In an ESPN roundtable Friday night, three of the network's top basketball writers said they believe that Dwight Howard will eventually wind up with the Nets.

Marc Stein, Chris Broussard and Ric Bucher agreed Howard is heading north. Only Los Angeles-based writer J.A. Adande thought differently. None of the four suggested they had an inside information that there were on-going talks. Nor have any reported on any moves since the Magic broke off trade talks two days ago.

Stein, Broussard and Bucher also predicted that the perennial All-Star would be in New Jersey sooner rather than later, with Bucher predicting a trade could come before Christmas. Of course, Magic brass insists that they will try to convince him to stay.

They also thought that L.A. wasn't willing to give up what the Magic wants, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum. Nor, they suggested, do the Lakers have the lure Brooklyn holds for Howard, specifically the star power of Deron Williams and Mikhail Prokhorov. In fact, it was suggested Laker management knows the Nets are in the lead for the DPOY.

Meanwhile, Brent Barry says the Nets are "putting all their rubles in one basket," Howard's, and continue to pursue him. Barry also says that Travis Outlaw may not end up in a Knicks uniform. The Thunder, he says, is very interested.

• News and Notes (Video) - Brent Barry - NBA.com
  

Shawne Williams was in camp Friday and the Nets continue their recruiting of Andrei Kirilenko, but on Saturday afternoon, the starting small forward for the Nets will be 24-year-old second year player, Damion James and he's not giving it up easily.

"To be honest, I came into camp expecting to be the starting three,'' James said. "Because last year, I was starting before I broke my foot; my first game back off my broken foot I started. So I expected that spot to be mine, man."

Shawne Williams was shooting around but his availability for Saturday is still up in the air. Although the Nets are both privately and publicly recruiting Kirilenko (as well as Kris Humphries), there's nothing new to report.

Fred Kerber reports there's been "little movement" on the Kirilenko front. The big competition for AK-47, it appears, is not the Kings, but CSKA Moscow, Mikhail Prokhorov's old team. Kirilenko signed a three-year deal with an "NBA" out in the summer and moved his wife and family to Moscow, much as Deron Williams did to Istanbul.

• Damion James to start for Nets in preseason opener vs. Knicks - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
• Shawne Williams practices with Nets for first time - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
• Nets' James expects to be the starting three - Kristie Ackert - The InterNets
  
• Nets Practice Report: Shawne Speaks for First Time - Ben Couch - New Jersey Nets

Adrian Wojnarowski reports late Tuesday that trade talks between the Nets, the Orlando Magic and possibly two other teams "have gathered momentum over the past several days, and the framework of a possible four-team deal" that would bring Dwight Howard to New Jersey "has taken shape."

Wojnarowski writes that "New Jersey and Orlando are working toward a core deal that would send center Brook Lopez and another significant player obtained elsewhere to the Magic for Howard and Hedo Turkoglu, sources said."

Ultimately, what happens will be up to the Magic, and it's "still unclear if they’re motivated at all to trade Howard now." If not, the Nets will sign free agents to one-year deals, Wojnarowski reports. That will likely include an $8 or $9 million deal for Kris Humphries.

Woj is not alone. Fred Kerber and Tim Bontemps report, "The Nets continue to be active trade pursuers for their prime target, Howard. And they do so with an air of optimism."

Stay put, Nets fans. The Dwight Drama will not go smoothly.

David Aldridge reports the Magic are "contemplating filing tampering charges against two unnamed NBA teams for illegal contact with its franchise center." Sam Amick tweets that the two teams are the Nets and Rockets.

At the center of the proposed charges against the Nets (the Magic later said they wouldn't file charges against Houston) "is an alleged meeting between Dwight and Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov on Thursday. A source tells Broussard that Howard met with Prokhorov and Billy King in Miami on Thursday, and that the Magic were unaware of the meeting.

However, a "league source" tells Stefan Bondy the report is untrue.

Aldridge also writes that a source says that "a reported proposed package by the Nets of center Brook Lopez and Draft picks for Howard is not at all interesting to the Magic," and that Orlando "will not let Howard dictate the terms of where he wants to go."

Meanwhile, a report out of Orlando quotes sources who say that Dwight Howard "may soon fire his agent [Dan Fegan] and request a trade from the team." Another tweet denies that Fegan is being dumped.

• Magic considering filing tampering charges - David Aldridge - NBA.com
• Sources -- New Jersey Nets meet with Dwight Howard; could be tampering - Chris Broussard - ESPN
• Sources: Father of Dwight Howard to request son be traded from Magic - WKMG

Stefan Bondy agrees that Travis Outlaw's contract is "ugly" at $28 million over four, but he writes that the Nets should think hard before they use the amnesty provision on the 6'9" forward.  He reasons the Nets have plenty of cap space now and rather than "waste" money on a weak free agent class, they should go the "sensible route": smaller, shorter deals and hold cap space for 2012.

As for the Nets superstar, Bondy writes, "Deron Williams might not be thrilled, but let’s face it, he’s going to explore his options no matter what the Nets do in this upcoming free agency."

• Why the Nets shouldn't exercise amnesty on Outlaw (yet) - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
• Posts Revised amnesty clause raises questions - Zach Lowe - Sports Illustrated
• Here are the NBA players who could move under amnesty clause in new CBA - Peter Vecsey - New York Post
• Potential amnesty options for NBA teams - Marc Narducci - Hoopshype
  

Kris and Kim can have their reality show, "Keeping up with the Kardashians", but soon enough, Sasha and Masha could be stars of another higher rated reality show, "Breakfast at Wimbledon."  After winning the Italian Open and making it to the semi-finals of the French, Maria Sharapova (aka Masha) is ready for the "Rosewater Dish".

In an interview with the London Telegraph, the world's most bankable female athlete talked about her upcoming wedding to Sasha Vujacic, the Nets free agent who very much wants to be back. But she also talks about how living with another professional athlete helps her prepare. 

"It’s helpful that he has the understanding of what an athlete does and what it takes," the 24-year-old says.

"Even the small things, like the routines you go through before matches and before tournaments, how physically and mentally tough it is. That understanding between us is great." But she adds, she's failed at one thing: "He has tried to teach me how to play basketball, but I’m terrible, really bad."

• Wimbledon 2011: Maria Sharapova is desperate to win a prize that money can't buy - Mark Hodgekinson - London Telegraph

Here's a story about Kris Humphries that has nothing to do with Kim Kardashian or reality TV: Darren Heitner of Sports Agent Blog writes that the Nets PF's decision to change agents had more to do with a personal connection than anything on-court.

Heitner writes that Humphries' "best friend" and marketing manager, Josh Ketroser, had spoken with Humphries' then-agent Dan Fegan in December/early January about possible employment. "Nothing ever came of it," Heitner wrote.  "Ketroser eventually got a job with an agent – Marc Cornstein – who now represents Ketroser’s best friend, Kris Humphries."

• More About Kris Humphries' Switch From Lagardère To Pinnacle - Darren Heitner - Sports Agent Blog
  

Fred Kerber writes Sunday about how the Nets loved and lost LeBron James.  On the day LeBron brought the Heat to Newark, the Post writer recounts how the Nets tried to lure James to Newark/Brooklyn.  LeBron also offered his comments on the wooing...and "The Decision".

Relying mainly on Rod Thorn and Bobby Marks, Kerber writes that the Nets felt they had a legitimate shot after flying out of Cleveland, so much so that they were prepared to clear more roster space to bring in whoever James wanted as a sidekick.

The bottom line on why they lost is supplied by the guy with the biggest bottom line in the NBA. "When you have the worst record in the league, it’s not easy," Prokhorov said.

And don't expect the "superteam" trend to end anytime soon.  "It’s a part of where we are in the whole NBA culture," Avery Johnson told Al Iannazzone. "It’s probably not going to change for the next five years." And that's why the Nets continue to pursue Carmelo Anthony, Iannazzone adds.

• How Nets went LeBust come ‘Decision’ time - Fred Kerber - New York Post
• Heat became team Jersey wanted to be - George Willis - New York Post
• James Has Regrets - John Schuhmann - NBA.com
  
• Nets welcome LeBron and friends - Al Iannazzone - The Record
• Misguided LeBron James decided he wouldn’t man up for a challenge - Tara Sullivan - The Record
• Nets Fans Let LeBron Have It, But He Has Last Laugh - Kevin Clark - Wall Street Journal
• LeBron James admits broadcast of 'The Decision' was poor way to announce move to Miami - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
• Despite respect for Nets, James happy with Heat move - Agence France Presse
• James: Some free agent regrets, but not the choice - Brian Mahoney - AP
  
• LeBron reconsiders The Decision, if not his decision - Ethan J. Skolnick - Palm Beach Post
• LeBron James says he would announce 'Decision' differently now True Hoop - ESPN
• Lebron James Says He Would Change ' The Decision' Special - FanHouse