Woj giveth and Woj taketh away. Thirteen hours after the reporting the Nets were preparing a blockbuster offer for Dwight Howard, Adrian Wojnarowski tweets, "Orlando has ended trade talks for Dwight Howard, league sources tell Y! Sports", later adding, "Magic decided to take Dwight Howard off market, ending talks with Nets and the rest of his NBA suitors for now, league sources tell Y!"
There were no details on why or when talks would be renewed. Chad Ford reported that the Nets "offered everything they could for Howard: Brook Lopez + FIVE 1st Rd picks. Theirs in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017 + Rockets 2011 pick."
For the Magic, the decision is in line with their stated intention to keep Howard. An Orlando reporter, David Baumann, tweeted that GM Otis Smith told the media: “We are going to continue to talk to every team out there. It doesn’t mean anything is going to happen.”
Brian Schmitz, long-time Orlando reporter, tweeted "Magic trying to smoke out L.A. with Nets trade tease. Lakers didn't bite. Magic want PGasol and ABynum for DHoward. Now what? Wait."
For the Nets, the news has to be devastating for it means that they have struck out, at least temporarily, on Howard after seeing all their major free agent targets go elsewhere or stay home: Tyson Chandler (Knicks), Nene Hilario (Nuggets), Tayshaun Prince (Pistons), Caron Butler (Clippers). They do retain $16 million in cap space and are now faced with the choice of using the amnesty provision to dump Travis Outlaw, a decision that must be made by the close of business Friday.
- Magic tell teams they're not trading Howard - Adrian Wojnarowski - Yahoo! Sports
- Sources: Magic take D-12 off trade market - Chad Ford & Marc Stein
- Orlando Magic no longer taking Dwight Howard trade offers, sources say - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Magic not ready to trade Howard - Ken Berger - CBS Sports
- Magic-Howard Limbo - AP
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Magic halt Dwight Howard trade talks - Jeff Zillgitt - USA Today
- Magic stand pat -- for now -- as Dwight Howard trade rumors heat up - Josh Robbins - Orlando Sentinel
- Magic in no hurry to deal Howard - Sam Gardner - FOX Sports Florida
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Dwight Howard trade disappears, leaving Nets searching for new frontcourt options - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- MAGIC VIDEO: Otis Smith on Dwight Howard Rumors - Orlando Magic
- Deron Williams Interview Dec 14, 2011 10:19am (Video) - New Jersey Nets
- Magic take Howard off the market - Andy Vasquez - The Record
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Where do the Nets go from here? - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York