DWIGHT AND WRONG: Dwight Howard is still a member of the Magic, despite reports he would request a trade to the Nets, who denied reports club brass met with Howard Thursday, a violation of NBA rules. The Magic said they would not file tampering charges against the Nets and are giving them permission to talk to the center, according to reports. Sources say the Nets also are close to signing free-agent power forward Nene (inset). (
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It has been an interesting couple of days for the Nets.
In the last 48 hours, the Nets lost out on three of their top-rated free agent targets but moved to the cusp of signing a fourth, Denver’s Nene. They were rumored to be preparing to welcome Dwight Howard into the fold through a trade demand purportedly initiated by the Orlando superstar, but then were fingered as potential tampering culprits for an alleged clandestine meeting with the All-Star center.
And then the tampering charges and supposed meetings were denied by most everyone, including by Howard’s agent, who came forth and declared he and Howard, with Orlando’s permission, have spoken to the Nets in phone calls, not in sit-downs, and are exploring a deal with New Jersey.
That about cover it? Oh wait, they started training camp, too.
The tumultuous stretch seemingly culminated last night with Avery Johnson putting 14 charges through day one of what will be a shortened camp for an abbreviated season. Among those attending Johnson’s second Nets camp were Brook Lopez, the young center rumored headed to Orlando as part of a package for Howard — and, of course, the player around whom everything is being built, Deron Williams, in his first full season in the East.
But then Dan Fegan, who represents Howard (and Nene) presented a prepared statement to ESPN The Magazine which ran on ESPN.com. Fegan labeled reports that Howard was to be traded to the Nets yesterday as well as subsequent tampering claims as “inaccurate.”
“Tampering doesn’t apply once a team grants permission for a player and/or his representatives to make contact with another team. The Magic have given us permission to have contact with several teams in order for Dwight to explore his options. I most definitely had contact with the teams I was granted permission to speak with,” Fegan told The Magazine.
And one of those teams is the Nets. Magic officials confirmed the Nets did receive permission, and according to SI.com, the Lakers and Mavericks did as well.
So for a second straight season, trade rumors dominated the training-camp landscape (see: Anthony, Carmelo; 2010).
“We’re just focused on basketball, focused on the things we can control on the court. Hopefully, whatever is being talked about will get resolved,” Johnson said.
There is lots to resolve. One, is the question of Nene who league sources maintain was leaning toward the Nets and their offer that is expected to be in the neighborhood of $60 million for four years — league sources said the deal was close but would not get done last night.
As of Thursday night, the Nets shied away from the big bucks for the Nuggets hulk but after losing out on Tyson Chandler, Caron Butler and Tayshaun Prince, $60-65 million didn’t seem so outrageous. They had to do something.
What Nets fans hoped for was the acquisition of Howard, which is becoming a soap opera. After an ESPN.com report early yesterday morning predicted Howard’s trade request to the Nets, reports of tampering. NBA.com first reported the Magic were considering filing tampering charges against two teams, including the Nets, for illegal contact with Howard. Additional reports claimed owner Mikhail Prokhorov and general manager Billy King met with Howard in Miami Thursday. The Magic, on their team website, said they hadn’t sought tampering charges. The Nets denied any meeting.
“There aren’t any tampering charges,” said Magic CEO Alex Martins , noting the illegality of talking to players without permission. “If that’s been voided in any way, we’ll deal with it to the fullest extent that the NBA’s Constitution allows.”
The Nets proclaimed their innocence.
“Contrary to published reports the New Jersey Nets did not meet with Dwight Howard,” King said in a statement.
The Nets will step up their pursuit of Howard who eventually could team up with Nene. There also are other immediate matters. Like a three and a four (Nene). A new but very familiar name — Richard Jefferson, an amnesty guy in San Antonio — emerged as a long shot with usual suspects Rasual Butler, Josh Howard and another long shot, Andrei Kirilenko.