Nets Working On Dwight Howard Trade Options In Advance Of Deadline

↵↵Wait, so will he stay now? Will he go? Who knows! LONG LIVE THE DWIGHTMARE.

↵(via Hoops World)

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The Clippers are the most exciting team in the NBA, mostly because they’ve emerged out of thin air to contend for a title, one alley-oop at a time. According to the source that Sheridan spoke to, “[Howard’s] been watching them a lot. He’s intrigued by the Clippers.” Aren’t we all?

True, there are plenty of reasons to be skeptical of the Clippers pulling off this trade.

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

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.

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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.

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

But Kwame isn’t the Warriors’ silliest attempt at improving the frontcourt. That would have been that massive $43 million offer to DeAndre Jordan.

It’d be even worse if the Clippers hadn’t matched on Jordan -- then the team would have had a $10 million center with limited ability to produce anything but rebounds and blocks playing in front of a $9 million center with limited ability to produce anything but rebounds and blocks. Kwame, of course, isn’t good at either, but is a solid post defender, one who does the things that don’t show up in the basic box score.

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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.

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

Mark Stein echoes Wojnarowski’s report, as well.

Via Magic Basketball Online...

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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 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.