// Now that the New Jersey Nets know they have no shot at getting Dwight Howard, will they attempt to trade Deron Williams instead of being at risk of losing him with nothing in return when he opts out of his contract this summer? ESPN.com is reporting that the Nets would say no to a Pau Gasol-for-Williams swap, and a source told SheridanHoops.com that the only thing that would make the Nets move Williams would be a clear message from him
On the day of the NBA trade deadline, it appears Dwight Howard if off the market. In an exclusive interview with Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM.com, Howard said he plans to waive the early termination option in his contract — a move that will keep him in Orlando this season and next season. “Man, listen, you know my heart, my soul and everything I have is in Orlando,” Howard told RealGM. “I just can’t leave it behind.” Howard’s decision, which will not be official
In our Trade Spin, it doesn’t matter which NBA team wins or loses a deal, it’s about taking advantage either way in your league(s). The usual format, with info and opinions on each game before (and after) they are played, is on hold for a couple of days. Klay Thompson is already on fire as the new SG for the Warriors, with three triples and 26 points in over 40 minutes last night. Monta Ellis should maintain his fantasy value with
Antawn Jamison scored 20 points for the 8th consecutive game, but failed to record a rebound. Jose Calderon was seen in a walking boot at the end of Toronto’s bench. There is no timetable for his return. The Blazers shot 2 of 15 in the first quarter. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Howard is only the 4th player in the past 25 seasons to record a stat line of 24 points, 25 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks. At 32-9, the Thunder went
Congratulate the Orlando Magic and general manager Otis Smith. They’ve done the right thing by keeping center Dwight Howard. Orlando as to hold onto to Howard, the NBA most dominant center, as long as possible, which means beyond Thursday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline. You only send Howard packing for a blockbuster trade proposal. If there’s no blockbuster trade proposal, keep Howard and re-evaluate things at the end of the year. Period. It should be mentioned that Howard, who can’t keep his mouth
The Golden State Warriors traded Monta Ellis. But not to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard. And not to the Magic to play with Howard. And Howard doesn’t want to be traded. But that doesn’t mean he is re-signing with the Magic. After Howard again reminded everyone why this mess is a really big deal – annihilating the big, bad Heat for 24 points and 25 rebounds in a 104-98 home overtime win – he said he would like to play out the season
There are a variety of ways to quantify a player’s worth to his team, with a myriad of variables with which to play. One way is by utilizing NBA.com/Stats’ PIE (Player Impact Estimate)*, which measures a player’s overall contribution to his team. Perhaps not surprisingly, the Miami Heat’s LeBron James leads the league in PIE at 23.2 percent, and is the lone player in the league with a PIE above 20 percent. James is on pace to set new career
// The trade deadline is just a couple days away, and with all of he hullabaloo over Dwight Howard and whether he will stay in or leave Orlando, there are a couple other players — Jamal Crawford of Portland and Josh Smith of Atlanta chief among them — who might have a greater likelihood of being traded. Also, the Los Angeles Lakers are still expected to be active. But does their thinking change now that they are atop the Pacific Division? They