Monta Ellis To Orlando In Three-Team Deal?
There’s also still the extremely remote possibility that Orlando could do enough on the trade front to persuade Howard to stay. Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM reports that there are discussions ongoing between Orlando, Golden State and New Orleans that would send Monta Ellis and others to the Magic.
In the deal, Ellis, Andris Biedrins and Dorrell Wright would go to Orlando and Ryan Anderson, J.J. Redick, Hedo Turkoglu and Quentin Richardson would be dealt from the Magic. Chris Kaman would be involved on the New Orleans front, but it’s unknown where players will go and which pieces will actually be moved. HoopsWorld’s Alex Kennedy says that talks are heating up.
On the other hand, SI’s Sam Amick reports that he highly doubts Golden State and it’s “Howard obsessed” ownership would help Orlando in any way by dealing Ellis to the Magic, SI’s Zach Lowe doubts this will happen as well, while Marcus Thompson says the trade “has no legs.” ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that Golden State would only get Chris Kaman and Hedo Turkoglu as the best players in the deal, and they have no such interest in this trade even if it means they get to trade Andris Biedrins. Stein further says that the Warriors are devoting most of its energy to getting Andrew Bogut from Milwaukee.
It’s unclear how this would drastically improve the Magic and be enough to convince Howard to stay in Orlando. Stay tuned for a wild three days.
NBA Trade Rumors 3/12/12
Howard To Chicago?
Orlando would like to seriously discuss a Dwight Howard trade with the Bulls, Ken Berger reports, but Howard does not want to go to Chicago. So all indications are, according to Berger, Alex Kennedy and others, that Orlando will keep Howard for the rest of the season and likely lose him in free agency this summer.
“He’s telling everyone he’s leaving,” a source told Berger.
Offers have not been good enough by the Nets, Mavericks and Lakers, teams on Howard’s preferred trade list, and Chicago could offer Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng, Omer Asik and a future Bobcats first-round pick the Bulls own. However, it seems like Howard would not want to play second fiddle to Derrick Rose in Chicago and therefore does not want to go to the Bulls.
Knowing that they’ll likely get Howard in free agency this summer, the Nets have only been offering Jordan Farmar and Mehmet Okur rather than young assets like MarShon Brooks, says Bill Ingram.
Report: Lakers Nixed Gasol For Rondo
The Celtics-Lakers rivalry reportedly extended to the proverbial negotiating table recently, as the two sides discussed a trade involving Pau Gasol and Rajon Rondo, according to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles would not trade Gasol for Rondo and talks pretty much ended there. “Unless they give up Gasol, they’re not going to get a top-level point guard,” a source told Bresnahan. Another possibility for the Lakers is Michael Beasley, but LA isn’t willing to give up a first round pick for him just yet.
Clippers Search For Two-Guard Could End With Crawford
The Clippers should be more urgent in its search for a shooting guard, but the price has thus far been to high for Los Angeles, according to Ramona Shelbourne of ESPN LA. The Clips have looked into Boston’s Ray Allen, Portland’s Jamal Crawford and Washington’s Nick Young, but teams have been asking for a combination of Eric Bledsoe, a first round pick and/or the expiring contract of Randy Foye or Brian Cook.
Now it seems their pursuit of Crawford has gotten serious. CBS’ Ken Berger reports that the Clippers and Blazers are discussing a deal that would send Crawford to LA for Eric Bledsoe and Ryan Gomes. The Clippers-Blazers deal is being discussed, says Ken Berger, but has not yet advanced to the ownership level. However, Alex Raskin reports that the Clippers are reluctant to move Bledsoe for a rental player like Crawford. The Crawford trade could be the precursor, Berger says, of a Blazers-Lakers swap that would exchange Raymond Felton for Steve Blake, with the Lakers also adding an extra piece to make the salaries match.
Another possible landing spot for Jamal Crawford is Charlotte, with the Bobcats sending D.J. Augustin and filler to Portland, according to David Aldridge. Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer confirms that Portland is interested. A Crawford trade could be coming soon, says Alex Kennedy, and the Berger report give Kennedy’s tweet from earlier more credence.
Sam Amick Reports
The Warriors’ interest is real, but Milwaukee doesn’t know if they can get maximum value for him right now. The Bucks would want anyone to take either Stephen Jackson or Drew Gooden in a Bogut trade. Another Bucks player who could be on the block is Brandon Jennings, who is available for the right price. Atlanta is considering Josh Smith’s trade request and he’s been a lifelong friend of Dwight Howard’s.
Sacramento’s Tyreke Evans is no longer considered the centerpiece of the Kings’ rebuilding process and they could move him if the right opportunity arises. Isaiah Thomas and Marcus Thornton has made for a good backcourt with DeMarcus Cousins at center. *Portland will be active this week, but don’t expect a Nicolas Batum trade. *Houston could deal a few players from a list including Goran Dragic, Courtney Lee, Chase Budinger, Jonny Flynn and Terrence Williams. Luis Scola and Kevin Martin are still in play for Howard or Gasol.
Extra Points
-More Bogut: Golden State’s pursuit of Milwaukee center Andrew Bogut is “nothing but hype” according to Rusty Simmons. Milwaukee wants any team that trades for Bogut to take Stephen Jackson as well, according to Marc Stein.
-Ramon Sessions would like to remain a Cavalier, says the Cleveland Plain Dealer, but that has not stopped teams from wanting to deal for the coveted point guard. The Lakers, Hawks and TimberWolves are among the interested parties.
-Memphis is no longer taking offers for O.J. Mayo, Bill Ingram reports. Indiana and Minnesota had shown interest.
-The Nets have inquired about the expiring contract of Boris Diaw, Rick Bonnell reports. Charlotte would likely want a first round pick in return, Houston’s could be in play, and players like Jordan Farmar and Johan Petro would also be in play, says Alex Raskin.
-Wilson Chandler has set a Friday deadline to negotiate a long-term deal with Denver or he’ll sit out the rest of the season, says Alex Kennedy. Denver has been quiet so far on the trade front, says Zach Lowe.
-Kyle Lowry can be officially ruled out of any trade now that he’s out two to four weeks with a viral infection.
Dwight Howard Likely Headed To Free Agency
The Orlando Magic will almost certainly not trade Dwight Howard by Thursday and Howard will almost definitely test the free agency market, according to SI’s Chris Mannix. The Nets seem like the biggest threat to complete a trade for Howard, but the Magic don’t like their assets and another team or two would have to be added, says Sam Amick. The Chicago Bulls are not a fit since Howard does not want to go there, and Howard does not want to be traded to a team that has to gut its roster to acquire him, Mannix says.
That sets up a likely bidding war for Howard this summer that Mannix refers to as “LeBron Part II.” Howard’s three-team wish list of New Jersey, Dallas and the Lakers would greatly expand and would include a whole host of other teams. A pair of possibilities could be the Heat and Clippers, who sources tell Mannix would interest Howard this summer if they can somehow get the cap space.
