NBA commissioner David Stern isn’t happy Dwight Howard or agent Dan Fegan have leaked details of meetings with the Orlando Magic brass to media, but he’s willing to live with it, knowing it moves the meter by driving fan and media interest.
NBA commissioner David Stern isn’t happy Dwight Howard or agent Dan Fegan have leaked details of meetings with the Orlando Magic brass to media, but he’s willing to live with it, knowing it moves the meter by driving fan and media interest.
Kris Humphries has been one of the centerpieces in the sign-and-trade deal that would bring Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets.
Unfortunately for GM Billy King and the Nets, Humphries isn’t too keen on receiving anything but a multi-year deal, according to SI.com:
“That’s ridiculous,” agent Dan Fegan said. “I have not had one conversation about a one-year deal.”
When asked to clarify, Fegan said Humphries was seeking a deal guaranteeing more than one year.
Humphries has been the whipping boy of the entire country since his short-lived marriage with (somehow) celebrity Kim Kardashian.
While the 27-year-old Minnesota native didn’t enjoy long-term success in his first marital relationship, he has been able to prove his worth as a quality basketball player.
As part of the proposed three-team trade between the Nets, Orlando Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers, Humphries would likely receive a multi-year contract—as is required in sign-and-trade deals—but only the first year would be guaranteed.
According to the SI.com report, the Cavs haven’t expressed the willingness to sign Humphries to a contract with more than one season guaranteed.
The Cavs can make whatever decision they want, but the fact of the matter is that Humphries has played well enough to deserve a multi-year contract. He has a bad public reputation because of his personal life, but he’s an extremely serviceable big man.
Of course, you know exactly what you’re going to get out of Humphries: a down-low banger who works hard on the glass. Not much more, not much less.
He’s good at what he does, though.
Once reports he and Kardashian were all but done surfaced, Humphries began to play better than he ever had.
Could it be that he’s out to make her regret her decision? Who knows. But a player on a mission is a player you don’t want to play against on the court.
He had a career year with the Nets last season, in which he put up 13.8 points and 11 rebounds per game. He had Deron Williams on his side and not much competition on his team, but he started all but four games for the team in 2011-12.
The season before that, he averaged 10 points and 10.4 rebounds.
In today’s NBA, we see all the wrong players get ridiculous contracts. Humphries isn’t asking for a king’s ransom. He’s asking for a multi-year deal.
He signed a one-year, $8 million deal with the Nets prior to last season, so three years, $18 million wouldn’t be completely irrational. Now, if Humphries comes out and asks for three years, $24 million, or four years, $30 million-plus, he has another thing coming.
Humphries is worth a multi-year contract, but he’s not worth sacrificing the financial future of a team.
A contender would be wise to take a chance on Humphries and offer him a moderately priced multi-year deal. The team that offers the most years is likely to acquire his services, regardless of the monetary sum, as this will likely be the only big contract of Humphries’ career.
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Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard has signed papers agreeing to waive the early termination option in his contract and he will be with the Magic to begin the 2012-13 season. Magic spokesman Joel Glass confirmed Howard had signed the papers Thursday morning. It is unclear if his agent, Dan Fegan, did as well.
After numerous reports earlier Wednesday indicating Howard had agreed to waive his early termination option and lock himself into the final season of his contract with the Magic, sources said Howard and agent Dan Fegan clarified their position in the conference call with Magic CEO Alex Martins, owner Rich De Vos and other members of the De Vos family.
It looks like all the Dwight Howard trade rumors can be put to rest with a late report that the indecisive Orlando Magic center has decided to stay with the team for the 2012-13 season.
According to RealGM.com’s Jarrod Rudolph, he spoke with the star center who told him that he will be choosing to opt-in tomorrow versus looking to make a trade at the deadline.
In an exclusive interview Dwight Howard has confirmed to me that he will in opt-in and stay in Orlando for at least another year.
— Jarrod N Rudolph (@MisterRudolph) March 15, 2012
If Howard signs his ETO waiver with the Magic, all the rampant speculation that has been going on since the NBA season tipped off will likely come to an abrupt halt.
HOOPSWORLDs’ Alex Kennedy also reports that Howard will decide to opt-in, but also makes note that he may also move on from his agent Dan Fegan.
Source close to Dwight Howard says the center plans to sign ETO waiver on Thursday morning. It also sounds like Howard may fire Dan Fegan.
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) March 15, 2012
Not many expected the big man to stay in Orlando, as most figured he was looking to join another market where he could possibly expand his brand while pursuing an NBA title.
Perhaps the potential dismissal of Fegan tells more about the situation, as he may have not been able to find a way to get Howard out of Orlando with the time ticking on the trade deadline clock.
With Howard staying with the Magic, he will continue to be the main man on the team, versus joining a team like the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers or Chicago Bulls where he would have had to play second fiddle to their star players.
While it will remain to be seen if that was a deciding factor for Howard, it is still no secret what kind of debacle he has put his team through thus far this season.
The Magic currently stand at third in the Eastern Conference, and with the Howard situation behind them, they now could have a clear mindset going into the NBA playoffs.
This season, Howard is averaging 21.2 points per game, while also bringing in 15.2 rebounds per night. The big man is having yet another stellar season, and the Magic should be happy to know that he will be there for the rest of this year, as well as the next.
Of course, this situation won’t be over until Howard signs on the dotted line, but for now things are looking positive for all Magic fans that have been fretting up until the deadline passed.
Jeff Chase is a Featured Columnist for the Chicago Cubs and Arizona State football.
Follow @Real_Jeff_Chase
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The Orlando Magic have had quite enough of Dwight Howard‘s feet dragging—they want a firm commitment, and they want it now.
Chris Broussard of ESPN reports the Magic have drawn a line in the Orlando sand, and demand that Howard choose a side.
Broussard cites a source close to the situation that states the following:
“Dwight’s dreaming if he thinks Orlando won’t trade him without a commitment,” a source said. “He needs to make some small commitment to them. They’re saying it can’t be one way.”
Yes, the melodrama surrounding Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic has devolved into a story arc from Friends. Monica may just leave Chandler if he drags his feet.
Howard came out recently and publicly stated that he wants to stay in Orlando to see out a title run. As Broussard notes, the franchise has only become more incensed following that statement.
The thought is that Howard is attempting to manipulate the situation so that he can keep vital talent with the New Jersey Nets, a team he is hoping to eventually play for.
The Magic are calling this as a masterful plan, in which they hold Howard for the next few months, only to see him leave in free agency anyway.
Broussard writes:
According to sources, the Magic are incensed with Howard’s agent, Dan Fegan, whom they believe has manipulated Howard and is the driving force behind his push to leave the franchise.
Howard maintains that he wants to stay, but has not talked about signing an extension. There is no reason he shouldn’t do so other than if he is eyeing his exit.
This team continues to be one of the best in the Eastern Conference and the franchise has proved they are not afraid to pull the trigger on a trade to make themselves better—albeit to mixed results.
Howard’s words and actions are in disagreement with one another, and the Magic have finally grown wise. Expect a grand breakup shortly.
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It is time for the Los Angeles Lakers give up their quest for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.
It should have been over a long time ago, but the latest rumors should kill the infatuation the Lakers have had with the big man for over a year now.
According to Lakers radio play-by-play man John Ireland, via SI.com, Superman is not interested in signing with the Lakers long term if traded to L.A.
“Ireland said on ESPN Radio Tuesday that Dan Fegan, Howard’s agent, told him that he would not be interested in a long-term deal with Los Angeles.”
BOOM. Whether true or not, let’s be done with this already, please.
The Lakers do not need a big man. What they need is an athletic point guard and scoring option at the small forward position.
Rather than potentially wondering why Howard wants nothing to do with L.A. long term (likely Kobe’s longevity, lack of point guard play and better options elsewhere like New Jersey or Dallas), the Lakers need to focus on how to fill their current holes.
They have a young center in Andrew Bynum, veteran scorer in Pau Gasol and world-class killer in Kobe.
What they don’t have on the court is often more visible than what they do have. Kobe is averaging more minutes per game and leading the league in points because he basically has to kill himself every night to get the “W.”
Bringing in a point guard presence who can handle the ball and a small forward who can take some of the scoring load off Kobe should be this organization’s prime objective as the trade deadline approaches.
Landing Dwight Howard was a good idea that has turned into a pipe dream. If they haven’t truly moved on from it yet, then they need to now.
Their season hinges on it.
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Despite the recent admission from Dwight Howard‘s agent Dan Fegan that his client will not sign an extension with the Los Angeles Lakers it hasn’t stopped the Lakers from trying again recently, apparently offering Andrew Bynum for Howard during the All-Star break according to the New York Post’s Peter Vecsey.
Bynum’s recent scare with his knee that kept him from playing many minutes in last Sunday’s All-Star Game potentially could scare potential suitors away.
While the Lakers aren’t necessarily putting Bynum out there for anyone to have, it could be worth Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak putting him on the market.
That doesn’t mean he has to deal Bynum, but one thing is for sure: Now that Bynum’s been deemed healthy, his trade value is only going to go up as the deadline approaches.
The Lakers can’t compete for a title without adding a point guard, production from the wing and some quality depth.
A guy of Bynum’s talents could fetch the Lakers that type of haul.
Kupchak can’t go wrong by at least seeing what type of offers could come in for Bynum. Just because you look, doesn’t mean you have to buy.
Other teams would love to get their hands on a healthy Bynum, and if a deal came along that Kupchak simply couldn’t refuse, then he needs to pull the trigger. Otherwise, you pull Bynum off the block and he’s back where he started.
Either way, a healthy Bynum is a good thing for the Lakers now and it’s also a positive come the trade deadline.
His value has never been higher and since he’s healthy, which has been an issue throughout his career, some team may be willing to overpay.
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Magic fans will get a glimpse of the present and a possible future Friday when Orlando hosts the Los Angeles Lakers. Center Dwight Howard’s preseason trade request left fans bracing for the worst at the start of the regular season. Howard’s agent Dan Fegan is permitted to explore trades with the Lakers, New Jersey and Dallas.