Two Nets got all dressed up in Nets gear Wednesday night and made their way to the Verizon Center in downtown Washington. No, they hadn't got their schedule mixed up. Nor was it a casual trip. It had a purpose: to let Dwight Howard, whose Magic were playing the Wizards, know Nets fans want him in New Jersey, Brooklyn.
It's not just Monta Ellis the Magic are seeking to try to keep Dwight Howard. It's Steve Nash and it's whoever they think will make Howard stay...and Kennedy adds in a series of tweets and a post on HoopsWorld, Howard is being consulted.
Chris Broussard offers his thoughts on the fates of various superstars after the All-Star Break and like just about everyone else believes the Nets are the "odds-on favorite" to wind up with Dwight Howard, citing among other things the Derrick Rose-like sneaker deal he could sign once the team is in Brooklyn and he's paired with Deron Williams.
Here's something we missed celebrating the Nets win over the Mavericks Tuesday night, a report by Lakers play-by-play announcer and local sports reporter that Dwight Howard's agent told the Lakers over All-Star weekend that Howard won't sign an extension with Los Angeles if the Magic trade him out west. Here's what John Ireland told Colin Cowherd.
On Thursday, some 130 players who previously couldn't be dealt will be available for trades. The 130 are free agents signed earlier this season. As can be expected, trade winds are gusting and may reach sustained hurricane force in the next few days.
Billy KIng spoke Tuesday to Michael Kay on his ESPN Radio show. (Perhaps the YES interview will take place when he does a deal for Dwight Howard.? In the interview, King talked glowingly about Deron Williams, Dwight Howard and Kris Humphries and got in some trash talking about Kim Kardashian too.
Oh that Peter Vecsey! Near the end of a column on various trade possibilities that will begin to raise their ugly heads, he inserted this beauty: The Nets, Warriors and Magic are talking, with Brook Lopez going to Golden State, Monta Ellis to Orlando and Dwight Howard to New Jersey
In his second half preview, Dave Dalessandro does some math on the Nets pursuit of Dwight Howard (and thus, the retention of Deron Williams. He likes the Nets chances, at least as of now.
Sam Amick writes Monday that while everyone waits to see what the Magic front office will do between now and March 15, for Dwight Howard, "nothing has changed about his outlook" and while the Nets, Lakers and Jazz (!) are on his list, "New Jersey is far and away the leader".
Get ready for rumors du jour on Dwight Howard and Deron Williams, but shockingly not all of them are real.
