News
Huge Three-Way Trade
The Los Angeles Clippers have acquired Nick Young from Washington for Brian Cook and a second round pick as part of a three-way trade. Denver is sending Nene to Washington and the Nuggets are getting JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf. The Clippers needed a shooting guard, so it makes sense on their end, and credit Washington for getting rid of McGee while getting Nene as well. Hard to imagine what Denver was thinking.

Rockets Get Fisher
With their new PG in Ramon Sessions, the Lakers traded Derek Fisher and Dallas’ first round pick to Houston for Jordan Hill . Kobe Bryant and Fisher have been great friends for a while, so Kobe probably won’t be happy. Houston sent Jonny Flynn in the Marcus Camby trade, so they needed another PG. Houston is going for it. Fisher could be bought out, Adrian Wojnarowski reports.

Jefferson-Jackson Swap
San Antonio and Golden State have swapped Richard Jefferson and Stephen Jackson. The Warriors also get a conditional first round pick from San Antonio. The Spurs considered cutting Jefferson before the season via the amnesty clause and Jackson had a rough departure from the Warriors. He was then acquired from Milwaukee in the Andrew Bogut trade, and Golden State wanted to flip him. San Antonio loves Jackson, who spent two seasons with the team.

Golden State also bought a second round pick from Atlanta so the Hawks can pay its luxury tax.

Rockets Acquire Camby
Houston gets another big man by acquiring Marcus Camby from Portland for Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet along with Minnesota’s second round pick. Portland is cleaning house.

Lakers Get Their PG
The Lakers have acquired PG Ramon Sessions from Cleveland for a 2012 first round pick. The Lakers and Cavs are also swapping Christian Eyenga and Luke Walton with Cleveland also getting Jason Kapono. Los Angeles has needed a point guard desperately all season and Sessions is more than capable. He was backing up top overall pick Kyrie Irving in Cleveland, so the Cavs were able to get an asset. Brian Windhorst reports that the Lakers have the option of swapping Miami’s 2013 first round picks with the Cavs, which they own. Los Angeles had been trying to trade for Charlotte’s D.J. Augustin before getting Sessions, says Adrian Wojnarowski.

Nets Acquire Wallace
New Jersey has acquired Gerald Wallace from Portland for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a top-three protected 2012 first round pick. The Blazers wanted to clear money and build around LaMarcus Aldridge and Nicolas Batum and New Jersey wants to build assets to convince Deron Williams to stay. In a deep 2012 draft, Portland may have gotten themselves a real impact player. Great trade for the Blazers, seemingly desperate for the Nets.

Dwight Howard has officially signed his early termination option, meaning he will stay with the Magic for the 2012-2013 season
Howard has signed the ETO and the league will execute it without the consent of his agent, Dan Fagen.

Pacers Acquire Barbosa
Indiana has acquired SG Leandro Barbosa from Toronto, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Marc Spears. Toronto will get a second round pick. Indiana had plenty of room under the cap to absorb Barbosa, who’s making $7.6 million in the final year of his contract. He’s averaging 12.2 points on 43.6 percent shooting (36 from three) in 42 games off the bench for the Raptors. This also removes the Pacers from the Chris Kaman sweepstakes, since they no longer have the room to take on his expiring contract.

Sixers Deal For Young
Philadelphia has acquired G/F Sam Young from Memphis for 2005 second-round pick Ricky Sanchez, who is currently playing in Argentina.. Young averaged 3.5 points and two rebounds per game over 21 games and two starts. It’s a cap space move for Memphis and another addition to a deep Sixers bench. Young will be a free agent after the season. The pick, by league rule, is top 55 protected, says Zach Lowe.

RUMORS

Howard Staying In Orlando- Waives ETO
In an exclusive interview with RealGM this morning, Dwight Howard said that he will waive his early termination option and play for the Magic in the 2012-2013 season. “Man, listen, you know my heart, my soul and everything I have is in Orlando,” Howard said. “I just can’t leave it behind.”

Howard may fire agent Dan Fegan, who had tried to steer him towards free agency this summer and allegedly convinced Howard to change his mind back to leaving Orlando. “I have gotten some bad advice,” Howard said. “I apologize for this circus I have caused to the fans of our city. They didn’t deserve none of this. I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart. I will do whatever I can to make this right and do what I was put in Orlando to do.”

Nene To Washington?
David Aldridge reports that the Nuggets and Wizards are in advanced discussions on a trade that would send Nene to Washington for JaVale McGee and Nick Young. Now Adrian Wojnarowski is saying the Clippers are getting Young in a three-way trade.

Three-Way Trade Talk Dead?
Bill Ingram reports that a three-team deal that would send Jamal Crawford to Minnesota is falling apart, though it is still being discussed.
A trade involving the Lakers, Blazers and TimberWolves could soon be completed involving Michael Beasley, Jamal Crawford and others. In the deal, Los Angeles would get Michael Beasley from Minnesota and absorb his contract with a trade exception. Portland would get Luke Ridnour from Minnesota and a first round pick from the Lakers, while the TimberWolves would get Jamal Crawford from Minnesota. Crawford has played his last game with Portland no matter what, Alex Kennedy says.

Another version of the trade has Steve Blake going to Portland instead of Luke Ridnour. Los Angeles has also tried to trade the contract of Luke Walton, with no success.

Hornets Moving Veterans?
As the Hornets look to rebuild, a trio of its veteran players could be on the move today if teams are willing to surrender draft picks. Chris Kaman has been the most sought after Hornet, with the Celtics, Heat and Rockets among the interested teams. New Orleans has lowered its expectations,knowing they won’t get a first round pick for Kaman, Adrian Wojnarowski reports. Kaman could go to an East team, says Chris Tomasson. Now it seems like Kaman will stay.

Other players who could be dealt are Trevor Ariza and Emeka Okafor. Cleveland had interest in Okafor, but the Cavs insisted on one of New Orleans’ two first-round picks this season to take on Okafor’s contract.

Houston Rockets Trade Notes
-Houston is shopping SG Courtney Lee, according to Alex Kennedy, but the asking price is currently high.
-The Bulls, Clippers and TimberWolves could have interest in Lee or Kevin Martin, but Houston wants Omer Asik or Taj Gibson for Lee.
-The Rockets reportedly have a standing offer for Pau Gasol that does not include Kyle Lowry. Houston also has interest in Chris Kaman, but it may cost them Martin. Other players who could get dealt include Goran Dragic, Jonny Flynn and Terrence Williams. They’re looking for first round picks.

Extra Points
-Orlando tried to acquire in a three-team trade with the Hawks and TimberWolves to no avail.
-Washington is shopping C JaVale McGee, but is asking for the world, says Marc Spears.
-Charlotte is shopping SG D.J. Augustin and are listening to several teams after he passed up a contract extension.
-The Knicks will not be making any deals today, according to Alan Hahn.
-Memphis may have interest in signing Gilbert Arenas. Don’t expect an O.J. Mayo trade.
-The Clippers will likely keep Eric Bledsoe, says Chris Palmer.
-Boston, in need of a big man, is going after Sacramento’s J.J. Hickson.