Dwight Howard Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Dwight Howard Rumors: Tuesday

February 7th, 2012 at 8:27am CST by Luke Adams

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.

Kyler On Nash, Howard, D’Antoni

February 6th, 2012 at 10:34am CST by Luke Adams

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

February 5th, 2012 at 9:23pm CST by Sean Highkin

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

February 4th, 2012 at 4:29pm CST by Zachary Links

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.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Friday

February 3rd, 2012 at 10:46pm CST by Luke Adams

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

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

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.

Odds & Ends: Morris, Hibbert, Knicks, Bulls

February 3rd, 2012 at 12:59pm CST by Luke Adams

A few odds and ends for Friday afternoon:

The Rockets have assigned Marcus Morris to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, their D-League affiliate, tweets Mark Berman of FOX 26 Houston.
Roy Hibbert's play over the rest of the season could drive up his price tag for the cost-conscious Pacers, as this RealGM.com report suggests.
Playing against the Knicks, Derrick Rose showed New York exactly the kind of player they need, says Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
Sam Smith answers readers' questions in a Bulls.com mailbag, and many of them surround around a possible Dwight Howard trade.
Speaking of Howard, Michael Lee of the Washington Post says D12 will have to live with "the inevitable backlash" of his trade demand in Orlando. Check out the rest of today's Howard updates here.
In an Insider piece, Chad Ford of ESPN.com runs through teams with a chance at the second overall pick and predicts whether they'd select Harrison Barnes, Andre Drummond, or Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. The team with the first pick is expected to select Kentucky's Anthony Davis, of course.

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.

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.