Dwight Howard Trade

Dwight Howard Trade, The final hours until Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET NBA trade deadline have disintegrated into complete chaos surrounding the future of Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

After Howard repeatedly changed his mind Wednesday on whether to sign a waiver for his contract’s early termination option for the 2012-13 season – he told Magic officials he would be back next season then told them later in the day he wouldn’t commit to signing the waiver, allowing him to enter free agency on July 1 – he delivered a late-night interview to a basketball website that incredibly reversed course again.

Howard told RealGM he would sign the paperwork for the waiver to remain with the Magic through the 2012-13 season and forgo free agency.

“Man, listen, you know my heart, my soul and everything I have is in Orlando,” Howard told RealGM. “I just can’t leave it behind.”

Howard also said in the interview that he had received “bad advice” in the weeks leading up to the trade deadline.

“I apologize for this circus I have caused to the fans of our city,” he said. “They didn’t deserve none of this.”

NBA Trade Rumors

NBA Trade Rumors, From Mitch Lawrence of the NY Daily News regarding a possible Boston Celtics trade: With the Big Three’s window now shut, Ainge is trying to land Atlanta’s Josh Smith and other young studs, while offering up Kevin Garnett. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen can also be had, for young players and draft picks. Rajon Rondo might be leaving, too, with the Lakers and Utah seen as possible destinations.

A reminder, for those who don’t like to click back links, what I said only this morning about such possible Hawks trades:

No other deals have popped up as yet, and as we discussed on the Bill Shanks show this week, unless the team free falls out of the playoffs altogether (very unlikely) there is almost no chance of a major deal, like a Josh Smith trade, coming down during this season as Rick Sund and Larry Drew hang on in the last year of their own contracts.

Cap relief sounds mighty good, especially for a team with so much committed to so few players as the Hawks, without really having a championship ceiling. But, consider than final though above again. Rick Sund has no long term guarantee that he will be here to see any kind of cap relief goodness for rebuilding. So why would this be an advantageous path.

Also, Smith only has one more year on an affordable deal — if traded now, surely he would fetch more than an again, but still very effective Garnett, who requires a 5-5-5 plan to limit his minutes to maintain that effective through the course of games and the season.

Counterpoint would say that maybe Sund is fed up with Smith, who missed the All-Star game more for reputation than production. Maybe Sund watched as Smith launched jump shot after infamous jump shot on his way to a 5-20 night. Coupled with a Hawks loss, perhaps that forced a late night call to Danny Ainge’s cell phone with a Smith breakup on his mind.

NBA Trade Rumors

NBA Trade Rumors, The trade rumors surrounding Dwight Howard doesn’t have the Orlando Magic’s owner very worried.

The 85-year-old Richard DeVos, Sr. has owned the team since 1991 and has already endured the loss of one franchise center in Shaquille O’Neal, but he feels his team has a “50-50” chance of keeping the 26-year-old All-Star, according to Tim Povtak of FOX Sports. DeVos flat out said he doesn’t want to trade him, but understands he might lose him in free agency.

“We like to think we’re making headway. But I don’t know,” he said. “He probably won’t know until the end and I won’t either. I don’t gamble on that, I just plan on him staying.”

Recently Howard told the media he wouldn’t mind a trade to the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics, in addition to his original wish list of the New Jersey Nets, LA Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

He is calling out his teammates for not executing a maximum effort and seems to sulk on the court at times.

But DeVos still has faith, and you’d think he would be doing everything in his power to keep Howard. At the age of 85, he doesn’t have a whole lot of time left to own a professional basketball team. Keeping Howard ensures the team will be a title contender.

Yet it’s hard to deny that Howard doesn’t really care about his owner, or the only franchise to give him an NBA paycheck.

ESPN’s Tom Haberstroh reported that when DeVos made a rare appearance before the Magic’s 102-89 win over the Miami Heat on Wednesday, players like Jason Richardson and Daniel Orton made sure to speak with their boss.

Howard didn’t make any attempt and ended up not saying a word to him. Obviously, he isn’t obligated to do so, but it gives you an idea where his head is right now.

Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets, The Houston Rockets PG Aaron Brooks dealt to the Phoenix Suns’ Goran Dragic PG and a choice of any lottery protected first. Brooks is expected to take charge of safeguarding the rights of Phoenix point guard from Dragic, playing behind Steve Nash.

“I’ll wait in line,” Brooks told the Houston Chronicle. “(Nash) is a legend, MVP and a Hall of Famer? I’m ready to go to be behind him and learn from it, just go and help the team. It gives me a fresh start. I’m ready to go. “

Earlier reports said Thursday the Rockets have discussed trading for Minnesota Brooks Johnny Flynn, but they decided to take the matter instead of Phoenix, according to the Chronicle. Because the draft picks as part of the operation is lottery-protected, the Rockets get the pick acquired from Orlando Phoenix Suns if do not make the playoffs.

Shane Battier has not been able to ignore the constant trade rumors. They have used before in Houston, playing with his mind and game.

Soon, the conversation ends. The deadline is near.

Battier cannot wait until it passes.

“What I intend to or not, at least I will have peace of mind,” he said.

Reserve Chase Budinger scored a career-high points, including 11 directly into the fourth quarter, and Kevin Martin added more as the Rockets opened the unofficial second half of the NBA season with a 124-119 victory Cavaliers Cleveland on Wednesday night.

As the trade deadline approaches Thursday night, Houston was stated very well in the market and seek to acquire players. In the recent past, the Rockets have been active participants in trade negotiations NBA quietly acquiring young talent.

Earlier this season, the Houston Rockets acquired Terrence Williams New Jersey Nets. And shipped backup shooting guard Jermaine Taylor in the Sacramento Kings for a second-round draft protected. In exchange for Williams, Houston sent a draft lottery protected in 2012 in New Jersey.

NBATrades

NBATrades, The 2011 deadline came and Trade NBA went to Paris at noon / 3 pm EST, which means that teams had to accept jobs before that. Now that the dust began to settle, there are definitely winners and losers in these transactions could affect the direction of several franchises now.
The Phoenix Suns acquired Aaron Brooks Houston Rockets for Goran Dragic and draft first-round pick. This trade gives the Suns a new stick on attack, and maybe a guard to take charge if they choose they will sell out Steve Nash in the offseason. Brooks is a free agent at the end of the season, however, so he needs either an extension or it could be lost to free agency. It is a restricted free agent, however, while the Suns could match any offer made to him.

In a somewhat shocking move, the Los Angeles Clippers Baron Davis sent to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Mo Williams late Wednesday (February 23). And although they lost their quest for Anthony, the New Jersey Nets still left with a superstar Deron Williams. Many other teams are in talks to make a big deal before the deadline to consolidate their lists for a run at the playoffs, including three teams from the elite of the Eastern Conference (the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls the Miami Heat). The Celtics could use a man of greater or help on the perimeter, the Bulls need a certain size and heat could do with a guard to safeguard the risk of injury Dwayne Wade. There are many rumors about the names that are on the table (Shane Battier, Nate Robinson, Gerald Wallace, Kirk Hinrich, Jonny Flynn, Raja Bell and a host of other actors could all have new homes by this evening), but there are so many variables that enter NBA trades that it is possible that none of these deals could actually happen between now and the deadline. There never was a trade deadline over highly anticipated NBA this year? In the midst of one of the greatest seasons in the history of the National Basketball Association (with a dozen teams that could make a legitimate claim on the championship this year), there have been a handful of blockbuster deals that sent high-level superstars new locale. So far, the central agreement sent Carmelo Anthony (and many others, including the leader Chauncey Billups) to the New York Knicks, but there are still a number of transactions that occur or may occur before that closes the door on all trade at 15 PM Eastern.