Amid swirling reports concerning Dwight Howard and the Nets’ intended pursuit — which is being peppered by possible tampering charges against the Nets by Orlando — NBA sources said the Nets and Nene were closing in on a deal to bring the Denver center/power forward to New Jersey.
As of Thursday night, the Nets’ intention was not to overspend on Nene, but after the Knicks loomed as the winners in the Tyson Chandler sweepstakes the Nets had to make a move.
ESPN.com reported that Howard intends to request a trade to the Nets, where he would be teamed with point guard Deron Williams. In the wake of that item came reports the Magic were planning on filing tampering charges against the Nets and the Rockets for alleged meetings with Howard.
ESPN.com and SI.com are reporting that Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov and GM Billy King met with Howard in Miami on Thursday.
Howard denied to ESPN that took place, saying, “There was no meeting.”
Howard continued, “Right now, my plan is to show up to training camp for the Orlando Magic.”
A Magic spokesman said the team would not comment on any claims.
A Prokhorov spokesperson has not responded to requests for comment or clarification if the Russian billionaire was even in the country Thursday night.
No charges have been filed as of Friday afternoon with the NBA, according to a league spokesman. And there is a murky area in terms of a timeline. If the alleged meeting took place before the new NBA collective bargaining agreement was ratified, it’s not clear if any rules were violated. Executives were granted permission to speak with free agents. Howard, though, is not a free agent.
With that as a backdrop, the Nets continued their pursuit of Nene who, sources said, now favors the Nets, who could pay up to $70 million over four years, a price considered far too steep not too long ago. But the Nets, who open training camp Friday afternoon, need to do something to improve their roster and to gain relevancy in the area. Nene could improve the roster — if he stays.
One source has maintained the Nets may eventually flip Nene in a deal that could lead to Howard, who has been the prime target all along. However getting to Howard now could be a mess.
As for the Nets’ offer for Howard, it was reported to be Brook Lopez and two first-round picks (the Nets’ plus the Rockets’ lottery protected pick, both in 2012). If, however, the Nets are hit with a tampering violation, they could lose picks.