HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Orlando Magic did not waive rookie combo guard DeAndre Liggins by Tuesday's 6 PM deadline, confirming the Kentucky product will remain on the team's roster for the rest of the regular season and fully guaranteeing his salary. Orlandoinstripedpost.com

Orlando Magic, DeAndre Liggins 

Brian Schmitz: CEO Alex Martins won't deal with Dwight Howard's agent after training-camp meeting/demand. Only GM Otis Smith speaks with Dan Fegan now. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard 

An Internet report last week asserted Kobe Bryant presented a sales pitch for the Purple and Gold to Dwight Howard, who was so turned off by Bryant’s effort it curdled the Lakers’ chances of signing Howard long-term should they be able to acquire him this season from the Magic. Scooter the Recruiter’s proposition: Come here and be the third offensive option behind me and Pau Gasol and be our “Tyson Chandler.” Supposedly, Kobe also made it clear Los Angeles would be Howard’s, “but only once he [Bryant] decided he was done playing.”All that was missing was, “Hurry, offer ends at midnight tonight.” None of what the author claimed came out of Kobe’s mouth sounded like it’d been transmitted from his cerebrum. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

So, I decided to eliminate the middle man, pass the savings on to the consumer and go right to the source — only one of two that actually exist — and ask the horse. “Please separate truth from fiction for me re: Howard stuff,” I emailed Kobe several days ago. “As far as what? I have no clue what’s even being said. I have a lot to deal with as it is,” he replied. That was extremely revealing in itself. In other words, L.A.’s media, especially the Lakers’ beat writers, felt the story lacked such credibility, nobody even bothered to ask Kobe about it. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

I sent Kobe the story and asked him to confirm, deny or both depending on the paragraph. “omg! I’m not getting mixed up in this kiddy drama spit, bro. too old for that spit,” Bryant responded via email. “How do you think I feel at my age having to chase down this stuff,” I answered. “I understand your position. But if it’s untrue, any of it, and allowed to circulate throughout the league, which already is happening, I would think you’d want to say it’s not.” “It’s not true,” Kobe responded. New York Post

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Glen Davis and Stan Van Gundy say everything’s OK after their argument during the Orlando Magic’s shootaround Friday. “Everything’s been OK,” Davis said after the Magic fell 107-102 in overtime in Davis’ first game back from a two-game suspension. “I’m a passionate guy. I want to win. I want to do whatever it takes to win. I want to make sure I do my job, and sometimes people bump heads. We’re a family and we work it out.” Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Glen Davis 

We’ve gone ahead and given you the CliffsNotes version of what he had to say and continue scrolling to see the full replay of Alex’s appearance: When asked about the latest he’s heard in the Dwight Howard trade rumors: “The Nets are the front-runners. I do think he ends up on the Nets, at some point. I’ve been told by people in Dwight’s life that he will be on the Nets, it’s just a matter of how and when.” On the draws of playing in Brooklyn, with Deron: “Brooklyn’s part of the draw, he definitely wants to go to a large market.” “Him and Deron are getting closer, which helps.” He wants to create a legacy of his own without being a second fiddle… he wants help, but he wants to be the face of the franchise.” “Deron has done a good job selling it: ‘you can be the face of the franchise.’ Deron realizes that Dwight is a top-3 player in the game.” netsarescorching.com

New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard 

Jameer Nelson has been cleared to play tonight for the Orlando Magic against the Los Angeles Clippers, a Magic team spokesman said. Nelson sustained a concussion Jan. 27 and has missed the Magic’s last five games. Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, who heads the NBA’s new concussion program, signed off on Nelson’s return. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Jameer Nelson, Injuries 

According to sources close to this process Howard’s top destination remains New Jersey/Brooklyn with Dallas, LA and Orlando being viewed as equals if things don’t come together in New Jersey as planned. Sources close to the process say that both Howard and Deron Williams have been talking to their friends around the league about the Nets and assuming the Nets can make the moves both Howard and Williams want, both would agree to new deals with the Nets as free agents. HoopsWorld

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Sources close to the situation say Howard will shop his situation this summer and that while New Jersey is viewed as option #1, there are lots of parts that would have to line up for him to leave Orlando and the $30 million the Magic can offer and guarantee him other teams cannot. Sources say if the Nets cannot get the secondary assets both Howard and Williams covet, the Nets could lose out on both players. HoopsWorld

New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Brian Schmitz: Expect Magic PF Ryan Anderson to be named to All-Star 3-point shooting contest any day now despite dip in avg. Still leads in 3s made, taken Twitter

Orlando Magic, Ryan Anderson 

The sign-and-trade involving Celtics reserve Glen “Big Baby” Davis and Magic starter Brandon Bass is yet another instance where Otis Smith failed to do proper homework. Orlando’s general manager should have known Davis — suspended two games for verbally getting into it with Stan Van Gundy — has far more screws loose than your average NBA problem child. Boston’s vets kept him halfway in line. On his own in Disney World he feels liberated to act infantile, make demands and not stand in line. New York Post

Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Trade, Brandon Bass, Otis Smith, Glen Davis 

The Magic discussed signing former Cav Earl Boykins before opting to go with rookie Ish Smith from the D-League to fill in for the injured Jameer Nelson. Boykins, a former Cleveland Central Catholic star, is currently considered the No. 2 unsigned free-agent point guard, behind Gilbert Arenas, after he averaged 7.2 points and 2.5 assists in 57 games as a backup with the Milwaukee Bucks last season. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Orlando Magic, Earl Boykins 

Bryant told Howard that he wanted him to come to Los Angeles and help him win two more championships, but not as an understudy. He wanted Howard to be the team's third option behind himself and Pau Gasol, according to a source. Bryant tried to sell Howard on being his "Tyson Chandler" and made it clear that Los Angeles would be his, but only once Bryant decided he was done playing. RealGM

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 

Howard was turned off by the idea. Howard stated that there was "no way" he would give up everything he has in Orlando to go to the Lakers and be the third option, a source close to the situation said. Howard certainly wouldn’t mind being a third piece on a star-studded team, similar to the situations in Miami and Boston. However, he was turned off by Bryant's presentation as it suggested something totally different. RealGM

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 

The feeling is so strong, in fact, that Howard's representatives have informed the Lakers that Howard would not sign an extension if they trade for him this season, according to a source. The only two teams with a realistic chance at signing Howard long-term are the New Jersey Nets and Orlando Magic. RealGM

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 

Despite assertions to the contrary, the Lakers remain firmly on Howard's list of three teams he's asked to be traded to, along with the Nets and Mavericks, multiple people familiar with the situation said. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard 

The Lakers' clear preference is to trade Pau Gasol in a Howard deal and not Andrew Bynum, who was elected as an All-Star starter for the first time this week. CBSSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Dwight Howard 

Alex Kennedy: Source close to Dwight Howard on why he's leaning away from the Los Angeles Lakers: "Kobe messed it up. That's all I can say for now." Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

One league front-office source described the Nets as being in wait-and-see mode. "If Orlando said to the Nets, 'Go get this player [to complete a Howard trade],' they'd go get that player," the person said. CBSSports.com

New Jersey Nets, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard