If what Chad Ford reported Wednesday turns out to be true, Billy King will be talking to someone other than Otis Smith next time he calls about Dwight Howard. In a chat, Ford wrote that he expects both Smith and Stan Van Gundy will be fired in a matter of days.

"I think you'll see them let go GM Otis Smith and head coach Stan Van Gundy in the next few days." Ford wrote. He added that whoever replaces them won't be thinking about a championship run, either. Rather, it will be about dumping Howard and starting over. "I think everyone realizes he's gone sooner or later and the focus will be on how to best rebuild the team."

In addition to Howard's future, the Magic will have to deal with Jameer Nelson's decision to opt out of his contract and Ryan Anderson's (restricted) free agency.

• Dwight Howard Rumors: "Everyone Realizes He's Gone" from Orlando Magic - Evan Dunlap - Orlando Pinstriped Post
  

This thread is for discussion of tonight's games. Keep the playoffs discussion in this thread and the Nets discussion elsewhere.

Wednesday's schedule...

Celtics (1) @ 76ers (1) - Game 3 - 7 p.m. ET - TNT

Lakers (0) @ Thunder (1) - Game 2 - 9:30 p.m. ET - TNT

Stefan Bondy lays out the positives and negatives of Deron Williams free agency situation and offers this bottom line: "From what we’ve heard, Williams is looking for reasons the stay with the Nets. It’s up to GM Billy King to provide them."

Bondy, unlike a lot of pundits, doesn't believe the Nets are in bind where they win D-Will's signature only if they trade for Dwight Howard. He quotes Williams own words last month on what the Nets need to do.

"We have to get some veterans, guys that know how to play the game of basketball, make the right plays, extra passes," Williams said. "That was the most frustrating thing about this year was the lack of ball movement, lack of screens. Just really some good basketball players, we need to get a lot of those."

Meanwhile, Fred Kerber looks at Deron Williams' choice of vacation spot ("Paris is supposed to be wonderful this time of year. The Caribbean, too. But Moscow?) and vacation partner, Andrei Kirilenko ("rumored as a Nets target") and sees it as a positive for the Nets. "So with selective addition for their current stockpile, the Nets are more than playoff worthy. And maybe part of the plan has been unfolding in Moscow."

• Why the Nets have the upperhand in the battle for Deron Williams - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
• Nets guard Williams now on Prokhorov's home turf - Fred Kerber - New York Post
  

Alex Kennedy writes that the guy who Deron Williams burned for 38 points, including eight three pointers, back in February could be the Nets' back-up plan if D-Will leaves. Kennedy cites "sources close to the situation" that bringing LinSanity to Brooklyn would solve all sorts of problems for the Nets.

Kennedy writes that the Nets are one of five teams with interest in Jeremy Lin, still recovering from a torn meniscus. The others, he claims, are the Raptors, Mavericks, Trail Blazers and Warriors (who he once played for).

It's a no-brainer, he adds, for Brooklyn. "Brooklyn would love to steal Lin from the Knicks and open Barclays Center with Linsanity."

But, alas, Kennedy reports it would only be possible for the Nets if they agreed to "backload" Lin's contract, giving him "$12,628,613 and $13,146,387 in the final two years of his deal" to make a contract averaging $9 million a year.

• NBA PM: Will Knicks Re-Sign Jeremy Lin? - Alex Kennedy - HoopsWorld
  

The Williams, Deron and Amy, were out sightseeing in Moscow this morning, happily snapping pictures of Kazan Cathedral in Red Square and themselves. They're supposedly spending time with the Kirilenkos, Andrei and Masha. No word though on any face time with Mikhail Prokhorov ... beyond a casual conversation they had in Istanbul.

As noted Tuesday, this Russian interlude has gotten notice in Dallas, where in the words of one writer, "The Mavs want Deron Williams in the worst possible way." But beyond Williams' Russian vacation, Mavericks' writers and fans have started taking note of something else, the $28 million (and extra year of financial security) D-Will would leave on the table if he moves from Brooklyn to Dallas.

"Unfortunately, if Williams is all about the money he won't be leaving Brooklyn," writes Dwain Price in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "Williams has a tough choice to make this summer. Stay with a team that was 22-44 this season, or come home and try to help his hometown team regain the NBA title they won last year."

• Full-Court Press: Mavs need that "other'' free agent, too - Dwain Price - Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• The Dallas Mavericks Uncertain Offseason - Andrew Tobolowsky - SB Nation Dallas
  

The Nets don't know how many picks they'll have on Draft Night, but they're preparing as if they'll have more than the #57 pick, which is the only one they know they'll have for sure.

The Nets have a 25.5 percent chance at hanging on to a top three pick at the May 30 Lottery. They have $3 million in Mikhail Prokhorov's cash they have to use before June 30 or lose it. First round picks can be had for $3 million. They have that #57 pick. They can reacquire the #60 pick sent to the Lakers in 2010 if L.A. agrees to accept $250,000 by June 1. And Billy King made two Draft Night trades last year. So they're quietly planning for all eventualities.

As part of that planning, they've worked for months to gather 44 second tier picks (like Iona PG Scott Machado) for all 30 teams to scout this weekend. The Rockets are co-hosting the event, and the costs are being shared 30 ways, but Brooklyn will have a homecourt advantage: its assistant coaches will run the drills on the court, getting a first hand and upclose look at all 44, and its front office will get first crack at interviewing top candidates afterwards.

• Nets prep for combine - Fred Kerber - New York Post
• Bouna N'Diaye : "Evan Must Be Seen By Maximum Number of GMs: (Google Translate) - Basket News
  

To say wireless coverage at NBA arenas is spotty is being kind. They weren't built for it and the nooks and crannies of such large spaces, filled with thick concrete walls, is not an ideal environment. But Barclays Center was built with wireless in mind and Tuesday, the team announced it's chosen a company to design, install and operate the arena network.

ExteNet Systems of Illinois will set up a a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) network in the newly constructed arena that will meet "rising expectations in fan demand", says the company. The Nets will also be heavily dependent on wireless in its basketball operations with video and data feeds at the arena. Also, as part of its deal with the Nets and Barclays, MetroPCS will have charging stations around the arena.

• ExteNet Systems to Implement Distributed Network Solution at Barclays Center - Virtual-Strategy Magazine
  

Jeff Foote is already in New York, getting ready for the free agent mini-camp next week where he will go up against two former NBA centers, Hilton Armstrong and David Harrison. He's also confirmed he's gotten one of the Nets first invitations to join the team's summer league roster, as has Dennis Horner, his Armor teammate.

Who else may travel to Orlando July 9-13 league is anyone's guess, but MarShon Brooks, Jordan Williams and Armon Johnson from last season's roster seem likely. The Nets have until June 30 to give Johnson a qualifying offer for next season -- and they might. Former Notre Dame PG Ben Hansbrough, the 2011 Big East Player of the Year, is at the Nets mini-camp. They talked to him last year about playing in Orlando, but the lockout intervened.

Also on hand at the mini-camp and possibilities for the summer: D-League's DPOY Stefhon Hannah, a 6'1" point guard, and D-League ROY Edwin Ubiles, a 6'6" swingman. The Nets, can if they want, offer partial guaranteed deals to players after July 1 if they think another team might want to scoop them up. That's how they got Ben Uzoh and Jeff Zoubek two years ago.

• Foote to play in NBA summer league - Ithaca Journal