Dwight Howard Trade: 'Our Organization Didn't Handle It Too Well' Says Stan Van Gundy

Stan Van Gundy was beaten down toward the end of his tenure in Orlando, then fired as the Magic's head coach at the end of the 2011-12 NBA season. Stunningly, Van Gundy doesn't think the Magic organization handled Howard's repeated requests for a trade all that well.

Van Gundy told 790 The Ticket in Miami that the Magic essentially got what they deserved in the Howard ordeal.

"We just got caught up in a bad situation and our organization didn’t handle it very well. Because of that I would say we probably deserve a lot of what happened as an organization and certainly not the other players. I thought those guys ... I felt badly for them, a group that worked hard and was very professional all year long and didn’t deserve everything that happened, but from our organization especially the people at the very top it just wasn’t handled very well, so you get what you deserve."

As for Van Gundy's next move, he told the station "I’d like to have a job. That’d be nice." But he demurred on the possibility of joining brother Jeff Van Gundy and Mike Breen on ESPN's primary commentary team.

For more on the Magic, check out Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Of Course The Orlando Magic Passed On Andre Iguodala

While many will criticize the deal the Orlando Magic got in return for Dwight Howard, it's not nearly as bad as it looks.

Dwight Howard Trade: Orlando Magic Left Better Deals On The Table

In the blockbuster, four-team trade between the Orlando Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers and Denver Nuggets, it's no secret that the Magic got the short end of the deal.

There were several other deals on the table that would have been better than them coming away with Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Moe Harkless, Nikola Vucevic, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga and three protected first round picks.

Adrian Wojnarowski outlines the deal from the New Jersey Nets that the Magic ultimately rejected:

Final Nets offer Orlando rejected in July: Lopez, Humphries (1 year, $9.6M), Brooks, 4 unprotected No. 1's for Howard, JRich, Duhon, Clark.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) August 10, 2012

General Manager Rob Hennigan says he has a plan to rebuild the team and make them competitive in the long-term, but in the interim and following the teams success over the years, Magic fans are going to have to suffer through some very lean years.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Orlando Magic Didn't Want Andre Iguodala, Rod Thorn Says

In the blockbuster trade of the summer, the Orlando Magic traded Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in a four-team deal, and in return they received a plethora of role players (highlighted by Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington) and draft picks. According to Philadelphia 76ers president Rod Thorn, Olympian Andre Iguodala was not a part of Orlando's plan as he explicitly says the Magic did not want him.

We've been talking about different deals, various deals...And then it really came down to, Orlando - they did not want to keep Iguodala because they're going in a different way.

The Orlando Magic's logic behind rejecting Iguodala is more than likely based on their financial plans for the future. Iguodala is owed close to $15 million for this upcoming season, and he holds a player option worth close to $16 million for the following season.

Andre Iguodala is now a member of the Denver Nuggets.

For more on the teams involved with the Howard deal, visit Magic blog Orlando Pinstriped Post, Lakers blog Silver Screen and Roll, Nuggets blog Denver Stiffs and Sixers blog Liberty Ballers.

Jeff Van Gundy Calls Dwight Howard Trade A 'Sad Day' For Fans

The wounds of losing center Dwight Howard in a trade are still very fresh in the minds of Orlando Magic fans. Former NBA head coach and current ESPN NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy sat down for an interview with Mike Lupica on ESPN New York to talk about the NBA's situation after the lockout when the subject of the Magic fan base came up.

Van Gundy talked about what he thought was going through the minds of the Magic fanbase in the immediate aftermath of this trade and he specifically brought up two other players who rose to stardom with Orlando, but soon left for greener pastures.

We've had three stars in our time, in Orlando, we had Shaquille O'Neal who went free agency and left. We had Tracy McGrady and he forced his way out and I was the beneficiary of that. Then third you had Dwight Howard who forced his way out. You have to ask yourself, is it worth it?

It is a good question to ask, mainly because even though the Magic obtained several draft picks in this trade, none of them are presumably going to be very high draft picks. This being the third time that a high profile player has left the Magic, Van Gundy expressed a lot of sympathy for Magic fans.

Orlando, when they have gotten their best players, whatever reason, it hasn't worked out and I really, really feel for their fan base. It's a sad day for the Orlando Magic fan base.

The Magic are certainly trying to move forward now that Howard is gone from the team. But if they ever get another high profile player like Howard again, can they manage to hold onto the player?

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Magic GM Rob Hennigan Addresses The Media

Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan has been addressing the local media, trying to put a positive spin on having to trade their 2004 No. 1 overall draft pick. With Howard not willing to sign long-term with the Magic, Hennigan is trying to push the fact that this move was made much more for the long term for the Magic.

WATCH: on.nba.com/hmsGIe- Hennigan: "We didn't make this decision for tomorrow ... You have to think more long-term than short-term."

— Orlando Magic (@Orlando_Magic) August 10, 2012

Hennigan also acknowledged that while this move may not produce some instant improvement, the next couple of years will be spent trying to improve with the new players.

"Next season and the next couple seasons will be about getting better every day." -Rob Hennigan #Magic

— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) August 10, 2012

The Magic now have to start anew, who knows when they will improve enough to recapture that form that got them to the NBA Finals in 2009.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Orlando Magic Issues Press Release

With the approval by the NBA, Dwight Howard is now no longer a member of the Orlando Magic. The team that drafted him No. 1 overall in the 2004 NBA Draft issued a press release soon after the trade was finalized by the league.

The Magic were key players in a blockbuster, four-team trade on Friday when they dealt Howard and reserves Chris Duhon and Earl Clark to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic also sent Jason Richardson to the Philadelphia 76ers and in return will receive Aaron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic, Josh McRoberts, Christian Eyenga and rookie Moe Harkless, three first-round picks and two second-round selections. The Magic will receive protected first-round picks from Denver (or New York) in 2014, Philadelphia in ‘15 and Los Angeles in ‘17.

John Denton, a writer on the Magic's official website, continued on to quote general manager Rob Hennigan about his feelings towards Howard, which are not that hostile.

Dwight Howard accomplished tremendous success as a member of the Orlando Magic. He enjoyed All-NBA and NBA All-Star status, as well as many off the court opportunities during his eight years in Orlando. We wish him, Chris (Duhon), Earl (Clark) and Jason (Richardson) all the best in the future.

The Orlando Magic now look to the future, hoping that these players that they have acquired can help the Magic to a level of success they experienced when they reached the NBA Finals in 2009. Such success may be a ways off for the Orlando Magic, but hopefully the team will have enough patience to stick things out.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade To Lakers Complete

It's official now, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports. The trade that will send Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers has been made official by the league.

Trade call is done with the league office. Dwight Howard has joined the Los Angeles Lakers.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) August 10, 2012

The Magic, in return of Howard, will receive players Josh McRoberts, Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington. This ends the back and forth between Dwight Howard and the Magic as well as the myriads of rumors that were floating around before this trade. The hope is that these players as well as any possible draft picks they receive will help them get back to the NBA Finals in the near future.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Lakers Give Magic Josh McRoberts In Deal, According To Report

The deal involving Dwight Howard's trade to the Los Angeles Lakers is still adding players to be traded. NBA writer Sam Amick has tweeted that the Magic would get Lakers forward Josh McRoberts in this trade.

Sources say Orlando also gets Lakers forward Josh McRoberts in the Dwight Howard deal.

— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) August 10, 2012

McRoberts has been in the NBA for five seasons since being drafted in the second round by the Portland Trail Blazers in the second round in 2007. After spending his first season in Portland, he spent three seasons with the Indiana Pacers.

In the 2010-11 season, he had his best season in the NBA, averaging 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Though those numbers dipped in Los Angeles last season, McRoberts does have some success and can be a good provider for the Magic.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

What The Magic Are Getting In Return For Dwight Howard

The Orlando Magic completed a trade sending Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, pending league approval. But, what did the Magic really get in return for the best big man in the NBA?

Dwight Howard Trade: 'Magic Waited Too Long' To Move Center

Waiting and patience in trading an All-Star is something that is a slippery slope. While a team shouldn't want to jump at the first offer they hear, wait too long and you'll watch as the offers decline due to the impending reality that the player on the trading block could see his contract expire.

As the Magic bided their time with contract offers, they ended up forcing the issue in August and come out big losers in the trade, says SB Nation's NBA editor, Tom Ziller:

The Magic took the extraordinary step of lighting it all on fire to become really bad -- a time-honored NBA tradition -- so that they can again become really good. The only problem is this: the teams that usually try to get really bad in order to get really good pick up some real young assets to help out on the upswing. Harkless was the No. 15 pick in June's draft. Vucevic went No. 16 in the awful 2011 draft. None of the picks the Magic receive will be worth a whole lot unless GM Rob Hennigan hits home runs. Afflalo is a nice player who is nothing close to a star, and is paid pretty well. (He's due about $30 million over the next four years.) Harrington is a player who'd be just fine on a contending team that needs a stretch four in spot minutes.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Magic Can Finally Move Forward

With multiple reports indicating that the trade to send three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, away from the Orlando Magic to the Los Angeles Lakers is finalized, the Howard saga is finally over. After what seems like four years of trade rumors regarding the center and a summer that featured trade rumors involving the Nets, Rockets and Lakers, among others, the trade is reportedly done.

And while Evan Dunlap of SB Nation's Magic blog, Orlando Pinstriped Post, is not happy about the compensation of the deal, he's taking solace in the fact that it's finally over.

It's over with and the folks who pay attention to this team can move forward.

— Evan Dunlap (@BQRMagic) August 10, 2012

Appreciate that much, at least, if only for today. Tomorrow you can rage about spending money on a team whose best player is Arron Afflalo.

— Evan Dunlap (@BQRMagic) August 10, 2012

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Chris Duhon, Earl Clark Also Headed To Lakers In Deal

The Orlando Magic shipped Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers over the evening, with the trade pending league approval, and got back some players and first-round picks in a four-team deal. The Magic also shipped off Chris Duhon and Earl Clark to the Lakers in the deal, according to a report by Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Lakers expected to get guard Chris Duhon & forward Earl Clark in Dwight Howard deal, too, source tells Y! Sports. Magic to land 2nd rd picks

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) August 10, 2012

Duhon was a player the Magic were trying to dump in any trade Howard was involved in, so they at least got that accomplished. In return, the team will land some second-round picks, which aren't worth what you would think.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Magic GM Rob Hennigan Didn't Drive Deal, According To Report

In the wake of the four-team blockbuster trade that sent Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, a lot of experts were left wondering what sparked the Orlando Magic to pull the trigger on a deal that looks like they got the worse end in return. This wouldn't be a good first move by new general manager Rob Hennigan, but according to a report Hennigan wasn't in the drivers seat for the trade.

Go easy on Hennigan. Hearing Orl Pres Alex Martins likely ran this one. Always good to have non-bball folks make critical decision.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) August 10, 2012

Trades don't usually end up well when team executives have their hands all over them, let alone on the steering wheel. One would think you would allow the man you hired to make personnel decisions... make the personnel decisions.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Lakers, Magic, Sixers, Nuggets Deal Done, According To Report

Shortly after reports surfaced that the Magic, along with three other teams, would be conducting a trade call with the league on Friday morning, ESPN filed a second report indicating that the a deal sending Dwight Howard from Orlando to the Lakers is complete. While the big piece is obviously Howard landing in LA, the Magic will reportedly receive three protected first round picks from the Lakers, Nuggets and Sixers, in addition to Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, and Nikola Vucevic.

ESPN's Marc Stein also reported that the Magic will receive Moe Harkless, Philadelphia's first round pick this year. The main framework of the deal:

A source with direct knowledge of the talks told ESPN.com's Marc Stein the Lakers will receive Howard, the Denver Nuggets will acquire Andre Iguodala, the 76ers will receive Andrew Bynum and Jason Richardson, and the Magic will get Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and one protected future first-round pick from each of the other three teams.

In addition, the Magic will be getting other pieces, including 76ers No. 1 draft pick Moe Harkless, a source told Stein.

Howard has been the face of the Orlando franchise, pushing the Magic to the NBA Finals and accumulating All-Star appearances and Defensive Player of the Year awards. But his saga, full of indecision and discontentment, is well-known at this point and a deal with the Lakers emerged as the most likely option for new GM Rob Hennigan.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Lakers, Magic Schedule Call With League Office, According To Report

With news breaking earlier that the Orlando Magic are in trade talks for a four-way deal that would send Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers, Marc Stein of ESPN reports that the teams are to the point of scheduling a call with the league office.

Source close to talks tells ESPN that trade call with league office has been scheduled for Friday morning to process four-team Dwight deal

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) August 10, 2012

Stein also reports that in the projected deal, his sources tell him that Orlando would come away with getting Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Nikola Vucevic and one future first-round pick from the Lakers, Philadelphia 76ers, and Denver Nuggets. Stein also mentions that other names could emerge, such as Moe Harkless also ending in Orlando.

Meanwhile, Jason Richardson and Andrew Bynum would head to the Sixers, Andre Iguodala would go to Denver, and Dwight Howard would end up in L.A.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Lakers Get Howard, Magic Get Either Pau Gasol Or Andrew Bynum In Projected Deal

The Orlando Magic are currently in trade talks for a four-team blockbuster deal that would send center Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers. In return, the Magic would get forward Pau Gasol and guard Arron Afflalo, according to a report by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

The rest of the moving parts in the four-team deal are outlined by Wojnarowski here:

There are multiple moving parts in the fluid talks, but the framework of a possible deal includes Howard and Denver forward Al Harrington going to the Lakers, Philadelphia guard Andre Iguodala going to the Nuggets, Los Angeles center Andrew Bynum moving to the 76ers, and Los Angeles forward Pau Gasol and Denver guard Arron Affalo going to the Magic, sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The thinking on the Magic's end, according to Wojnarowski, is that someone like Gasol would be easier to move in another deal to acquire more assets after the trade for Howard is completed. It's also noted that Gasol and Bynum's destinations in the deal are fluid, so the Magic could wind up with either one.

The problem is, the team would risk losing Bynum to free agency in 2013.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic In Talks With Lakers, Nuggets, Sixers In Blockbuster Deal, According To Report

Here we go again. The Orlando Magic are in talks with the Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets and Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster trade that will involve trading forward Dwight Howard, according to Adrian Wojnarowski.

Orlando and the L.A. Lakers are engaged in 4-way talks with Denver and Philadelphia on a Dwight Howard blockbuster, league sources tell Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) August 9, 2012

There is no word yet on which team would wind up getting Howard in this trade. That is one of the many details that are still unknown at this time. This is the first major bit of news involving a possible trade with Howard in the last couple of weeks. This could be the blockbuster everyone thinks could happen or it could fizzle out like the other supposed blockbusters.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Mavericks, Magic Meet To Discuss Possible Dwight Howard Deal, According To Report

Dallas Mavericks general manager Donnie Nelson spoke with the media about his meeting with Magic GM Rob Hennigan, but it doesn't sound like anything is imminent in the Dwight Howard trade drama involving Dallas. While Nelson told Fox Sports Southwest that the two "will probably talk again," he downplayed the likelihood of a deal getting done.

"There's just not much there (in terms of a Mavs-Magic trade to be done in 2012),'' Nelson tells us.

The Magic are running out of options as Howard reportedly has no interest in staying with the Magic long-term and is entering the final year of his contract. If no deal can get done, the Mavericks would be among the potential favorites to acquire the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard's Agents Leaked Details Of Wednesday Meeting With Magic, According To Report

Last Wednesday, Orlando General Manager Rob Hennigan and CEO Alex Martins met with center Dwight Howard, in a last ditch attempt to sell the big man on staying in Orlando. Howard reportedly told Hennigan he had no desire to stay in Orlando and would leave as a free agent after the season. The reason we know the details of this not-so-secret meeting? Howard's agents leaked them, irking NBA commissioner David Stern in the process. Via Ric Bucher of ESPN.com:

The agent for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard confirmed NBA commissioner David Stern's accusation that Howard's representatives were the sources that provided details of Wednesday's private meeting in Los Angeles with Magic officials.

However, the agent said, those representatives did so only after media members were tipped off to the meeting taking place by some other source and out of concern that subsequent reports about the content of the meeting would be inaccurate.

"It's very unique, especially if it's driven by a quote source that happens to be Dwight's agent," Stern told USA Today. "'A source in the meeting.' Oh, OK, who might that be?"

Sooner or later, you would have to think the Magic would grow sick of the constant drama surrounding Howard and simply deal him to his top choice, the Brooklyn Nets, just to remove the current Dwight-induced malaise surrounding the franchise.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Why Not Talk To Dwight Howard Again?

There was no harm in the Magic talking to Dwight Howard again.

Dwight Howard Maintains Trade Demand After Meeting With Magic's Rob Hennigan

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard continues to demand a trade from new general manager Rob Hennigan after both sides met on Wednesday. After weeks of rampant trade rumors, Hennigan reportedly planned to make one final pitch to Howard, trying to persuade him that the new regime in town could create a suitable environment for the franchise center to sign on for the long term. But according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, Hennigan's pitch fell on deaf ears:

Meeting between Dwight Howard and Rob Hennigan is over. Howard wouldn't drop his trade demand, per source. Magic's last-ditch effort failed.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 26, 2012

Howard insisted that he would leave as a free agent next offseason if Hennigan decided to keep him on board for the 2012-13 season. Via Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM:

Sources: Howard informed Hennigan that he has no desire to stay with the Magic and will leave as a free agent if the team decides against

— Jarrod N Rudolph (@JRudolphSports) July 26, 2012

This will likely re-ignite the trade speculation and reports, but Hennigan continues to be deliberate and wait for a blockbuster package that will make trading such an impact player even worth considering.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Have Shifted Focus To Keeping Howard In Orlando

Perhaps the most anti-climactic ending to the Dwight Howard soap opera would be for the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year to simply re-sign with the Magic. However, such a move would keep Orlando relevant during the beginning years of Rob Hennigan's term as general manager and keep the Magic as a perennial contender.

So the Magic are not set on just giving Howard away to the highest bidder and have reportedly instead decided to place their focus on convincing the six-time All-Star to stick with the team that drafted him first overall in the 2004 NBA Draft.

According to HoopsWorld, sources within the organization are optimistic that Howard will drop his trade demands and stay in Orlando:

In recent days, the Magic have shifted their attention away from the ongoing trade talks and focused on persuading Howard to remain in Orlando. Hennigan and his staff will travel to Los Angeles later this week to meet face-to-face with Howard and deliver a presentation designed to persuade Howard to return to the Magic. Hennigan is determined to fix the strained relationship between the player and the organization, and he's hopeful that Howard will resume his career in Orlando.

The Magic are expected to hire a new head coach in the coming days and that coach is expected to join Hennigan on his trip to Los Angeles to speak with Howard.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors Update: Hennigan Hoping To Get A Deal Done By August

The Dwight Howard trade saga has been an ordeal that NBA fans have had to bear for months.

Howard has managed to ruin his reputation with his behavior while new Orlando Magic general manager, Rob Hennigan, has strengthened his by not bowing in to Howard's demands and taking the time to find a deal that not only makes sense, but helps him improve the team long-term.

But Hennigan is hoping to get this over with sometime in August so both parties can move on according to SI.com's Sam Amick:

a Dwight Howard note: the Magic, I'm told, are hopeful that they can pull the trigger on a deal by early August (although I certainly couldn't tell you which one it might be). That being said, new GM Rob Hennigan - who I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time in Vegas - is proving to be very prudent in this process, meaning those hopes won't be realized if the deal simply isn't up to his standard's.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Will Be A Free Agent After Season, Per His Agent

While the Lakers are the favorites to land center Dwight Howard in a three-way trade also including the Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic, it is important to L.A. that Howard be willing to sign with the team long-term if they acquire him.

Reports surfaced that Howard was willing to sign with the Lakers long-term; however, his agent, Don Fegan, spoke to Ric Bucher of ESPN and sang a different tune:

"Dwight's position has remained unchanged since the end of this past season," said Dan Fegan of LaGardere Unlimited. "He fully intends to explore free agency at the end of next season, regardless of what team trades for him, including Brooklyn."

If true, the stipulation could scare the Lakers away from the possibility of sending away Andrew Bynum to Cleveland for the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. But Kurt Helin says this particular update changes nothing and "makes [him] yawn"

Under the terms of the new CBA if Howard signed an extension tomorrow or any time this season it can only be for three more years after this one. If he plays out this season and becomes a free agent then re-signs with the team he is on he can get five years with larger raises.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard To The Lakers Is Great, But...

Dwight Howard's willingness to be dealt to Los Angeles doesn't mean that is Orlando's best option

Would Dwight Howard Renew Lakers Dynasty?

At this juncture it seems that the Los Angeles Lakers are the odds on favorite to land three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, in a huge trade. If it goes through, it is expected that the trade would send Howard to the Lakers, Andrew Bynum to the Cavaliers and Anderson Varejao to the Magic along with multiple draft picks. But would Howard renew the success that the Lakers have had in the past?

Tom Ziller of SB Nation's NBA hub doesn't exactly think so:

The Lakers would be a legit title contender so long as Nash (38 years old) and Kobe (closing in on 34) were highly productive, but they wouldn't likely be a championship favorite in any season, let alone multiple seasons. Landing Nash and Howard would be great, but wouldn't renew the Lakers dynasty.

The big winners in the deal, according to Ziller, would be the Cavs:

What a Howard-Bynum deal could do, though, is turn the Cavaliers into something special. Kyrie Irving might be the game's best young point guard not named Derrick Rose or Russell Westbrook. He could end up better than either. Giving him a productive, elite center at this juncture would be trouble for the rest of the East. Bynum is 24, Irving is 20 and Cleveland has prospects like Dion Waiters, Tristan Thompson and Tyler Zeller in the mix.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Willing To Sign With Lakers Long-Term, According To Report

The Lakers have reportedly made progress in laying down the ground work for a deal that would send three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard, to Los Angeles. However, before making such a deal the team wanted to rest assured that Howard would be willing to sign a long-term contract to keep the center with the Lakers.

Howard had previously said that the only team he'd re-sign with was the Brooklyn Nets, but he has apparently warmed up to the idea of playing in Los Angeles. Sources told RealGM that the six-time All-Star is "excited" about his opportunity to play with the Lakers and would re-sign with the team prior to reaching free agency after the 2012-13 season.

If the Lakers believe this is the case they will likely look to move forward with a three team trade between the Magic, Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers that would send Bynum to Cleveland, Howard to Los Angeles and Anderson Varejao along with multiple draft picks to Orlando.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Cavaliers Amid Potential Three-Team Trade To Send Big Man To Los Angeles

The Houston Rockets had long been believed to the primary third trading partner should the Orlando Magic be able to facilitate a deal to send disgruntled big man Dwight Howard to the west coast to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. That, reportedly, has since changed. According to Ric Bucher of ESPN The Magazine, the Cleveland Cavaliers have inched the Rockets as a "facilitator" in a potential deal sending Howard to L.A. Though, a source tells Bucher to exercise caution:

One source familiar with the talks, though, cautioned not to make too much of that shift just yet.

Under the potential deal, Cleveland would land Lakers center Andrew Bynum in exchange for draft picks and veteran forward Anderson Varejao. The Lakers would get Howard for Bynum and the Magic would receive Varejao, as well as draft picks, which are what they've been eyeing all along.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade: Cleveland Cavaliers Enter As A Possible Third Team With The Los Angeles Lakers

The twists and turns of the Dwight Howard saga continue as now the Cleveland Cavaliers have entered in as a possible partner in the trade with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic. According to an article by Matt Moore on CBS Sports, the Cavaliers would be willing to send one of their players to help the Lakers land Howard.

Report: Cavaliers enter trade talks with Lakers-Magic on Howard trade. cbsprt.co/MJ3cGs Would send Varejao to ORL, Bynum to CLE.

— Eye on Basketball (@EyeOnBasketball) July 18, 2012

The Magic would wind up getting Anderson Varejao and the Cavaliers would get forward Andrew Bynum all for Howard going to the Lakers. The Magic have been linked to several teams throughout this entire affair. One has to wonder how this will end.

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Dwight Howard Trade: Lakers, Magic Working For Deal, According To Report

Dwight Howard could be on plane to Los Angeles by the end of today. According to a tweet by Yahoo! Sports NBA Writer Marc J. Spears, the Los Angeles Lakers are meeting with the Orlando Magic today about a possible trade for Howard. The Lakers would be looking to sign Howard to an extension for this deal to go through.

Lakers pushing hard to land Magic center Dwight Howard & meeting with Magic today,sources tell Y! LAL wants DH contract extension commitment

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 17, 2012

There have been so many twists and turns in this saga involving Dwight Howard that every new rumor that comes out in the media should be taken with a grain of salt. But with it being the Lakers, anything is possible so there is a great chance that this could be the most likely rumor to come true.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Proposed Deal With Lakers And Cavaliers Just Speculation

The basketball world was set abuzz late Saturday night, when a report by WKMG Local 6 said that a trade would send Orlando Magic superstar forward Dwight Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers was a "done deal."

The proposed deal by the "source" in the story said that the Lakers would get Howard, while the Cleveland Cavaliers would land Lakers center Andrew Bynum and the Orlando Magic receive draft picks.

In the early hours on Sunday, Jason Lloyd of the Akron Beacon-Journal shot down the deal, as he said it was nothing more than pure speculation.

As the saga continues to drag on, there is still no clear-cut front runner, which may mean there is more time before a deal is made.

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Dwight Howard Trade: Should Franchise Center Just Return Home To Play For Hawks?

Dwight Howard has certainly not endeared himself to NBA fans over the past season, taking the entire league on a roller coaster ride that has reached absurd levels. The Howard drama instantly kicked back up this offseason, even after he opted in for another year and the Magic responded by bringing in a new GM and eventual coach. Howard's insistence on playing with the Brooklyn Nets has made it exceedingly difficult for new GM Rob Hennigan to work out a deal with other teams who are scared he will not re-sign.

But SB Nation's Peachtree Hoops has an idea on how Dwight can rebuild his reputation: come home to Atlanta and play for the Hawks. They make a compelling case, arguing the Howard could signal that he would play for his hometown team, which has the assets and room to pull off a potential deal but would need assurances. Atlanta is also far from a dead spot in the league, with many players desiring to play there. This is all part of the the pitch from Peachtree Hoops:

The answer is easy: Come home to Atlanta.

Atlanta provides all of the above, starting with a place that you can be a star and still easy blend in. Atlanta is full of athletes that crawl all over the city and have a good time. You know what I am talking about.

You would be revered for choosing your home town, appreciated for blessing the city with your choice and never bothered about pesky things like championships. Ask Dominique Wilkins if he has to explain his playoff record or is he still thought of as the greatest Atlanta athlete ever?

It sounds like a pretty good idea in their. Magic fans, however, have grown weary of the incessant Howard drama -- which now seems to most realistically involved a deal with the Rockets.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Rockets Improve Offer To Magic, According To Report

Since a potential blockbuster deal to send Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets collapsed, the Houston Rockets have emerged as the new front runners in the derby to trade for the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Now they're reportedly upping their offer to Orlando according to ESPN's Marc Stein and Chad Ford.

Sources told ESPN.com that the Rockets, should they go ahead with their widely reported plans to release starting power forward Luis Scola via the NBA's amnesty clause, are prepared to absorb the contracts of Jason Richardson, Glen Davis and Chris Duhon -- in addition to sending Orlando multiple future first-round picks and recent draftees -- to give the Magic an opportunity to wipe their payroll virtually clean for their post-Howard rebuilding effort.

With the impending departure of the six-time All-Star, the Magic will be almost certainly be placed in a position where a complete rebuild is necessary. The removal of large contracts and the addition of future draft picks are the perfect tools for new general manager Rob Hennigan to work with and will likely make the trade increasingly attractive.

ESPN's J.A. Adande and Ric Bucher both said they expect the Magic to be quiet about Howard over the weekend before revisiting the trade prospects next week, which would allow the Rockets to deal with some free agency issues like Jeremy Lin.

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Rockets Social Media Person Isn't Very Sneaky

Dwight Howard Trade: Rockets Will Amnesty Luis Scola To Clear Cap Space For Potential Deal

The Brooklyn Nets moved on from the Dwight Howard derby and signed center Brook Lopez to a max contract on Wednesday, eliminating the one place the Magic center has wanted to go all along. Howard has said he would only sign an extension with the Nets, but that will not stop the Houston Rockets and GM Daryl Morey from his dogged pursuit of the franchise center. Morey is perhaps the most aggressive and active decision-maker in the NBA, and according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, he will up the ante again on Friday by using the amnesty clause on power forward Luis Scola.

Scola is still a productive player and does not have an absolute albatross of a contract, but Morey is simply trying to clear more cap space so that he can take on some undesirable Orlando contracts as part of the package for Howard. Magic GM Rob Hennigan would love the opportunity to unload a few hefty contracts when dealing Dwight, perhaps those of Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson, and/or Chris Duhon. Wojnarowski reports that's exactly the play Morey is making by clearing Scola off the books:

The Rockets can absorb Howard's contract, along with Hedo Turkoglu and Jason Richardson. The Rockets are offering multiple first-round picks and a selection of its best, young player assets, sources said.

The Rockets will shed the final three years and $21 million of Scola's contract, and will file the paperwork with the league office on Friday morning. Dumping Scola will push the Rockets far enough under the cap that they'll be able to take on multiple contracts from the Magic in a trade for Howard, and still have the space to sign a maximum contract player next summer.

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Dwight Howard Trade Saga: Howard Won't Reconsider Staying With Magic

News leaked Thursday morning that the Orlando Magic would make a second appeal for disgruntled superstar Dwight Howard to say with the team, tor reasons unknown publicly - perhaps the correct trade still hasn't surfaced for Orlando. ESPN is reporting that Howard is having none of it, and still wants out of Orlando as soon as possible.

New G.M. Rob Hennigan and the revamped Orlando front office made a second pitch to Howard, which went as well as the first:

"I already heard that from the other guy on the phone," said Howard, according to the source.

That "other guy" was presumably team president Alex Martins, who, as ESPN reports, tried previously to keep Howard when the front office stepped in to take control of basketball operations from former head coach Stan Van Gundy and former G.M. Otis Smith in December.

With the Magic and the Brooklyn Nets failing to arrive at a deal before the Nets reportedly "moved on" after Wednesday, rumored destinations for Howard are down to Houston, Atlanta and the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Houston Is The Perfect Fit For Dwight Howard Says Bomani Jones

With the collapse of a potential deal to send Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets, the next most logical landing spot for the three-time defensive player of the year is probably Houston. With the Los Angeles Lakers still in the mix, the Rockets are reportedly making a strong push for Howard and are even considering making Luis Scola an amnesty cut to clear enough cap room for the trade.

That's good, because according to Bomani Jones, Houston is the perfect fit for the Magic center.

Considering the way Howard has handled his trade demand and his inability to be a 'G' about trying to get Stan Van Gundy fired, I have to agree with Bomani that Brooklyn, New York would have been a terrible place for Howard.

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Dwight Howard Asked To Reconsider Staying With Magic, According To Report

On Wednesday afternoon multiple reports indicated that a potential trade that would send Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets fell through. Those reports were validated when the Nets signed center Brook Lopez to a max deal and essentially killed the hopes of that deal.

Now according to ESPN's Ric Bucher, the Magic are making a last ditch effort to kiss and make up with the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

Oh boy...@RicBucher our show: A source told me last night the #Magic have gone to Dwight Howard and asked him to reconsider staying in ORL.

— Mike & Mike (@MikeAndMike) July 12, 2012

Howard has requested that the Magic trade him and indicated that the only team he would sign a long-term contract with was the Nets. If he doesn't sign a new contract, Howard is set to become a free agent at the conclusion of the 2012-13 NBA season.

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Dwight Howard Rumors: Rockets Considering Luis Scola As Amnesty Cut To Facilitate Trade

As a potential trade with the Brooklyn Nets fell through when the team decided to give a max contract to center Brook Lopez, the Orlando Magic are still trying to find a suitor to unload All-Star center Dwight Howard. One team who has had rumored interest is the Houston Rockets, and it appears the team is trying to clear out cap space to make a run at the center.

From Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle:

Talks on Wednesday grew "serious," and at one point seemed close to an agreement, according to a person familiar with the process, but the Magic backed off to consider their options.

Rockets are open to the three-team deal in which they would receive Lakers center Andrew Bynum with Howard going to the Los Angeles Lakers, but are primarily working directly with the Magic to acquire Howard, the individual with knowledge of the talks said.

According to Feigen, the Rockets are considering clearing cap room by making veteran Luis Scola an amnesty cut within the next 48 hours. Scola is currently due $21 million over the next three seasons.

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Dwight Howard Trade: Brook Lopez Max Contract Essentially Kills Nets Deal

The Booklyn Nets were hot on the trail of Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard, even coming close to a four-team trade that would have sent Howard to Brooklyn. One of the players who Orlando would have gotten back in the proposed deal was center Brook Lopez.

Lopez however has now agreed to a four-year, $61 million deal to stay with the Nets, according to a report.

Brooklyn has reached agreement on a 4-year, $61 million max deal with Brook Lopez, league source tells Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 11, 2012

With Lopez signing a max contract, it essentially kills the Dwight Howard-to-Nets deals and rumors, as the Nets cannot deal Lopez now until January 15, 2013 at the earliest. Lopez was the centerpiece in the Nets dealing with Orlando, so it appears if the Magic still want to unload Dwight Howard, it will have to be with another team.

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Magic GM Rob Hannigan Hasn't 'Ruled Anything Out' In Dwight Howard Trade Talks

The Orlando Magic have been trying to find a suitable trading partner for the center Dwight Howard. New general manager Rob Hannigan is trying to find a partner that will offer a suitable return for unloading the All-Star center, but the team has run into snags in reported trade attempts, which often occurs when multiple teams are involved.

On Wednesday afternoon, Hennigan held a press conference at the Amway Center and talked a little bit about the Howard situation.

"We haven't ruled out everything. we continue to be process driven." Hennigan said at the press conference. "We're going to stay committed to that philosophy. I don't think we can put any concrete parameters around everything. I don't think that makes a whole lot of sense."

Despite previous reports, Hennigan denied that the team has told Dwight Howard that trade talks have ended until a new coach has been hired. Hennigan also didn't rule out the possibility that Howard would remain with the Magic.

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Orlando Magic To Suspend Dwight Howard Trade Talks, According To Report

The saga continues, with no end in sight: According to the following, the entire Dwight Howard trade saga is about to be put on ice - with no clear resolution - so that the Magic can focus on hiring a head coach:

The Magic informed Dwight Howard that they are suspending trade talks, according to source. Orlando will now focus on their coaching search.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 11, 2012

To date, a slew of rumors have dominated the NBA's free agency news cycle, all regarding Howard - the aborted monster trade involving the Brooklyn Nets (Howard's desired destination) and various third parties, as well as potential moves to the Lakers, Rockets or Hawks. None have bore fruit to date, and now it looks like Howard will remain in Orlando... for a little while longer.

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Dwight Howard Trade Saga: Magic Reopen Talks With Nets

Remember Tuesday, you guys? That was when, after days and days and days of rumors that a bloated three or four team deal designed to get Dwight Howard out of Orlando and to Brooklyn apparently fell apart, that Orlando had scrapped that idea in favor of starting the entire Howard trade saga from scratch. Houston, Atlanta and the Lakers were all mentioned, but guess what? It was merely a coda, and the never ending dialogue between the Nets and Magic is back on!

After spending most of Tuesday negotiating with Rockets and Lakers, Orlando has re-engaged Brooklyn today, league sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 11, 2012

At this point it's obvious that Orlando is still valuing getting the best possible value for Howard versus a timely resolution, which means we could still be far, far, far from done.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Nets Want Wednesday Resolution, Says Report

The ongoing saga of Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic died down somewhat on Tuesday. A possible three- or four-team deal earlier in the week fell apart, while a few other rumors involving Howard filled the void. On Wednesday morning, Ric Bucher of ESPN reported that the Brooklyn Nets will "resolve" their pursuit of Howard one way or another on Wednesday.

Source: Nets will "resolve" their pursuit of DH today; either get him or move on.

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) July 11, 2012

The Nets want the matter resolved so that they can deal with other business, namely signing Brook Lopez.

Lopez's agent pushing Nets to either sign Lopez for themselves or do a sign-and-trade by end of the day.

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) July 11, 2012

Howard had been adamant in recent weeks about the Nets being his preferred destination. In fact, the disgruntled Orlando forward has said that the Nets are the only team he would sign a contract extension with to play there beyond next season.

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As Dwight Howard Trade Talks Stall, Nets Close In On Max Deal With Brook Lopez

The Dwight Howard trade rumors continued on Tuesday, but the reported four-team deal that would send the Magic's franchise center to Brooklyn fell apart as the Cavaliers took themselves out of the discussion. Howard has repeatedly insisted that he wants to play for the Nets, and multiple reports have indicated that is the one organization with which he will sign a long-term extension.

But with yet another roadblock in the Nets-Magic talks forcing that deal to stall out, the Lakers and Rockets emerged late Monday as potential partners in the merry-go-round. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, this has intensified contract discussions between the Nets and their center Brook Lopez. The Yahoo! Sports reporter writes that both sides are progressing towards a max deal, which would almost certainly remove the Nets from the Howard derby:

Once Lopez signs the deal, he can't be traded until December.

Orlando has refocused its trade talks for Howard with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets, and the Nets are starting to believe that Magic general manager Rob Hennigan simply wants to do a deal elsewhere, sources said. Clearly, the Nets are pushing hard on Lopez's deal to apply pressure to Orlando, but there's nothing left for them to offer Orlando that they haven't already made available to them.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Three-Team Deal Could Send Big Man To Los Angeles

Disgruntled Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard could end up in Los Angeles, playing alongside Kobe with the Lakers after all. Well, it's still possible. The Magic, the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers have been in preliminary discussions regarding a possible three-way trade that would ship Howard to L.A. and Andrew Bynum to Houston, according to Eric Pincus of HOOPSWORLD.

As outlined by the report, the Magic remains more interested in accumulating draft picks rather than giving the Brooklyn Nets' Book Lopez or Bynum a sizable, long-term contract extension while it goes through a roster overhaul.

There is no guarantee that either Bynum or Howard would sign an extension with Houston or L.A. immediately, but the possibly appears likely. Per Pincus:The Rockets have no assurance from Howard that he'd re-sign there and while they might be willing to take that risk, Bynum has privately expressed a willingness to be in Houston long-term.

...

L.A. has some confidence that Howard would eventually re-sign with the Lakers but a major qualm is, to date, Howard has resisted such a move. Additionally, Los Angeles wants to make sure Howard's back is truly healthy.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Orlando Hoping To Deal Center By Week's End

Orlando Magic superstar center Dwight Howard will be traded soon. And for now, team management is telling anyone who will listen it'll be by the end of the week. According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com:

Despite changing dynamics, Magic are projecting confidence that Dwight Howard will be traded by the end of the week, league sources say.

Sources have told Berger that the Magic do not want the saga, which has lasted for roughly 10 days now, to continue into next week. At the onset of free agency, July 1, Howard said he was "blackmailed" into agreeing to his player option with the team and wants to be dealt. Teams such as the Brooklyn Nets,Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers have all been reported as possible destinations.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Looking To Take "Best Deal"

Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard has still not been traded, though he's indicated he very much would like to be over the last couple weeks. And as Orlando looks to deal its disgruntled star big man, it appears as if it's also establishing a deadline to do so. Per Brian K. Schmitz:, the Orlando Magic Insider for the Orlando Sentinel:

At 5 p.m., Magic inclined to take "best deal," aren't entertaining idea of playing hardball to keep Dwight longer to enhance another trade

As of today, the leading candidates for a destination for Howard still seem to be Brooklyn, as well Houston or the Los Angeles Lakers.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Cleveland Cavaliers Out Of Trade, According To Report

If the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets are going to finalize a trade to get Dwight Howard out of Florida and into the Bushwick, it won't involve the Cleveland Cavaliers. Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that the Cavs have pulled out of the rumored three (or four) team trade:

Cleveland is out as a third-team trade partner in a possible Orlando-Brooklyn deal for Dwight Howard, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 10, 2012

If Brooklyn and Orlando are to make a deal for Howard in near-term, it will likely be a trade between the two teams, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 10, 2012

Previous rumors have included trade partners ranging from the Cavs to the Clippers and Bobcats, all being brought aboard to negotiate cap space in the deal. At least for now, though, the potential trade will shrink back to the sole primary parties.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumor: Bidding Back Open For Teams Other Than Brooklyn, According To Report

The Dwight Howard Trade Saga is threatening to regress a few chapters, according to ESPN's Ric Bucher, who is reporting that the Orlando Magic have "reopened negotiations" with teams other than Brooklyn for Howard.

The reason is likely that the Magic and Nets have yet to find the right combination of a third and possibly fourth trade partner with appropriate cap space to finish off a proposed trade involving Howard, Jason Richardson, Brook Lopez and others. The Cleveland Cavaliers, Los Angeles Clippers and Charlotte Bobcats have all been mentioned as potential trade partners.

The rumored mega-trade involving Orlando, Brooklyn, Cleveland and the Clippers would go as such, according to ESPN:

...according to sources, the Nets would receive Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark. The Magic would get Brook Lopez, Luke Walton, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson and three first-round picks -- two from the Nets and a lottery-protected first from the Clippers. The Cavs would get Kris Humphries, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines, a first-round pick from the Nets and $3 million in cash. The Clippers would receive MarShon Brooks.

Not surprisingly, a deal with that many pieces is complicated and unlikely, as Bucher reported that at least six of the players would also have to be sign-and-trades. Hence the Magic reopening the market for Howard, where the Atlanta Hawks are among the teams known to be interested, but considered "not the best option," according to the ESPN report.

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Dwight Howard And Deron Williams Talked About Joining Forces Four Years Ago

During the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the big three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh discussed the possibility of joining forces to make a super team. That team became a reality though free agency in 2010 and earned the team an NBA Championship in 2012.

Apparently, they weren't the only ones talking about creating a super team in Beijing, though, as Deron Williams spoke to Magic center Dwight Howard about the possibility of teaming up in the future. Williams talked to Marc Spears of Yahoo! Sports about the possibility of bringing Howard to the Brooklyn Nets:

"It was just talk about that point four years ago," Williams said. "[Brooklyn] definitely intrigues [Howard]. Brooklyn is going to be huge. That factored into my decision [to re-sign with the Nets]. This is a place that hasn't had a [sports] franchise since the '50s. This is a city that wants basketball there, and then the arena is going to be great."

While the Houston Rockets have refused to give up in the chase for Howard, according to Adrian Wojnarowski, the Nets remain the front-runners and the framework for a deal to send Howard to Brooklyn could include at least four teams and more than 10 players.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: 4-Team Deal Will Not Be Done Monday, According To Report

The much-rumored four-team trade that would send Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets will not be finalized on Monday night. The deal is incredibly complex with the Magic, Nets, Cavaliers, and Clippers the rumored teams involved. But GM Rob Hennigan is fielding calls from other third and fourth teams that could help facilitate a deal. With as many as 14 players involved, the deal, which picked up steam on Sunday night, will not be completed on Monday. Via Ric Bucher of ESPN:

Source: DH deal will not be consummated tonight.

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) July 10, 2012

One potential hang-up may be Brooklyn's Kris Humphries and his demands around a proposed contract in a sign-and-trade that would send him to Cleveland. Humphries, an unrestricted free agent, is looking for more than one year of guaranteed money.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Rockets Still In Pursuit Of Magic Center

The Brooklyn Nets reemerged as the favorites in the Dwight Howard trade sweepstakes on Sunday, and the subsequent 24 hours were filled with rampant rumors on complex three and four-team trades that landed Howard in Brooklyn. One team that has not been mentioned is the Houston Rockets, who surfaced as one of the favorite suitors for Magic GM Rob Hennigan at the end of June. But according to Yahoo!'s Adrian Wojnarowski, Daryl Morey is still trying to put together a package for Howard:

The Rockets refuse to give up on the Dwight Howard derby, gathering more assets to try and entice the Orlando Magic to engage in talks

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 10, 2012

Morey made some waves early on Monday night when he sent Marcus Camby to the New York Knicks in a sign-and-trade deal that netted the Rockets Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan, and Toney Douglas. The Rockets also acquired two second-round draft picks in the deal as they continue to try and pile assets. It's still unclear whether or not Howard would sign an extension with Houston.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Kris Humphries Seeking Guaranteed Deal

The potential four-team deal centered around Dwight Howard, Orlando's unhappiest Mouseketeer, has plenty of moving parts that have to be delicately negotiated in order to make it all happen. One of those moving parts, Kris Humphries of the Nets and reality television, presents a possible snag because of his contract situation.

Earlier Monday morning, it was reported that Humphries would not take a one-year deal with Cleveland. A recent report from Chris Mannix at SI.com sheds some new light on the matter.

Kris Humphries agent, Dan Fegan, tells SI that talk of a one-year deal for Humphries is "ridiculous."

— Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) July 9, 2012

Technically, Humphries would be signing a three-year deal with only the first year guaranteed. Mannix followed up that tweet with another one noting that Humphries would only take a guaranteed deal.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Clippers The 4th Team In The Mix

If you somehow lost track of the Dwight Howard trade saga, you can be forgiven. A platoon of players, a trio of teams and all kinds of roadblocks and issues to be ironed out have popped up throughout the day. The latest news around the deal has the Los Angeles Clippers getting involved as a fourth team in the mix.

Chad Ford of ESPN tweeted out the early details on Monday afternoon:

Just going up on ESPN. Clipoers will be 4th team in D Howard deal. They would take back MarShon Brooks in return for a lottery protected 1st

— Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) July 9, 2012

Stay tuned, details are bound to change as the whole thing moves along.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Medical Clearances For Howard, Brook Lopez Needed

Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that if - IF - the mega-trade between the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers were to happen, one of the many potential snags could be the health of the centerpiece player - Orlando's Dwight Howard - as well as Brooklyn's Brook Lopez:

Orlando will need to have its doctors examine Brook Lopez's foot before it would finalize any deal, league sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

And likewise, the Nets will need to examine Dwight Howard's back for themselves, sources say.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

It hasn't been mentioned much during the fervor of trade and free agency rumors, but Howard is recovering from back surgery that ended his 2012 season in April and prevented him from presumably joining the 2012 Olympic team. Meanwhile, a right foot injury also ended Lopez's season in April, one he disputed was an aggravation of a previous injury.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumor: 3-Team Deal Including Brook Lopez, Jason Richardson And Luke Walton

Dwight Howard's much-maligned, oft-delayed departure from the Orlando Magic could finally come as part of a huge multi-player trade with the Brooklyn Nets, according to Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski:

In proposed blockbuster, Orlando would send Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark to Brooklyn, sources tell Y! Sports.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

Richardson's inclusion had been previously mentioned, as had the addition of another team - likely the Cleveland Cavaliers - to facilitate contracts. Wojnarowski is reporting that Orlando would receive a bounty - Brook Lopez, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Luke Walton and "3 or 4 1st rounders."

UPDATED: Here's the specific breakdown from Yahoo:

In the proposed deal, Howard, Jason Richardson and Earl Clark would be sent to Brooklyn, and the Magic would receive the Nets' Brook Lopez, Damion James, Sheldon Williams, Cleveland's Luke Walton and three future first-round picks, sources said. Cleveland would receive Orlando's Quentin Richardson, Brooklyn's Sundiata Gaines, Kris Humphries (on a one-year guaranteed deal), a first-round pick and $3 million from the Nets. Brooklyn also would send Brooks to a fourth team to get them an additional first-round pick to send to the Magic.

While various trade scenarios with various partners have been discussed to get Howard out of Orlando, this proposed deal is certainly the biggest of the rumored bunch.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Saga: Don't Expect A Deal Done Monday, According To Report

Anybody hoping that the Dwight Howard / Orlando Magic trade saga drags on a few more days? How about weeks? You're in luck! (Sorry, Bomani):

#orlandmagic don't expect a deal involving Dwight Howard today. No hurry whatsoever.

— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) July 9, 2012

If you're not abreast of the day's current doings with Dwight, the Cavaliers emerged as a potential destination after the Lakers have seemingly fallen out of contention, but Brooklyn still seems to be the frontrunner, despite numerous potential snags involving the contracts of other players rumored in various deals to get Howard in a Nets uniform.

In other, less exasperating news, the Magic still need to hire a head coach, but they don't seem too fired up about that, either.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Kris Humphries' Contract Demands Could Snag Deal

Talks between the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets and the Cleveland Cavaliers continue on Monday morning as the teams work toward a resolution of the Dwight Howard saga. According to one report, there could be a potential snag from trade chip Kris Humphries over the matter of his contract.

Marc Spears of Yahoo reported via Twitter on Monday morning that the former Kardashian publicity prop wants a four-year deal with Cleveland.

Possible complication in Dwight 3way deal is Nets FA Kris Humphries would seek 4yr deal with CLE and wouldn't sign 1yr pact, sources tell Y!

— Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) July 9, 2012

Whether or not the teams can untangle the knot of dissatisfaction remains to be seen.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Jason Richardson Could Also Be Shipped To Brooklyn

News of a potential three-team between the Orlando Magic, Brooklyn Nets and Cleveland Cavaliers is picking up steam on Monday morning. In the middle of it all is Dwight Howard, who has demanded his exit from Orlando. The deal could also include Orlando's Jason Richardson being shipped to the Nets as part of the overall package.

ESPN's Chris Broussard mentioned the possibility on Monday morning.

Nets willing, able - & likely, if it goes down - to take back J-Rich in 3-team Dwight deal with Magic & Cavs, source says.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 9, 2012

Richardson's name has come up in the Howard trade sage before. Details of this trade are still sketchy as the teams workout the particulars of the deal. There was even some talk on Monday morning about the possibility of a fourth team being added to the mix.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Scenario Exposes Myth Of Competitive Balance, Says Expert

Dwight Howard has the Orlando Magic in a tough position. The center wants out of town, but he refuses to sign a contract extension with any team other than the Brooklyn Nets. His intransigence means the Magic can get only a fraction of what Howard is worth in return, as other interested teams hold back on their offers knowing Howard would leave in 2013.

In the NBA, lockout or not, all power still rests in the hands of star players, says Tom Ziller at SB Nation:

And the whole thing has worked for Howard: he's probably going to the Brooklyn Nets. Just like Carmelo Anthony went to the New York Knicks after waving his free agency around like a sword. And Chris Paul went to Los Angeles, one of his chosen cities. Players' preferences matter, because free agency matters. This has always been the case, and will always be the case because in the NBA having star players and having success are so closely linked.

From a larger prespective, Ziller says that the Howard situation is the latest happening to expose the lockout as an empty win for competitive balance:

The NBA limited superstars' power in free agency. The superstars and their agents adapted and wield their power in a different way. The result is the same: stars leave markets like New Orleans and Orlando for places like Los Angeles and New York. Well, I'm sure glad we fixed competitive balance last year.

The lockout was solely about money, and specifically the owners' desire for more of it. Everything else was a planted distraction designed to make the league's case smell better. We're watching the facade crumble to the ground in Orlando right now.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Magic Weighing Deal With Nets, Cavaliers

The subject of trading Dwight Howard has already demanded billions and billions of bytes of digital ink and dead tree column inches as beat writers and bloggers cover and speculate about the disgruntled Orlando Magic center. Given all those resources it only makes sense that the latest Howard trade rumors involved a complex web of three, possibly four, teams along with more than a dozen players and draft picks.

Adrian Wojnarowski offered a glimpse of the latest scenario via Twitter:

Tentacles of Nets-Magic talks covering 14 players, 3 teams w/ possible 4th locking in to take MarShon Brooks to provide pick, sources tell Y

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 9, 2012

Those teams are reported to be the Nets, where Howard would end up, and the Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal could go down on Monday. The Magic brass is reportedly meeting to discuss the particulars Monday morning says Alex Kennedy of Hoops World.

Magic brass will meet at 9 a.m. to discuss if they should pull the trigger on the three-team deal with the Nets and Cavaliers.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 9, 2012

Stay tuned.

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Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Cleveland Emerges As Possible Third Team In Deal

The rumors surrounding a potential trade of Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets have grown louder on Sunday, as a recent report by Ken Berger of CBS Sports claims that the Cleveland Cavaliers have emerged as a possible third team in a deal that would send Howard to New York City.

The Cavaliers have a stockpile of draft picks, and could be a fit in making the trade work for all three parties, as Ken Berger explains.

"The Cavs have as many as six first-round picks in the next three drafts -- three of them from previous trades, with various levels of protection. However, with cap space to sign Humphries as a free agent, getting Humphries alone wouldn't provide any incentive for Cleveland to surrender one of those picks."

After months of speculation, it seems that a light at the end of the tunnel has appeared for the Orlando Magic, as they continue making progress toward shipping Howard out of Florida.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Nets Putting Together Draft Pick Package, According To Reports

CBS Sports NBA Insider Ken Berger is reporting that the Brooklyn Nets have been busy trying to put together a package that includes three first-round draft picks.

Other names being thrown around in the trade would include Nets center Brook Lopez and a signed-and-traded Kris Humphries going to a third team.

While the Nets have been putting that together, the Houston Rockets are not giving up, as they hold what will most likely be a lottery pick in the 2013 draft after acquiring it from the Toronto Raptors. Other teams that are still involved in talks for Howard include the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Nets Working Mirza Teletovic's Contract To Make Room

The Orlando Magic and the Brooklyn Nets have reportedly been talking about a deal that would send center Dwight Howard to Brooklyn, a team Howard has expressed the want to play for, but it's going to be a tough move for the Nets to complete. Howard has indicated through various channels that the Nets are the only team he will sign an extension for, but with some of the moves the Nets have made in the offseason it's not looking like the team will have the cap room to keep Howard beyond next season.

The team however seems to be working to alleviate some of that cap room in order to make a deal, according to John Hollinger of ESPN.

Well, something could be wiggling. A source close to the negotiations tells us that Bosnian forward Mirza Teletovic might not sign with Brooklyn for the non-taxpayer's midlevel exception, as originally reported, but for the taxpayer's midlevel, which is a smaller contract with a maximum of $3.09 million for the first year.

If the Nets can wiggle some cap room for next season, the two sides could potentially progress in trade talks. The only question will be what possibly Orlando can get back in return that will make the move worthwhile.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Eye Andrew Bynum

Should the Orlando Magic eventually trade All-Star center Dwight Howard, who has requested as much, team management would like to see Lakers center Andrew Bynum come to Florida in return, per Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski. Though Orlando is eyeing Bynum as the center of a potential trade package and have entered talks with L.A., no deal is imminent. Not to mention a simple Howard-for-Bynum swap wouldn't be satisfactory. Per Wojnarowski:

What's more, Bynum wouldn't nearly be enough to satisfy [Orlando GM Rob] Hennigan's desires for a return on Howard. The Lakers would need to send draft picks and absorb long-term money off the Magic's payroll, sources said.

Should Bynum in fact end up playing for the Magic. It's reasonable to assume a long-term deal could be reached to keep him in Orlando, according to Eric Pincus of HoopsWorld:

Bynum would be happy playing in Orlando and would be open to an extension.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Would Need To Include Jason Richardson, According To Report

With the rumors of a possible trade including Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard heating up, the Orlando Magic are trying to make their end of the deal as appealing as possible. According to a tweet by Jarrod Rudolph from RealGM.com, the Magic would have to package Jason Richardson in a trade that will ship Howard out of town.

I'm told the Magic will include Jason Richardson in any deal for Dwight Howard.

— Jarrod N Rudolph (@JRudolphSports) July 3, 2012

As this continues on, there is one player that the Magic do have their eye on when it comes to trading is Los Angeles Lakers forward Andrew Bynum. The two teams have begun talking to one another about a possible deal and do plan to talk further, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Lakers would have to to take Richardson's contract in addition to Howard's to have this trade possibly go through. If the Magic are able to free up the cap space with this deal, they could quickly retool their team through free agency and regain their status as contenders.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Yet To Field Acceptable Offer

According to Ken Berg of CBSSports.com, Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan is in "full court press" to engage in trade talks regarding disgruntled center, Dwight Howard. However, the Magic have yet to hear an offer that has led them to seriously consider trading the three-time defensive player of the year, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports.

So far, this is true: Orlando hasn't seen an offer from any team that it believes is enough to seriously consider trading Howard now.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 3, 2012

While the Magic have reportedly received offers, including one from the Nets according to ESPN's Chris Broussard, Hennigan and the Magic still want to receive a value that truly warrants sending off a six-time All-Star.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Trading Dwight Howard And What The Magic Must Get In Return

When the Orlando Magic finally deal center Dwight Howard, they'll need to get the right haul in return.

Magic, Nets Need Third Team For Dwight Howard Trade Talks To Progress, According To Report

In a report from ESPN's Chris Broussard early Tuesday morning, a potential trade to send six-time All-Star for the Magic, Dwight Howard, to the Brooklyn Nets was still in discussion and would include the Nets sending off three future first round picks as well as Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks and Kris Humphries.

However, that deal is more complicated than it looks and would require a third team to acquire Humphries, according to a report from Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.

For Nets-Magic to progress on a Dwight Howard deal, a 3rd team needed to take Kris Humphries in a sign-and-trade, league source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 3, 2012

As SB Nation Magic blogger, Evan Dunlap, of Orlando Pinstripe Post said on Twitter, this would require a team that "a) want Humphries and b) have something worth Humphries to deal while c) Humphries has to agree to go there." Meanwhile, the Magic have reportedly attempted to engage in trade talks with four other teams.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Trying To Engage In Trade Talks With Five Teams, Per Report

Early Tuesday morning, ESPN's Chris Broussard reported that discussions regarding a trade that would send Orlando's disgruntled All-Star center Dwight Howard to the Nets are ongoing and already include a framework for a potential deal. That report was confirmed by Ken Berger of CBSSports.com; however, Berger also reported that the trade "isn't imminent, and it isn't the only one Orlando is working on."

In fact, Berger reports that the Magic have resorted to a "full court press" to trade Howard that includes several potential suitors.

Orlando GM Rob Hennigan also trying to engage the Hawks, Rockets, Lakers and possibly Mavs in Howard talks. Full-court press.

— Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 3, 2012

According to Broussard, the potential deal in place to send Howard to the Nets includes three players and three future first round selections.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out theSB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Nets Still In Trade Discussions For Magic Center, Per Report

Upon finalizing a trade with the Hawks for All-Star guard Joe Johnson, many reports, including one from ESPN's Chris Broussard, indicated that the Brooklyn Nets had given up their pursuit of All-Star center Dwight Howard of the Magic. However that is no longer the case, as the framework for a deal to send Howard to Brooklyn is already in place, according to Broussard.

In a series of tweets, Broussard reported that a trade has been discussed that would send Howard to the Nets in exchange for Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks and three first round picks in 2013, 2015 and 2017.

The trade would be made with the intent to give the Nets a "big three" of their own with Howard, Johnson and Deron Williams, who have a combined 15 All-Star Game appearances.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dallas Mavericks Move To Top Of Dwight Howard's List, Per Report

With the Brooklyn Nets out of the equation, the Dallas Mavericks are now said to be on top of Dwight Howard's wish list. In fact, Ric Bucher of ESPN says that the Mavericks are the only team on Howard's list after the Nets' deal for Joe Johnson took them out of the running.

Source: With Nets out of equation, Mavs go to top of Dwight Howard's wish list. No other teams - Lakers included - on it. For now.

— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) July 2, 2012

The Orlando Magic are trying to trade the disgruntled forward. Howard has one year left on his contract after agreeing to pick up the option on it. There are other teams said to be interested in Howard, including the Lakers and the Rockets.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Rumors: Warriors Out Of The Mix For Magic Center

Cross another name off the list of teams pursuing Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. Scott Howard-Cooper at NBA.com's Hang Time blog reports that Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob says his team is not likely to get involved again for Howard.

Said Lacob of the Warriors' interest in Howard:

"I doubt it. I never say never. But we have somebody called Andrew Bogut. He is, in our opinion, one of the three best centers in the whole NBA, and in most people's opinion. And he wants to be here and is a great fit. We think we have a really nice nucleus now going forward."

That report comes on the heels of the Nets dropping out of the Howard sweepstakes on Monday afternoon, following a trade with Atlanta to get Joe Johnson. Other teams said to be interested include Houston and the Los Angeles Lakers.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Joe Johnson Trade Knocks Nets Out Of Dwight Howard Sweepstakes, According To Report

The strange saga of Dwight Howard took an interesting turn on Monday afternoon. According to a report from Chris Broussard at ESPN, the Brooklyn Nets are out of the mix to acquire Howard from the Orlando Magic. Brooklyn made a deal with the Atlanta Hawks on Monday to get Joe Johnson.

Nets, of course, would've preferred to get Dwight, but Magic refused to engage in trade talks. Source: 'They didn't want to dance with us.'

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 2, 2012

Broussard's report lines up with another one from David Aldridge who said that the Magic were not interested in Brooklyn's offers.

Howard has been angling to land with the Nets. Magic GM Rob Hennigan revealed that Howard had stated to him a preference to be traded to the Nets. In a Sunday interview with Yahoo Sports, Howard said that there was only one team that he would sign an extension with to play there beyond next season. Many believed that team to be the Nets.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Wants To Be Traded To The Nets, Says Magic GM

Reports of Dwight Howard's desire to join the Brooklyn Nets have been an open secret for some time now, as subsequent reports continue to link Howard to the team. Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said Monday morning that Howard had mentioned to him a preference for being traded to Brooklyn.

Rob Hennigan: During our conversation, Dwight did mention his preference is to be traded and that Brooklyn is where he'd like to go.

— Orlando Magic (@Orlando_Magic) July 2, 2012

Several teams are reported to have interest in dealing for Howard. Potential suitors include the Clippers, Lakers and Rockets. Howard, whose current contract makes him a free agent after this season, told Yahoo Sports that there is only one team he would sign an extension with if traded there, which most believe to be the Nets.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Center Says He Will Only Sign With One Team

Disgruntled Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard could be a short-term rental for whatever team ends up dealing for him, except for one team. Howard told Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports that there is only one team that he would sign a contract extension with, putting him there beyond next season.

Howard said:

"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."

He did not say which team he was referring to, but most believe it to be the Brooklyn Nets. If Howard is traded to another team, he would be a free agent after the 2012-2013 season.

In the same interview, Howard denied reports claiming he said Orlando officials blackmailed him into waiving his early termination option on his contract.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic, Lakes Have Contact About A Deal, According To Report

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports, the Orlando Magic and Los Angeles Lakers have been in contact about a possible trade between the two that would send Magic forward Dwight Howard to the Lakers.

In addition to the Lakers, the report also mentions the Brooklyn Nets and Houston Rockets as being teams that have also been in contact with Orlando over a potential deal.

There have been no specific offers made yet, however it is widely believed that any deal with Los Angeles will involve 24-year-old center Andrew Bynum going to Orlando. The Magic reached out to the teams on Saturday and will continue talking about proposals in the near future.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post. Still not enough basketball coverage for you? Make sure to check out the SB Nation NBA Hub Page for all the latest news from all 30 teams.

Dwight Howard Claims He Was Blackmailed, Wants Trade

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard wants to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets, according to a report from ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard. The All-Star big man met with new Orlando general manager Rob Hennigan for the first time on Friday in Los Angeles.

Howard picked up the option for the final year of his contract in mid-March, but now says he feels the Magic "blackmailed" him into signing the "opt-in" clause. Per Broussard:

Howard shared his feelings of being blackmailed by the Magic with the NBA Players Association last week, sources said. He -- either himself or through his representatives -- approached the union wondering if he might have a legal complaint against the club.

According to the report, the complaint would mean eliminating the "opt-in" clause and allow him to become a free agent this summer

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Rob Hennigan Thinks He Can Repair Relationship

As the week inches closer and closer to the 2012 NBA Draft, the general feeling around the NBA seems to be that the Orlando Magic could very well be parting ways with All-Star center Dwight Howard before the draft is finished. New general manager Rob Hennigan seems to think there is a chance the relationship can be repaired, however.

Magic #GM Rob Hennigan after he was asked if a new face (his) could repair burned bridges with @DwightHoward: "Maybe, yeah, maybe."

— David Baumann (@DavidBaumann33) June 27, 2012

The likelihood the relationship is repaired and Howard signs long term with the Magic seems fairly slim, but if Hennigan is able to swing a deal that way and build around Howard, Orlando could set themselves up for the long haul. Hennigan still has to clean up Orlando's current roster mess, though.

For more on the Orlando Magic and the Dwight Howard drama, head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Houston Rockets Looking To Deal For Magic Center

The 2012 NBA Draft happens this week. On top of the usual subterfuge around the next group of rookies, a new round of trade talk involving Dwight Howard. Trade rumors circulating over the weekend have the Orlando Magic center in the middle of a complex trade with the Houston Rockets.

According to a report from ESPN, Houston is looking to swap their 14th and 16th picks to move up into one of the draft's top 10 spots. The Sacramento Kings and the Toronto Raptors seem willing to oblige. That would be step one. After making that deal, Houston would make a move to acquire Howard from the Magic.

Step two might be the toughest part of that scenario, says ESPN.

Acquiring those early lottery picks, though, only represents half of Houston's challenge if Howard is indeed the Rockets' target. The other hurdle is convincing Hennigan, who hasn't even been on the job for a week in Central Florida, to part with Howard so quickly. As much as he's been schooled in building through the draft while working alongside Thunder GM Sam Presti, Hennigan could opt to take a more measured approach, make one more run at trying to convince Howard to sign an extension before entering the final year of his contract and then trade him later in the summer if those efforts go nowhere.

Houston might only be renting Howard for the season, since he has yet to sign a contract extension.

To stay up to date with all the Dwight Howard trade rumors, head to Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Will Be New GM's First Job

While the Orland Magic were reported to have met with three general manager candidates earlier this week, they've narrowed their list to two, according to a report. The new GM's first task? Trading Dwight Howard.

As Brian K. Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel tweeted this morning:

Next Magic GM -- it's likely either Jeff Bower or Dennis Lindsey--- must hit ground running. Biggest job: Trading Dwight. He wants out.

— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) June 15, 2012

Bower is the former general manager of the New Orleans Hornets (two stints: 2002-2003 and 2005-2010). Most notably, he grabbed Chris Paul with the No. 3 pick in the 2005 NBA Draft. He also coached the Hornets for the majority of the 2009-10 season after firing Byron Scott.

Lindsey has been the vice president and assistant general manager of the San Antonio Spurs since 2007. Before San Antonio, he was the vice president of basketball operations/player personnel with the Houston Rockets.

For more on this story and all things Orlando Magic basketball, please head over to Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Nets Willing To Swap Anthony Davis, If They Draw The Top Pick

Anthony Davis, the future first pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, is not even in the league yet and he is already the subject of trade rumors involving the Orlando Magic and disgruntled Dwight Howard. According to a report from Yahoo Sports on Wednesday morning, the Brooklyn Nets would be willing to flip the first pick in the draft, should they end up with it after the lottery, in exchange for Howard.

For a better understanding of the rationale behind the move, factor in the impending departure of All-Star Deron Williams. Barring changes, Williams is unlikely to sign an extension with the Nets. That has fed the team's reported willingness to deal the first pick for the chance to keep Williams and pair him with Howard, just in time for the team to open its new Brooklyn arena for the 2012-2013 season.

Orlando seems willing to deal Howard, according to recent reports, rather than deal with another sideshow. First, they need to get a new general manager in place after dumping Otis Smith this month.

The Nets will also have to draw the winning ticket in Wednesday's NBA draft lottery. Currently, the odds for that happening are a scant seven and a half percent.

The NBA draft lottery takes place at 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday.

To stay up to date with all the Dwight Howard trade rumors, head to Orlando Pinstriped Post.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Center Likely Next To Go

After a busy day yesterday, in which the Orlando Magic fired head coach Stan Van Gundy and parted ways with general manager Otis Smith, the franchise could look to continue to shake things up by dealing Dwight Howard, according to reports.

Despite Van Gundy's firing seemingly coming on the heels of friction between the coach and his star center -- things notably coming to a head when Van Gundy told reporters that he was told Howard wanted him fired -- Orlando could look to continue cleaning house. According to CBSSports.com's Ken Berger:

Should the Magic consult with Howard on who the next coach and GM should be? In theory, that's a good idea. But indications are strong that Howard's leaving anyway, so from here this looks like a complete revamping of the organization from top to bottom. The Magic will offer Howard an extension, and if he balks -- as expected -- the new GM's first order of business will be to trade him this summer.

To stay up to date with all the Dwight Howard trade rumors, head to Orlando Pinstriped Post.