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Rockets Eye Draft Day Deal for D12

By Net Income Updated
Apr 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic defeated the Sixers 88-82. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE
Apr 07, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard (12) during the third quarter against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. The Magic defeated the Sixers 88-82. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Chad Ford and Marc Stein report that the Rockets are trying to move up in the Draft to acquire enough assets to lure the Magic into a Thursday night deal for Dwight Howard. Houston has been interested in Howard since last year even if the All-Star center apparently isn't interested in signing a long term deal with them.

It's believed that two top-eight picks, assuming Houston managed to complete trades with both Sacramento and Toronto, would seriously pique the interest of new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan, who could then quickly start following the same sort of roster-building blueprint relied on by his previous employers in Oklahoma City.

The question, the two report, is whether Hennigan would be willing to move so quickly after taking the job. He might, they add, might want to take a more "measured" approach and wait to see what others will offer. Howard is expected to meet with Hennigan early this week...before Thursday's draft. Hennigan has yet to begin interviewing candidates for head coach. In the past week, the Magic have fired their assistant general manager, six assistant coaches and six scouts.

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