MINNEAPOLIS — A return of the Dwightmare? Don’t count on it.
League sources shot down a report Tuesday the Nets were interested in once again pursuing Lakers center Dwight Howard, after spending all of last season trying to acquire him while he was with the Magic.
The report, from the website RealGM, said the Nets were planning to pursue a possible three-team trade with the Lakers and Timberwolves that would result in Howard joining the Nets, Brook Lopez heading to Minnesota and Kevin Love going to the Lakers despite Love being sidelined with a broken hand.
The Lakers (17-24) have endured a miserable season after acquiring Howard during the offseason. It still is unlikely they would consider trading him by next month’s trade deadline after giving up Andrew Bynum to get him. ESPN.com reported last night the Lakers may reconsider the possibility of moving Howard before the Feb. 21 trade deadline if the Lakers continue to struggle. and the team becomes unsure whether Howard will re-sign with it as a free agent.
Howard, who had back surgery during the offseason, hasn’t looked like the same player this season that he did in the past, despite averaging 17.1 points and 12.3 rebounds for the Lakers and being voted as a starter on the Western Conference All-Star team. He also openly complained to the media after getting only five shot attempts in Monday’s loss in Chicago.
The Nets, meanwhile, have been thrilled with Lopez, who is averaging 18.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in just under 30 minutes per game, helping the Nets to a 25-16 record through the first half of the season. Lopez is expected to be selected to his first All-Star team when the reserves are announced tomorrow night.