith's inability to pull-off personnel moves he requested.

Howard told ESPN he went to Smith numerous times with trade ideas and other personnel requests he felt would strength the team, but the moves never came to fruiting. But, Howard maintains, he doesn't want to be a general manager.

"I'm not a GM, I never said I wanted to be a GM," Howard said.

"What I said was I want to be involved. Everybody has a right to be involved. ... I should want to be involved. I should want to say 'hey, this is what we need, this is what we need to do.' If I didn't care, I wouldn't have said anything. Obviously I care enough about this team that I've asked them and I want to be involved. If you don't like something, you'd just walk away. If you want to be involved you'd do anything you can. If you don't get it, what do you do?"

Howard and Smith haven't talked since last Tuesday, before a trade was demanded.

Keep tabs on the Dwight saga in this StoryStream and at the wonderful Orlando Pinstriped Post.

NBA Rumors: Bulls Want In On Dwight Howard Trade Talk

Dwight Howard gave the Orlando Magic a list of three teams he'd like to be traded to ahead of his 2012 free agency: the New Jersey Nets, L.A. Lakers and Dallas Mavericks. Despite its exclusion from that list, the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson reports, the Chicago Bulls would like to get a chance to make a pitch for the reigning Defensive Player of the Year.

The Bulls have young pieces like Joakim Noah that could pique the Magic's interest, but the team would first have to convince Howard to open up his list a little. He reportedly requested a trade to the Nets (who will move to Brooklyn for the 2012-13 season); New Jersey has offered Brook Lopez and two first-round picks. Orlando is said to be cool on that offer. The Lakers would be assumed to make Andrew Bynum and/or Pau Gasol available in a Howard deal, though a Saturday trade sending Lamar Odom to the Mavericks could leave the team with a hole at power forward if the team deals for Howard.

For more on Chicago, visit Blog-A-Bull.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Lakers In The Mix After Dropping Chris Paul Deal

The Los Angeles Lakers appear to be out of the Chris Paul sweepstakes after pulling Lamar Odom out of the deal to reportedly send him to Dallas. But the Lakers may not be done, and instead seem to focusing their efforts on Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. On Saturday, Howard requested a trade, with the New Jersey Nets reportedly at the top of his list. But the Lakers may be in the mix, as well.

According to a report from Adrian Wojnarowski, the belief is the Lakers are making a run at Howard.

Says one Western Conference executive: "The Lakers are shifting toward trying to make a Dwight Howard deal."

Mark Stein echoes Wojnarowski's report, as well.

Lakers have clearly made decision to focus on trying to acquire Dwight Howard. Lining up rest of their assets to duel New Jersey for DH12

The belief is that the trade exception created by sending Odom to Dallas would allow the Lakers to take on Hedo Turkoglu from the Magic in a potential deal. But John Hollinger slams the brakes on that train of thought with the quickness.

Any exception created by dealing Odom isn't big enough to take in Turkoglu. I'm not seeing LA's endgame here, nor why Dallas would help.

Something is missing in this process and nobody is quite sure what. It's not as if the reported Odom deal is the endgame for the Lakers, but it's also unclear how it works as a step towards acquiring Howard.

Keep tabs on the Dwight saga in this StoryStream and at the wonderful Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Center Conflicted Over Future

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard spoke to the media Saturday regarding his recent demands to be traded and made it clear that he feels conflicted.

Via Magic Basketball Online...

"Just because I've asked to be traded doesn't mean that I don't like where I'm at. The back and forth for me is based on the people here."

Howard, who was wearing a Magic hat, told reporters that he is reading everything he receives on Facebook and Twitter and he is "hurt" by some of the stuff being sent.

When asked if he wants to be in Orlando when the season starts, Howard said, "Yes, I do. But that's up to the people in charge."

Dwight also said he had a meeting with CEO Alex Martins today where both sides presented their arguments and both sides promised to work together for the best mutual decision.

Keep tabs on the Dwight saga in this StoryStream and at the wonderful Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: New Jersey Nets The Preferred Destination

Dwight Howard has formally requested a trade, according to Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith, and he reportedly has his eyes on one destination. Previously, Howard had been reportedly granted permission to speak to three teams: The Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets. Of the three, Howard prefers the Nets, and has requested the Magic send him to New Jersey, according to a report.

The report comes from Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Dwight Howard has requested that the Orlando Magic trade him to the New Jersey Nets, league sources tell Y! Sports.

All along, the signs have been around. Howard allegedly met with the Nets, specifically owner Mikhail Prokhorov, before the free agency period began, though his agent denied those reports. The Magic also remain interested in finding ways to keep Howard in Orlando, though the chances seem small at this point.

Keep tabs on the Dwight saga in this StoryStream and at the wonderful Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Requests Trade, Magic General Manager Otis Smith Says

It was inevitable at some point, but Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith confirmed Dwight Howard has asked for a trade. On Friday, Howard was given permission to speak to the Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks as he began to seek a trade. It's unclear how far along those talks are, or if any of the three teams will be a destination as the Magic figure out what to do with Howard.

However, Howard requesting a trade doesn't mean he's free to control his own destination, nor does it mean the Magic will cease exploring options to keep him, Smith said.

Smith emphasized that the Magic want to keep Howard long-term, and he added that Howard and his camp haven’t told the team that he definitely will not remain with the franchise. Indeed, Smith repeated what Magic officials have said for days: that the team will make every effort to keep the All-NBA First Team center.

Keep tabs on the Dwight saga in this StoryStream and at the wonderful Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Has Permission To Speak To Lakers, Nets And Mavericks About Potential Trade

Dwight Howard and his agent can talk to three teams -- the L.A. Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets -- about a potential trade with the Orlando Magic, report Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski and SI.com's Sam Amick. There had been massive confusion late Friday as to whether the Magic had indeed allowed Howard to engage other teams in potential deal-making.

Of course, Orlando could elect to reject offers from those teams and either keep Howard for the balance of the 2011-12 season or trade him to a team that the All-Star center is not particularly excited about. The Magic have been said to be cool on the Nets' offer of Brook Lopez and two first-round picks. L.A. is believed to be dangling center Andrew Bynum. A potential Dallas package in a complete mystery on account of the Mavericks having so few high-interest young pieces.

Keep tabs on the Dwight saga in this StoryStream and at the wonderful Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic Now Contradicting Themselves

It would probably be a superb idea for the Orlando Magic brass to quiet down and huddle up for a moment, lest things get anymore foolish. Let's rundown what's happened in the past hour or so to try and get an idea of what's going on here.

First, Dwight Howard's agent told Adrian Wojnarowski that the Magic had given him permission to speak to three teams, including the New Jersey Nets. Shortly thereafter, Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins shot down the report, saying Howard had been given no such permission. Now this, passed along by Sam Amick.

Magic folks might want to get on the same page here. @RicBucher reporting that Orlando GM Otis Smith said he did give permission.

So the GM says Howard has been permission and the CEO says he hasn't. Remember earlier when I said this saga had already gone off the deep end? We've passed the pants on head stage and moved straight to lampshade on head territory. And we still have no idea whether Howard has permission to speak to other teams.

Back with more when it becomes available, hopefully after the Magic huddle up.

For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York. For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Not Given Permission To Speak To Teams, Magic CEO Says

Late Friday night, Dwight Howard was reportedly given permission to speak to three different teams about a trade. The news came from Howard's agent, who also said the New Jersey Nets were one of those teams. The report was logical and made plenty of sense: most expected Howard to be dealt at some point, and this would be another step in the process.

Except the report wasn't true, if Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins is to be believed. Martins told Sam Amick no such permission was given, and we're back to square one.

Story to come on SI.com, but Orlando CEO Alex Martins disputes the claim of Dwight Howard's agent that permission was given to talk to teams

And this is where we all dance around with our pants on our head. Nobody knows what's going on, a general manager and agent are fighting in the media, and Howard is still hanging out in limbo. Yet somehow, this still looks better than the Chris Paul debacle, so that's a plus.

For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York. For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Reportedly Given Permission To Speak To Three Teams, Including Nets

Dwight Howard has been given permission to speak to three teams in an effort to explore a trade, according to a report on Friday night. Trade rumors involving Howard had been swirling ahead of the free agency period, coming to a head on Friday morning as allegations of tampering emerged. However, the New Jersey Nets, the team alleged to have met with Howard before the free agency period began, were one of the teams reportedly granted permission to speak to him on Friday.

The report comes from Adrian Wojnarowski, who spoke to Howard's agent on Friday.

The agent for Dwight Howard, Dan Fegan, tells Y! Sports that Orlando has given Howard permission to talk to three teams. The Nets are one of three teams that Howard has permission to speak, but Fegan says Howard did not attend a meeting with Nets officials.

It's unknown which two teams were also granted permission to speak with Howard.

For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York. For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Denies Meeting With Nets' Management

On Friday, reports suggested that the Orlando Magic were considering filing tampering charges against the New Jersey Nets after an alleged meeting between All-Star center Dwight Howard and Nets' owner Mikhail Prokhorov and general manager Billy King in Miami this week. Howard, who can become a free agent in 2012 and has not committed to staying with Orlando, denied those reports later on Friday.

In the past, the league has threatened massive fines and forfeited draft picks to teams found to have tampered with players under contract. The last high-profile tampering case came a year ago as the Cleveland Cavaliers sought to prove that management with the Miami Heat made illicit contact with LeBron James well ahead of his free agency in July 2010. But no charges were brought, and the investigation fizzled out.

For more on the Nets, visit SB Nation's NetsDaily. For more on Howard and the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Allegedly Met With Nets Owner Mikhail Prokhorov, Leading Magic To File Tampering Complaint

NBA.com's David Aldridge reported Friday that the Orlando Magic are pursuing tampering charges against two teams for alleged contact with All-Star Dwight Howard, who remains under contract through the 2011-12. SI.com's Sam Amick reports that the two teams in potential trouble are the New Jersey Nets and Houston Rockets.

The Nets' role, Amick reports, comes from a purported meeting on Thursday between Howard and New Jersey owner Mikhail Prokhorov.

Under traditional league rules, team officials are not allowed to speak to players under contract with another franchise without explicit permission. One assumes that though the NBA was under a lockout until late Thursday, those rules remained in place. If Prokhorov did meet with Howard without permission from the league or the Magic, NBA precedence suggests massive fines and even draft picks could be the penalty.

The nature of the Rockets' alleged tampering remains unknown.

For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic 'Not All That Interested' In New Jersey Nets' Offer, According To Report

The New Jersey Nets appear to have vaulted to the front of the Dwight Howard trade sweepstakes, but the Orlando Magic don't seem all that enamored with what the Nets are offering. New Jersey's offer centers around big man Brook Lopez and multiple draft picks, but the Magic aren't interested now, according to David Aldridge of NBA.com.

The Magic, the source said, will not allow a repeat of the Shaquille O'Neal departure from Orlando to Los Angeles in 1996, when O'Neal walked as a free agent and the Magic were left with nothing. If the organization ultimately decides it has no choice but to trade Howard, it will do so. But the Magic will decide where he goes. The source said a reported proposed package by the Nets of center Brook Lopez and Draft picks for Howard is not at all interesting to the Magic.

The Nets have their own draft pick to offer this year, but did trade away a pick they acquired from the Golden State Warriors in order to acquire Deron Williams. Besides Lopez, it remains unclear what other assets might be appealing to the Magic.

For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post and SB Nation Tampa Bay. For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily and SB Nation New York.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Orlando Magic May File Tampering Charges, According To Report

With Dwight Howard's departure from Orlando imminent in some people's eyes, the Orlando Magic are contemplating filing tampering charges against two teams for illegally contacting Howard, according to NBA.com's David Aldridge. It remains unclear which two teams the Magic may be targeting.

Several teams have expressed interest in Howard, with the New Jersey Nets vaulting to the head of the list after the Los Angeles Lakers' trade for Chris Paul was vetoed by commissioner David Stern. NBA teams are not allowed to contact Howard while he is under contract for the Magic. Of course, back-channel deals do still happen, and many still believe the Miami Heat tampered in acquiring LeBron James and Chris Bosh.

Howard is under contract with the Magic until 2012, but Orlando is exploring trade options so they do not lose Howard for nothing next summer.

For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post and SB Nation Tampa Bay.

NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard Reportedly Asking For Trade To Nets

Dwight Howard will ask the Orlando Magic to trade him to the New Jersey Nets, who have re-emerged as the top suitor for the All-NBA center, reports ESPN's Chris Broussard. He reports that the Nets continue to offer Brook Lopez and two first-round picks, but didn't indicate whether the Magic had become more willing to listen to offers.

The re-emergence of the Howard rumors come as the L.A. Lakers' trade for Chris Paul was vetoed by NBA commissioner David Stern. The Lakers were expected to target Howard in addition to Paul, and could push for the center with renewed vigor now that it appears CP3 won't be put on the table any time soon.

Howard can become a free agent in July and has indicated fairly openly that he will at least consider signing with a team in New York or Los Angeles. The Nets are scheduled to move to Brooklyn ahead of the 2012-13 season.

For more on the Nets, visit NetsDaily.

Lakers Would Reportedly Make Andrew Bynum Available In Blockbuster

The Los Angeles Lakers have coveted Andrew Bynum ever since they took a chance on choosing the young phenom in the 2005 NBA Draft with the 10th overall pick. The front office has apparently loosened its grip on the center, however, as they look to improve on their roster as the current NBA trade rumors heat up.

Front office executive Jim Buss said that Bynum was "untouchable in trade talks" earlier this year, but that apparently is no longer the case.

It's no surprise to anyone that the Lakers will be one of the primary suitors in a possible trade for Howard, and a person with knowledge of the team's strategy told CBSSports.com that executive Jim Buss finally has dropped his opposition to trading center Andrew Bynum "for the right deal."

That's code for "a deal for Dwight Howard," and it's clear from those familiar with Howard's thinking that he'd like to join the Lakers. Bynum may or may not be on the Magic's list of suitable replacements for Howard in a potential deal that also would have to include young players on rookie contracts and draft picks.

It's obvious that very few players would be able to pry Bynum away from the Lakers, but it makes sense that Howard would be one of those players.

Dwight Howard Trade Possibility Left Open By Magic GM Otis Smith

Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith will not rule out trading Dwight Howard if the All-NBA center won't commit to a contract extension, reports Josh Robbins of the Orlando Sentinel.

Smith talked to the media after the NBA announced that team executives could begin talking to players and agents in anticipation of the start of free agency on December 9. Howard can't become a free agent until July 2012, but rumors have swirled after the center made comments about his uncertainty on whether he'll commit to Orlando. The Magic, no doubt, have a maximum-value extension available whenever he wants to sign it.

Smith didn't exactly say he plans to put Howard on the market, and said that he wants to take to the star about the issue instead of reading the media tea leaves. But he was candid in saying that all options would remain open.

"I think you have to look at everything," Smith told the Orlando Sentinel when he was asked if he'd consider trading Howard. "I don't think you can take anything out of consideration."

For more on the Magic, visit Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: New Jersey Nets Preparing Offer For Orlando Magic Center

We may have our first significant Dwight Howard trade rumor of the NBA season. The New Jersey Nets are "preparing" to offer center Brook Lopez and multiple first-round picks to the Orlando Magic for Howard before he becomes a free agent next summer, according to a report by ESPN's Marc Stein and Chad Ford.

The Nets' "dream scenario," according to Stein and Ford, is to acquire Howard in a trade to pair with Deron Williams before he becomes a free agent next season. Howard is still with the Magic, but with several bad contracts and a declining roster, most believe he is looking for a new team after this season. The Magic may look to trade Howard and get something back for him before he potentially leaves in free agency.

ESPN also reports that the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks are Howard's preferred destinations, which makes a trade risky for the Nets. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, Howard can not receive more than a one-year extension on his current contract. That means he too could bolt the Nets after being acquired.

For more NBA trade rumors and NBA free agency updates, visit this StoryStream.