Feb 11, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith (5) during the game against the Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

The most popular big name being linked to trade rumors these days has been Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks.

We’ve heard Smith’s name mentioned with the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and now the San Antonio Spurs are reportedly interested in him.

The Spurs are among the teams with interest in Hawks forward Josh Smith, a source told Yahoo! Sports. Keep in mind, Hawks general manager Danny Ferry was previously with the Spurs.

Via Yahoo! Sports

Smith is in the final year of his contract making $13.2 million this season. He has come out and said he expects to be signed to a max contract this coming summer and the Hawks are likely not interested in committing that kind of cash to him.

That’s why there is a good chance Smith will be moved by the Feb. 21 trade deadline and the Hawks will try and get something back in return for him.

The Spurs currently have a very value trade piece in Stephen Jackson who is an expiring contract making $10.1 million this season. They could package him along with Tiago Splitter and Nando De Colo or Patty Mills for Smith.

This trade is an interesting prospect because Smith isn’t exactly the efficient type of offensive player that we see the Spurs filling their roster with. He’s not a great outside shooter but would be very good in an up-tempo offense like the one in San Antonio.

Smith is a versatile defender too that would undoubtedly take the Spurs up a notch defensively which is something they need to do to compete with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Smith would be a solid player to have try and defend Kevin Durant, something the Spurs failed miserably at last year in the Western Conference Finals.

The Spurs have also been linked with the Utah Jazz in a rumored trade for Al Jefferson. It seems like they may see their window closing somewhat and want to try and go all-in this season for a title.

Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports

The Phoenix Suns are the latest team tied to Josh Smith trade rumors, according to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.

The Suns were considering making a trade for Rudy Gay until the Memphis Grizzlies dealt him to the Toronto Raptors in a three-team deal a few days ago.

Now the Suns are targeting the Atlanta Hawks forward and looking to put together a package highlighted by Marcin Gortat.

Phoenix has attractive assets, particularly Marcin Gortat, who could play alongside Al Horford and give the Hawks one of the best frontcourts in the Eastern Conference. They also have Jared Dudley and Michael Beasley as well as the expiring contracts of Wes Johnson, Shannon Brown (whose 2013-14 salary is non-guaranteed), Sebastian Telfair and Jermaine O’Neal. Phoenix also has several first-round picks – their own pick and two additional first-round picks that they acquired in the Nash trade with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Johnson trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Luis Scola could also be involved in the trade, but only if the deal is a sign-and-trade since he can’t be traded until July 1 due to the fact that he was signed by the Suns after being amnestied by the Houston Rockets.

Via HoopsWorld

The Suns are hoping that if they get a player like Smith and re-sign him over the summer, it will help them to also sign another big name free agent like maybe even Dwight Howard.

The Suns aren’t the only team interested in Smith right now. The Houston Rockets, Charlotte Bobcats and Dallas Mavericks have also shown interest.

The rumors of Smith possibly going to the Los Angeles Lakers as part of a Pau Gasol swap are still out there as well. That’s the one trade that could really shake up the Western Conference if it happens and works out.

The Lakers could still make the playoffs this year and a trade for Smith might make them an actual threat even against a top-seeded team from the West in the first round.

If Smith goes elsewhere like Phoenix, it won’t have much impact on this season.

Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith has been mentioned as a potential trade candidate all season long.

The trade deadline is Feb. 21 and it looks like there is a good chance to Hawks will trade Smith.

Expectations are growing that the Hawks will trade forward Josh Smith, a source said. Smith has averaged 17 points, 8.6 rebounds. 4.7 assists and 2.1 blocks this month despite the trade speculation.

Via Yahoo! Sports

The most popular Josh Smith trade rumors has sent him to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for Pau Gasol. Gasol has been coming off the bench recently for the Lakers and isn’t thrilled with that role.

The Hawks just lost Lou Williams for the year and GM Danny Ferry still has the future in mind when it comes to clearing cap space and hasn’t been the biggest Smith supporter either.

There has been some thought that the Oklahoma City Thunder should try and go after Smith too. They could maybe buy low on him at this point and Smith would be a great fit to the already versatile Thunder roster.

The Thunder could package Kendrick Perkins, Jeremy Lamb and Eric Maynor for Smith. Smith is making $13 million this season in the last year of his contract.

The big issue is that Smith recently said he believed he was a max player. It would be impossible for the Thunder to re-sign Smith to a max extension unless they included Serge Ibaka in the trade.

Renting Smith for the rest of the season for Perkins would be a decent deal for the Thunder too though. There is still a chance the Thunder will amnesty Perkins down the road and acquiring Smith would really improve the Thunder’s chances at an NBA title this season.

The reality is that the Thunder would have to absolutely be in love with Smith to consider trading for him. They would have to choose Smith over Ibaka and they would never do that so soon after signing Ibaka to an extension.

A Smith trade could still greatly affect the Thunder even if he isn’t traded to them. Smith on the Lakers with Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash could really improve that roster and turn the Lakers into a potential sleeper in the Western Conference.

Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA trade deadline is less than two months away now and a team like the Oklahoma City Thunder could be in position to make a deal right around then.

The Thunder are said to not be interested in making any trades as of right now but there’s always a chance that a deal Thunder GM Sam Presti can’t pass up will come along.

Anderson Varejao is the most common named linked to Oklahoma City trade rumors but Sam Amico of Fox Sports Ohio thinks OKC could make a play for Josh Smith of the Atlanta Hawks.

Thunder have no interest in trades right now, btw. If they make move at trade deadline, expect it to be more along lines of a Josh Smith.

— Sam Amico (@SamAmicoFSO) December 28, 2012

If Varejao seems like a stretch for Thunder fans, then Smith definitely does.

Smith is in the last year of his contract with the Hawks making $13.2 million this season. He’s having a great season with Atlanta but with his future uncertain with the team, Atlanta could elect to unload him instead of trying to keep him.

Like with a Varejao trade, the Thunder have assets that may attract a team like the Hawks. The value of Smith and Varejao isn’t that different either. Since Smith is in a contract year it will be harder for Atlanta to hang on to him past the trade deadline. Also, Varejao is having a career-year at the center position which gives him a little extra value over Smith.

The Thunder would definitely have to involve a few of their 2013 first round picks in a trade for Smith. Then they’d probably throw in Jeremy Lamb and/or Perry Jones III. For Smith, they’d probably have no problem including both.

The Thunder would have to use Kevin Martin for the salaries to match up. Then ideally, OKC would throw in Kendrick Perkins while Atlanta throws in Kyle Korver but that is extremely wishful thinking for Thunder fans.

The biggest issue for the Thunder would be the prospect of keeping Smith long-term. They definitely aren’t interested in renting Smith for this season unlike how they may end up doing that with Martin.

The Thunder would have to re-sign Smith after this season and he would have to take a pay cut to stay with the team. The Thunder would also definitely have to get rid of Perkins either by trade or amnestying after the season to have any kind of chance at keeping Smith.

It’s actually not that impossible of a situation for the Thunder who are already going to have to pay Perkins $8.4 and $9.1 million in the next two seasons. Then if the Thunder are hoping Martin re-signs and takes less money, the equivalent of Perkins and Martin would equal around the same amount it would take to keep Smith.

Acquiring Smith would make perfect sense for the Thunder. We already know just how deadly of a small ball team they are right now and throwing Smith into the mix would enhance that to the fullest.

The Thunder would be totally committed to small ball similar to the Miami Heat. Their centers would consist of Serge Ibaka and Nick Collison splitting minutes while Kevin Durant, Thabo Sefolosha and Smith make up the wing positions.

As we get closer to the trade deadline, the Thunder may turn from a team who isn’t interested in making a trade to one that is listening to offers. Every team has to at least listen. And when Smith’s name comes up, the Thunder definitely will be.

Dec 19, 2012; Atlanta, GA, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder center Kendrick Perkins (right) dunks on Atlanta Hawks small forward Josh Smith (left) in the second half at Philips Arena. The Thunder won 100-92. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City, led by Kevin Durant in his best performance yet this season, beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-92 on the road for their 12th straight win this season.

Durant dropped 41 points on Atlanta and had 13 rebounds in the win, his 22nd 40-point performance in his career. Russell Westbrook helped out with 11 assists and 27 points, 21 of which came in the first half.

The Thunder are just two wins away from tying the franchise-best winning streak of 14 games, set back in 1996.

For Atlanta, Jeff Teague had 19 points, while Josh Smith helped out with 17 points and 12 rebounds. Al Horford and Lou Williams had 13 points apiece.

The Hawks got off to an early lead against the Thunder in the first quarter, but couldn’t sustain it to close this one in their favor. After going up 19-17, the Hawks could not hold off Oklahoma City as they went on a 10-1 run to close out the first and begin the second quarter.

Oklahoma City extended their lead to 17 before the Hawks fought back, having been sparked by a technical foul called against Josh Smith. Atlanta then went on a run of their own, scoring 11 unanswered points before Russell Westbrook slammed it down for an OKC score.

Atlanta kept it close after that, but could not overcome the stifling play by Durant, who was largely responsible for dominating them defensively.

The Thunder continue to lead the NBA with the best record in the league, and make up for a 104-95 Nov. 4 loss to the Hawks that gave them a 1-2 record. Since then the Thunder are 20-2 and have not lost since Nov. 23.

Oklahoma City advances to 21-4 on the season. They challenge the Timberwolves next on Dec. 20.

Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

The Oklahoma City Thunder will look for their 12th straight victory tonight as they hit the road to take on the Atlanta Hawks.

The Hawks are one of the few teams to beat the Oklahoma City Thunder this year doing so 104-95 on Nov. 4 in OKC earlier this year.

Josh Smith did not play in the first meeting between these two teams as it was Al Horford leading the way for the Hawks with 23 points and 12 rebounds.

Kevin Durant had 22 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists in the first meeting and Kevin Martin had 28 points including six 3-pointers. Russell Westbrook really struggled though shooting just 5-of-18 from the field and finishing with 14 points and nine assists.

The Hawks have been one of the surprise teams of the NBA this year in their first season since trading Joe Johnson. They currently set in third place in the Eastern Conference standings just a game back of the defending champion Miami Heat.

Atlanta has been good offensively ranking 12th in the league in offensive efficiency but it has been their defense that is the main reason they are winning so much. The Hawks are 4th in the NBA this year with a defensive efficiency rating of 98.1.

The Thunder have really improved offensively since the first meeting and throughout this 11-game winning streak have become the most efficient offense in the NBA.

A big reason for that offensive surge has been Serge Ibaka’s growth this season. Ibaka is coming off his best game of the year two nights ago vs. the San Antonio Spurs when he tied his career-high with 25 points and also pulled down 17 rebounds.

The Thunder will set a franchise-record with another win tonight increasing their winning streak to 12 games. It’s the best start in franchise history since the 1996-97 Seattle Supersonics start to the year.

Tonight is the first game of a 3-game road trip for the Thunder. Tomorrow night they will be on the road again in Minnesota then they will play at Miami on Christmas Day.

The Hawks have been a tough matchup for the Thunder over the past few seasons so expect another close game tonight. The Thunder aren’t the same team they were the first time they played Atlanta and they will definitely want to avenge their defeat earlier this year.

The game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m. EST.

Mark D. Smith-US PRESSWIRE

Kevin Martin scored 28 points, Kevin Durant flirted with a triple-double and Josh Smith didn’t play for the Atlanta Hawks. The Oklahoma City Thunder still lost 104-95 as the shots just weren’t falling late.

The Thunder trailed 100-91 with 1:28 to play following a 3-point shot by DeShawn Stevenson. OKC would score on their next two possessions and cut the deficit to just five.

Russell Westbrook found himself wide open for a 3-point shot with 25 seconds left that could have pulled the Thunder within two had he made it, but it wasn’t that kind of night for him. Westbrook missed the shot and finished the night with just 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting.

Durant scored 22 to go with 12 boards and eight assists but was pretty much nonexistent late making field goals for the Thunder. The all-around effort is nice but Durant is supposed to lead the league in scoring for a reason. OKC needs more points from him in the dominant fashion he has shown before.

The Thunder shot 46.5 percent from the field but turned the ball over 20 times. Their defense was poor as well allowing 49.4 percent shooting by Atlanta and 12 offensive rebounds.

Al Horford led the Hawks with 23 but it was Lou Williams off the bench with 19 that really hurt OKC.

The Thunder got off to a slow start which is always the case when Westbrook is having a night like this. He never found his rhythm and a shoulder injury in the first quarter may have contributed to that.

Martin came in and scored 22 points in the first half with 19 coming in the second quarter. He didn’t appear in the second half until late in the third quarter and just made two more threes the rest of the game.

A bright spot for the Thunder was Serge Ibaka offensively. He finished with 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting and made a few jumpers. He still looks pretty much like the same Ibaka from last season.

No rookies saw playing time tonight. Scott Brooks experimented playing Reggie Jackson alongside Eric Maynor in the first half partly because Atlanta was playing two small guards. Nothing came good or bad from that lineup.

There are still a lot of new parts on this team and the rotation will look different later in the year when it’s all figured out.

The Thunder fall to 1-2 on the year and will play their next game vs. the Toronto Raptors at home on Tuesday.

Josh D. Weiss-US PRESSWIRE

The Atlanta Hawks felt the wrath of James Harden in their season-opener two nights ago. Harden went for a career-high 45 and led his Houston Rockets to victory.

Now the Hawks will have to deal with the team that traded Harden as they travel to play the Oklahoma City Thunder tonight at 7 p.m. EST.

The Thunder stumbled out of the gates losing their first game of the season in San Antonio thanks to a Tony Parker buzzer-beater.

The Thunder looked glad to be home in their second game as they beat the Portland Trail Blazers Friday night 106-92.

Kevin Durant has looked to do more than just score so far this season. He is looking to be a playmaker early in the games and find his bigs on rolls to the basket and kick out to shooters for threes. Durant had a monster all-around game vs. Portland with 23 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists.

Durant had 35 in the one game OKC played Atlanta last year. The Thunder lost that game 97-90 as the Hawks ended a 7-game winning streak for OKC.

Russell Westbrook looked horrible in the first game of the season in San Antonio shooting 6-for-21 from the field but bounced back nicely vs. the Blazers. He torched Portland for 32 points and six assists with just one turnover.

Westbrook always struggles against the Spurs and his matchup with Parker. At home facing a Hawks squad that sports Jeff Teague and Devin Harris at the point, expect another big performance from Westbrook.

Kevin Martin has been learning to play with the Thunder on the fly since being traded eight days ago in the Harden deal. He looked hesitant in his first game but still scored 15 points and dished out five assists. He looked better against Portland making all three of his threes and dropping 19 for the game.

Serge Ibaka has struggled the most for the Thunder while trying to increase his offensive responsibility the most. He’s averaging just 5.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game so far this season and shooting 27.8 percent from the field.

In Atlanta’s win vs. the Thunder last year, Josh Smith had a huge game with 30 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. Smith did not travel with the team and will not play tonight.

Al Horford is another big piece of the Hawks’ offense that will be covered by Kendrick Perkins. Perkins injured his left ankle at the end of the Thunder’s last game but is still expected to start tonight.

Horford was one of the most efficient post-up players in the league over the past two years but Perkins is known for being one of the best post-up defenders.

Playing at home, the Thunder should look good again tonight. Atlanta has a lot of new pieces too and they probably aren’t ready to knock of a team like the Thunder on the road. Expect OKC to improve to 2-1 after tonight.

Josh D. Weiss-US PRESSWIRE

Atlanta Hawks Team Overview

The Hawks have been a team over the past few years that would always make the playoffs, but never had any expectations to do anything once they got there. They were never going to win a championship with the roster they had and this summer, new GM Danny Ferry blew things up.

Ferry was able to get rid of Joe Johnson and the $89 million left on his contract. The Hawks are also parting ways with Marvin Williams, Kirk Hinrich, Willie Green, Jason Collins, Vladimir Radmonovic and Jerry Stackhouse. The new additions to the team are Kyle Korver, Lou Williams, Devin Harris, Anthony Morrow, Johan Petro, Jordan Williams, DeShawn Stevenson, John Jenkins and Mike Scott. It’s safe to say that the Hawks will have a very different look next season.

Despite getting rid of a lot of valuable players and the franchise now clearly in some sort of rebuilding mode, the Hawks will not be one of the worst teams in the NBA. They still have two All-Star caliber players in Al Horford and Josh Smith on the roster who if stay healthy, can lead this team to the playoffs as a lower seed in the East.

The idea long-term for Atlanta was to be in position to pursue a big name free agent next summer, mainly Dwight Howard or Chris Paul. Both are long shots to end up in Atlanta but setting yourself up in position to make a run at players like that, does give a franchise hope.

Last year

The Thunder and the Hawks played just once last season with Atlanta winning at home 97-90. The Hawks ended a 7-game winning streak for the Thunder that night. Josh Smith led the Hawks with 30 points, 12 rebounds and four assists and did this to Serge Ibaka. Joe Johnson and Al Horford did not play for the Hawks in the game but the shorthanded Hawks still won thanks to a sloppy game from OKC.

The Thunder shot just 41.1 percent in the game, shot 6-for-23 from three and turned the ball over 21 times. It was the kind of recipe that often was found in Thunder losses last season. The Thunder were a two-man show with Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook doing all of the work on offense.

Durant scored 35 but was 9-for-23 from the field and 3-for-10 from three. He turned the ball over four times but did get to the line a lot, making 14-of-17. Westbrook had 25 on 10-of-21 shooting to go with four assists.

James Harden was pretty nonexistent scoring 10 points to go with six rebounds. The Thunder were minus-14 in the 27 minutes that Harden played.

The Hawks took the Thunder by surprise in the game. The Thunder were not always at their best on the road last year, Harden in particular. The game was one that never felt like the Thunder were going to be able to pull out the win.

The matchup

The Thunder were one of the most efficient teams in the NBA last season so not a lot of teams match up well with them. The Hawks were really no exception.

The Hawks were third in the NBA in spot-up shooting in terms of points per possession while the Thunder were just 10th in the league vs. spot-up shooting.

Atlanta was eight in the league in scoring from the post, one of their greatest strengths and something they will continue to emphasize with Horford being the focus of the offense next year. The Thunder were one of the best in the league themselves defending the post last year, finishing fourth in the NBA thanks to the presences of Serge Ibaka and Kendrick Perkins.

Despite being a pretty efficient defense, the Thunder offense is just too much for Atlanta to handle. The Thunder have an advantage in just about every way with their offense vs. Atlanta’s defense, most notably on isolation and pick-and-roll plays, the Thunder’s bread and butter.

Next season Atlanta will look a little differently especially without Joe Johnson as part of their offense anymore. Expect less isolation play with the Hawks on offense and better ball movement in general.

Next year

With the full 82-game season next year, the Thunder will play the Hawks twice as opposed to just once last year. They will get to see them very early in the season as the Thunder will host Atlanta on Nov. 4 in their third game of the year. The Thunder will then travel to play the Hawks in Atlanta Dec. 19.

The Thunder are poised for a huge regular season next year while the Hawks seem like a team that may take a slight step backwards. No games are ever guaranteed as wins but you would expect the Thunder to have a pretty big advantage over Atlanta in their games next year, especially remembering how they lost to the Hawks this past season.

For more Atlanta Hawks coverage, visit Soaring Down South.

The Magic want to get something back for Howard. They’re not just trying to get rid of him, at least not yet.

Orlando is willing to wait all the way until the trade deadline of next season if they have to and don’t have a deal worthy of Howard by then.

The Brooklyn Nets were the first team in the running to trade for Howard. But a deal involving Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries, MarShon Brooks and picks never satisfied Orlando. The Nets moved on and traded for Joe Johnson instead, making it even more difficult for them to pull off a trade for Howard.

Howard said that Brooklyn was the only place he wanted to go and the only place where he’d agree to re-sign with past next season.

After Brooklyn fell off, the Los Angeles Lakers appeared to be the most likely suitor for Howard. They have the best individual trade piece for Howard in Andrew Bynum but Bynum is also in the final year of his contract next year and hasn’t agreed to re-sign in Orlando if he is traded there.

The Magic aren’t interested in dealing Howard just to rent Bynum for a season. They’re holding out for more.

A dark horse for Howard may be the Atlanta Hawks. After trading Joe Johnson and Marvin Williams away, new GM Danny Ferry appears to be trying for a dream scenario that would involve bringing Howard and Chris Paul to the Hawks in 2013-14.

Howard is from Atlanta but has not said anything about wanting to play there.

The Dallas Mavericks are another team with an outside shot to get Howard. Dallas went all-in on Deron Williams this offseason and they did not land him. They are left with a depleted roster but plenty of cap space to entice Howard with a max-deal next summer if he is a free agent then.

The Magic want to get rid of Howard, that’s for sure, but they’re not going to do it for nothing. They know they are rebuilding anyway and are in no hurry to trade Howard.

Howard may not even be healthy yet by the start of next season as he is still rehabbing his back.

Another center on the market now is Marcus Camby. Camby is reportedly deciding between the Miami Heat and New York Knicks.

The Knicks appear to be the frontrunner as the Heat can only offer Camby the veteran minimum of $1.4 million per year. New York is looking to do a sign-and-trade for Camby and give him $3.09 million per season.

The Heat recently signed Ray Allen of course and if they are somehow able to get Camby too that would be a home run for them in free agency. It looks unlikely however as there is a good chance Camby will be returning to play in New York next season.

The Nets may still be in play for Howard though. Orlando and Brooklyn are working on a deal for Howard that would send Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries and three future first round picks to the Magic.

The Nets have even said they would take on the contract of Hedo Turkoglu as well to sweeten the deal for Orlando.

Howard made it clear yesterday that Brooklyn was the place he wanted to go. He said that Brooklyn is the only team he would re-sign with following next season if traded there. Howard went on to say that if he wasn’t traded to Brooklyn, he would just play out next season in Orlando then test free agency in the summer of 2013.

Deron Williams still has not officially decided where he will play next season. It is down to Brooklyn and the Dallas Mavericks for him as he is meeting with both teams this week.

Jason Kidd will supposedly also sign wherever Williams chooses and has been playing golf with Williams in Brooklyn some over the past few days.

If the Mavericks cannot sign Williams this season, they would surely like to go after Howard themselves. Dallas could offer Orlando Rodrigue Beaubois, Vince Carter, Dominique Jones, Brandan Wright and rookies Jared Cunningham, Bernard James and Jae Crowder.

Despite Howard saying he would only re-sign in Brooklyn, the Mavericks and their owner Marc Cuban would surely be confident that they could convince Howard to re-sign in Dallas.

The Howard drama simply continues. Orlando would love nothing more than to get rid of him before the season but they won’t unless there is a deal out there good enough for him. The Magic can technically wait all the way up until the trading deadline during next season for the right deal so they may not be in the biggest rush.

The Lakers are still a team that could happen with a Howard trade. Andrew Bynum remains the best individual piece Orlando could land by trading their center.

The Hawks will receive Anthony Morrow, Jordan Farmar, Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, DeShawn Stevenson and a 2013 first round pick. The deal is contingent with Williams staying in Brooklyn.

As teams finalize framework of Joe Johnson deal contingent on DWill commitment, Nets won’t be sending future 1st to Atlanta, source tells Y!

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 2, 2012

The trade will essentially end any possibility of Dwight Howard being traded to Brooklyn. Howard made it known today that there was one place he wanted to go and that was Brooklyn.

Howard is saying that he will not re-sign with another team besides Brooklyn and would rather just play the next season in Orlando then test free agency afterward.

The key for the Nets is they get to keep MarShon Brooks and Gerald Green as well. Gerald Wallace was just signed by the Nets to a 4-year, $40 million deal.

Over the past few days the potential of Johnson being traded to Brooklyn to play with Williams was rumored with the basis being that Brooklyn was not willing to wait on Orlando and Howard.

The Magic also did not see any possible package from the Nets as being worthy enough to send Howard to them.

With Brooklyn now out of the equation, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of possible suitors for the Magic to trade Howard. The Warriors have expressed interest as well as Houston but Howard is saying he will not re-sign anywhere besides Brooklyn.

The Lakers seem to be the only real possibility for Howard now. They are working on a trade that would send Andrew Bynum to Orlando which feels like the best possible deal for the Magic.

Howard ending up in L.A. shouldn’t surprise many as so many elite centers before him have gone to the Lakers at some point in their careers.

Williams will be able to get a contract worth one more year and $20 million more with the Nets but he is from Dallas and would have a better chance to chase a title playing with Dirk Nowitzki and the Mavericks.

Dwight Howard wants to play with Williams in Brooklyn. Despite running Orlando’s head coach and general manager out of town, Howard still wants out himself.

Dwight Howard met with new Magic GM Rob Hennigan Friday in LA. Howard told Hennigan he wants to be traded to Brooklyn Nets, sources say.

— Chris Broussard (@Chris_Broussard) July 1, 2012

The Nets simply do not have a lot to offer Orlando for Howard and the Magic aren’t going to let him go for nothing. Howard has a year left on his contract in Orlando and they will holdout until they absolutely have to let him go while trying to wait for the best deal for them.

Multiple league sources believe the Nets are losing hope they can pry Howard out of Orlando, and are working diligently to construct a roster to keep Williams that doesn’t necessarily give them the financial flexibility to absorb Howard when he can become a free agent next year. If the Magic do eventually make a deal for Howard – something that they haven’t shown an inclination yet to do with the Nets under new general manager Rob Hennigan – the Nets would be stocked with the kind of expensive veteran contracts that wouldn’t appeal to Orlando’s blueprint for rebuilding.

Williams has hoped to play with Howard in Brooklyn, but Orlando has shown no immediate intent to move its All-Star center, who has one year left on his contract, sources said. Williams has narrowed his free agent choices to Brooklyn and the Dallas Mavericks.

via Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski

The Nets have moved on to consider a trade for Joe Johnson to pair him up with Williams if they can’t get Howard. The Nets and Hawks aren’t close on a deal yet.

If the Nets do not get a deal done for Johnson or Howard, they plan to pursue O.J. Mayo in free agency and try to re-sign Brook Lopez and Gerald Wallace.

One thing that seems a certainty is Jason Kidd going wherever Williams goes. Kidd has expressed interest in becoming Williams’ backup whether it is in Dallas or Brooklyn.

Williams is spending the weekend playing golf with Kidd in New York’s Hamptons, sources told Bucher, yet one more indicator the Nets have at least a fighting chance to keep Williams and add Kidd sometime after free agency begins Sunday.

via ESPN’s Chris Broussard

Here are draft grades for every team:

New Orleans Hornets
No. 1 overall – Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky
No. 10 overall – Austin Rivers, G, Duke
No. 46 overall – Darius Miller, G/F, Kentucky

The Hornets really couldn’t go wrong possessing the first overall pick in the draft and chance to take Anthony Davis. Davis has a chance to be a franchise changer and playing alongside Eric Gordon in New Orleans is a good start. The Hornets took Rivers 10th overall which is what they wanted to do. The Hornets believe Rivers can play some point for them although he is a scoring guard at heart. Gordon is a good playmaker himself though so the two may be able to share ball handling duties a la Monta Ellis and Stephen Curry. The Darius Miller pick is nice too. He is an athlete that could make it in the NBA and was a teammate of Davis’ at Kentucky.

Grade: A+

Oklahoma City Thunder
No. 28 overall – Perry Jones, III, F, Baylor

To win a championship, sometimes it takes a little luck. The Thunder got the steal of the 2012 NBA Draft with the No. 28 pick. Perry Jones III we knew was going to fall because of concerns mainly surrounding his knee but sliding this far to a franchise that is perfect for him just seems unfair to the rest of the league. It was a Spurs-like snag for OKC and they know it already. Jones III has lottery talent and top-5 pick potential. One knock on him is that he never really stepped up and dominated and was more of a supporting role type of mindset and player. Well, come on down to OKC that sounds just fine!

Grade: A+

Charlotte Bobcats
No. 2 overall – Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, SF, Kentucky
No. 31 overall – Jeffrey Taylor, G/F, Vanderbilt

The Bobcats were supposed to either trade the No. 2 pick or take Thomas Robinson if they couldn’t. Instead, they shocked everyone selecting Michael Kidd-Gilchrist second overall. MKG is a player that will shine no matter where he plays, even in Charlotte. He has the potential to be the second best player in this draft class and it was a wise choice to make here by Michael Jordan. Jeffrey Taylor is a good pick too in the second round. Taylor was projected to go a little earlier in the draft and is a nice value find at 31.

Grade: A

Washington Wizards
No. 3 overall – Bradley Beal, SG, Florida
No. 32 overall – Tomas Satoransky, G, Czech Republic

The Wizards got the man they wanted at No. 3 but had to hold their breath and pray before doing so. As the Bobcats were shopping the No. 2 pick, any team that may have gotten it was probably going to take Bradley Beal second overall. The Wizards desperately wanted an elite shooter and wing to place alongside John Wall and they believe Beal is that guy. Beal measured just under 6-foot-5 so he’s not huge but he is physical and can do a lot of things on a basketball court. Tomas Satoranksy in the second round apparently is friends with Jan Vesely which makes that pick awesome too.

Grade: A

Sacramento Kings
No. 5 overall – Thomas Robinson, PF, Kansas

It was impossible not to fall in love with Thomas Robinson watching him break down after being selected fifth overall by the Kings. He won over a lot of fans with that reaction. Robinson is touted as one of the surest things at the top of this draft. The Kings wanted him bad too at No. 5, more than anybody else. Sacramento was going to pull off a trade with this pick with Houston if Robinson was off the board but obviously that didn’t happen. Robinson and DeMarcus Cousins are going to be able to get a lot of rebounds playing together.

Grade: A

Detroit Pistons
No. 9 overall – Andre Drummond, PF/C, Connecticut
No. 39 overall – Khris Middleton, SF, Texas A&M

The Pistons are extremely happy that Andre Drummond fell to them. Before the draft, they were hoping for this but planning to settle on John Henson. Drummond has as much upside as anyone in this draft. There are questions surrounding him but he is very young. It was the right pick here for Detroit without question. Khris Middleton isn’t someone that jumps out as a great pick here but at No. 39, there’s not a lot to expect.

Grade: A

Milwaukee Bucks
No. 14 overall – John Henson, PF, North Carolina
No. 42 overall – Doron Lamb, SG, Kentucky

The Bucks were pretty happy to see John Henson at No. 14 especially after trading down from 12 with Houston. Henson is the kind of guy Milwaukee wanted and someone who will block a lot of shots and grab some rebounds but really needs to put on some weight first. Doron Lamb is another player they were happy to see at No. 42. He could have gone in the first round and is an irrational confidence guy who can shoot and play some D too.

Grade: B+

Cleveland Cavaliers
No. 4 overall – Dion Waiters, SG, Syracuse
No. 17 overall – Tyler Zeller, C, North Carolina

It wasn’t a huge shocker that Cleveland took Dion Waiters No. 4. They were planning on possibly doing so and after being unable to trade up to No. 2 and take Beal, Waiters was the next guy on their list, probably just ahead of Harrison Barnes. It wasn’t an overly popular pick but Waiters has an NBA-ready body and next to Kyrie Irving should do well. With Tyler Zeller sliding in the draft, the Cavaliers pulled the trigger on a trade with Dallas to get to No. 17 and take the North Carolina center. They gave up three picks for Zeller so they must really like him. Now with a core of Irving, Waiters, Thompson and Zeller, Cleveland’s future looks kind of alright.

Grade: B

Portland Trailblazers
No. 6 overall – Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State
No. 11 overall – Meyers Leonard, C, Illinois
No. 40 overall – Will Barton, SG, Memphis

Before the Draft, Portland was intent on keeping their 6th and 11th picks and they also loved Damian Lillard. Six may sound high for Lillard but Portland did something smart: picking their favorite guy and not caring where they did it. They then filled a need at 11 with Meyers Leonard, the center from Illinois. Portland was projected in some mocks to take Andre Drummond and either Austin Rivers or Jeremy Lamb. That sounds a little better than what they ended up with. They get Will Barton at No. 40 which is another solid value pick as he was projected late-first by many.

Grade: B

Golden State Warriors
No. 7 overall – Harrison Barnes, G/F, North Carolina
No. 30 overall – Festus Ezeli, C, Vanderbilt
No. 35 overall – Draymond Green, F, Michigan State
No. 52 overall – Ognjen Kuzmic, C, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Despite his overall disappointing feeling, many still feel Harrison Barnes can be an All-Star in the NBA. Getting him at No. 7 was a pretty solid pick for the Warriors, who are starting new next year post-Monta Ellis and with Andrew Bogut. Festus Ezeli with the last pick of the first round is understandable too and he is a high-character guy who will work hard for them. Draymond Green is another good pick to get in the second round. The Warriors didn’t have a flashy draft but they made some value picks and that’s always a good strategy.

Grade: B

Houston Rockets
No. 12 overall – Jeremy Lamb, SG, Connecticut
No. 16 overall – Royce White, F, Iowa State
No. 18 overall – Terrence Jones, F, Kentucky

The Rockets were stockpiling draft picks with one thing on their mind: Dwight Howard. That hasn’t happened yet and now feels like it won’t. They were hoping to move up to No. 5 to take Andre Drummond but since Thomas Robinson fell to the Kings there, they weren’t trading that pick. The Rockets will settle for three pretty solid players starting with Jeremy Lamb at No. 12 who has a lot of pro potential as a scorer. When they took Royce White at No. 16, you knew they weren’t trading their picks anymore. White has gotten a lot of buzz this draft as a more athletic Boris Diaw who plays a little like Charles Barkley too. Terrence Jones two picks later is another talented forward that can do a variety of things. You always feel players Daryl Morey drafts are guys who can find a spot in the NBA. The Rockets just had bigger sights for this draft than this.

Grade: B

Phoenix Suns
No. 13 overall – Kendall Marshall, PG, North Carolina

It’s just about official now that Steve Nash is on his way out in Phoenix. Kendall Marshall is their point guard of the future. Marshall was one of the best assists men in college the past two seasons and has drawn comparisons to Mark Jackson and Andre Miller so yeah, he’s not quick. He’s fun to play with and will make the players around him better. They like that in Phoenix.

Grade: B

Chicago Bulls
No. 29 overall – Marquis Teague, PG, Kentucky

The Bulls were either going backup point here or combo-guard shooter. Marquis Teague is a talented player with this pick and someone who may be able to play alongside Derrick Rose some. It’s nothing special for the Bulls but a good pick nonetheless. Bulls fans were dying for Perry Jones III to slip one more pick into their laps.

Grade: B

Toronto Raptors
No. 8 overall – Terrence Ross, SG, Washington
No. 37 overall – Quincy Acy, PF, Baylor
No. 56 overall – Tomislav Zubcic, PF, Croatia

The Raptors would have loved to see Harrison Barnes fall one more pick into their laps. They would have loved even more to move up and snag Dion Waiters. They settle for Terrence Ross who can do things that will make him have a solid NBA career: shoot threes and defend. Quincy Acy in Round 2 could be a Reggie Evans type which is something this franchise has experience with. Tomislav Zubcic will not come over right away. If Toronto gets Steve Nash, a lot of their problems will appear solved.

Grade: C+

Orlando Magic
No. 19 overall – Andrew Nicholson, PF, St. Bonaventure
No. 49 overall – Kyle O’Quinn, C, Norfolk State

The Magic are in a weird situation and have been ever since Dwight Howard started pouting. Howard ran their head coach and GM out of town and still wants out himself. He hasn’t gotten it yet but it’s really only a matter of time. Orlando’s picks of Andrew Nicholson and Kyle O’Quinn may have been logical, but they won’t make their fans feel better yet

Grade: C+

Boston Celtics
No. 21 overall – Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State
No. 22 overall – Fab Melo, C, Syracuse
No. 51 overall – Kris Joseph, SF, Syracuse

We knew Jared Sullinger would drop, we just didn’t know how far. The Celtics are in a rebuilding stage now and looking to bulk up their front court with Sullinger and Fab Melo. The Celtics were hoping for Royce White here or to trade up and take Doc Rivers’ son Austin Rivers in the lottery. The best case scenario for Kris Joseph (taken No. 51 overall) is Gary Forbes, according to DraftExpress.

Grade: C+

Philadelphia 76ers
No. 15 overall – Maurice Harkless, SF, St. John’s
No. 27 overall – Arnett Moultrie, PF/C, Mississippi State

Philadelphia fans are not happy with the decision to take Maurice “don’t call me Moe” Harkless 15th overall. When you draft a guy who plays the same position as your best player at No. 15, it never feels like it makes sense. Harkless came out after just one year at St. John’s and is said to have some pro potential but he’s nothing special. The 76ers traded up with Miami to get Arnett Moultrie at No. 27. It’s just another lateral move here for Philly. Their fans want more than that.

Grade: C

Denver Nuggets
No. 20 overall – Evan Fournier, SG, France
No. 38 overall – Quincy Miller, G/F, Baylor
No. 50 overall – Izzet Turkyilmaz, PF, Turkey

The Nuggets surprisingly went with Evan Fournier at No. 20 despite some talent sitting on the board. Fournier will not come over to the NBA next season but was the highest rated international prospect of the draft. The Nuggets clearly weren’t looking to try and strike gold with late first round picks this year. They’ve already accomplished that with Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried. Their pick at No. 38 felt a little better. Some fans wanted Quincy Miller with the 20th pick so getting him this late is a win in that sense. Miller is young with a ton of potential but has the usual question marks. Denver went with another international product late in the second round that we won’t see in the NBA right away.

Grade: C

Atlanta Hawks
No. 23 overall – John Jenkins, SG, Vanderbilt
No. 43 overall – Mike Scott, F, Virginia

Nothing special here for Atlanta. John Jenkins could be decent but he won’t turn any heads. He can really shoot it though and might get some run for the Hawks where Josh Smith is on the way out. It would have been great if Atlanta had decided to draft Marquis Teague here and run an all-Teague backcourt with his brother Jeff. Love the Mike Scott pick.

Grade: C

Dallas Mavericks
No. 24 overall – Jared Cunningham, G, Oregon State
No. 33 overall – Bernard James, C, Florida State
No. 34 overall – Jae Crowder, F, Marquette

It doesn’t seem like Dallas was trying to do a ton in this draft. They dealt their 17th overall pick to Cleveland probably because there was no one they were in love with. They got three picks back for it and didn’t do anything crazy with them. One of the cooler moments in the draft though was Bernard James having his name called and walking to the podium. The crowd started chanting “U-S-A” because James served three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Dallas’ main priority this offseason is wooing Deron Williams and/or Dwight Howard.

Grade: C

Memphis Grizzlies
No. 25 overall – Tony Wroten, Jr., PG, Washington

The Grizzlies wanted a point guard and a lot of mocks had them going with Marquis Teague but they choose Tony Wroten, Jr. instead. Jay Bilas calls Wroten, Jr. a taller Rajon Rondo. That means he’s a good passer and can’t shoot a lick. Maybe it’s what Memphis needs and there is some upside there.

Grade: C

Utah Jazz
No. 47 overall – Kevin Murphy, SG, Tennessee Tech

Utah has enough young players from the last few drafts that they didn’t care too much about this year. Kevin Murphy is the only player from this draft to score 50 or more points in game last year in college. Why not?

Grade: C

Miami Heat
No. 45 overall – Justin Hamilton, C, LSU

Miami could have had Perry Jones III at No. 27 and it would have been just as scary as OKC getting him if not more so. They just didn’t want to have to pay a first rounder this year. Their cap space will be tight the next few seasons. They trade down here and get a 7-footer which they need. Something tells me we won’t see a ton of Justin Hamilton playing for the defending champs.

Grade: C

San Antonio Spurs
No. 59 overall – Marcus Denmon, G, Missouri

The Spurs drafted him so he’ll be an All-Star in four years. Marcus Denmon feels a little Patty Mills/James Anderson. The Spurs probably aren’t expecting too much from Denmon though.

Grade: C

New York Knicks
No. 48 overall – Kostas Papanikolaou, F, Greece

Not doing anything here. The home crowd really loved this pick at least.

Grade: C-

Los Angeles Clippers
No. 53 overall – Furkan Aldemir, PF, Turkey

Love this pick. He may never play in the NBA but he is a great rebounder and can only score on putbacks, according to Fran Fraschilla. What’s not to love?

Grade: C-

Los Angeles Lakers
No. 55 overall – Darius Johnson-Odom, SG, Marquette
No. 60 overall – Robert Sacre, C, Gonzaga

Darius Johnson-Odom plays the wrong sport. He’d be an awesome football player and used that to his advantage in college for Marquette. He will look a lot smaller in the NBA. If Robert Sacre is playing for the Lakers next season, it won’t be a good thing.

Grade: C-

Brooklyn Nets
No. 41 overall – Tyshawn Taylor, PG, Kansas
No. 54 overall – Tornike Shengelia, PF, Georgia
No. 57 overall – Ilkan Karaman, PF, Turkey

Brooklyn not trying to go crazy here. They are just praying for Deron Williams and Dwight Howard to hookup in their new city. Tyshawn Taylor might make it as a backup point in this league but nothing more. Tornike Shengelia goes by “Toko” and is a 6-foot-9 scorer who is good at attacking and can score around the rim well but has no jumper. Ilkan Karamen has a ton of tattoos and may “never play in the NBA” according to Fran Fraschilla.

Grade: C-

Minnesota Timberwolves
No. 58 overall – Robbie Hummel, SF, Purdue

Kevin Love, Chase Budinger and now Robbie Hummel. Good luck rest of league.

Grade: C-

Indiana Pacers
No. 26 overall – Miles Plumlee, PF, Duke
No. 36 overall – Orlando Johnson, SG, UCSB

This may have been the worst draft pick ever, worse than Sam Bowie. With names like Perry Jones III, Draymond Green and Festus Ezeli on the board, Indiana elects to take the worst Plumlee brother, Miles. If they weren’t Indiana and known for their white hoopsters, this would be an even worse pick. It’s still so horrible though words can’t describe it. There’s nothing that could make this pick ever make sense. They get Orlando Johnson from UCSB in the second round who was a 20-point scorer last year and might do something for them.

Grade: F

You can also download the podcast here.

Andre Iguodala made two free throws with two seconds left to put Philadelphia ahead.

The Bulls led 78-75 with 25 seconds left following an Omer Asik dunk. Thaddeus Young scored for the 76ers on the next possession then Asik was fouled at the rim with seven seconds left and would miss both free throws.

Iguodala rebounded the second miss and immediately pushed the ball back up court and drove hard right at Asik to the rim and was fouled to set up the game-winning free throws.

The Bulls were obviously not the same without Rose despite having success during the regular season when he was sidelined.

The series was very low-scoring for both teams but the Bulls simply did not have enough people step up with their injuries. Carlos Boozer scored three points in Game 6.

The 76ers win their first series since 2003 and will meet the Boston Celtics in the second round.

The Boston Celtics survived at home in Game 6 against the Atlanta Hawks 83-80 to win the series 4-2.

The Celtics led by two with two seconds left and Al Horford was fouled attempting a layup. He would miss the first and make the second and the Celtics hung on to win.

Kevin Garnett came through with a classic performance. He scored 28 points to go with 14 rebounds and five blocks.

The Eastern Conference second round matchups are now set with the Celtics having homecourt against the 76ers and Miami with homecourt versus Indiana.

The Los Angeles Lakers lost 113-96 in Game 6 to the Denver Nuggets. There will be a Game 7 in this series now.

The Nuggets got off to a great start while the Lakers looked sluggish. Denver scored the first 13 points of the game and never looked back.

Kobe Bryant missed the shootaround before the game but still played of course. He looked sick but still scored 31 points on 13-for-23 shooting.

Kobe was the only Laker with anything going. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol for the second game in a row were not their usual selves. Bynum scored 11 points and Gasol was 1-of-10 fro the field with three points.

Ty Lawson led Denver with 32 points and made five threes in the game including four in the first quarter. Lawson has been the key for Denver in this series but hasn’t played too well on the road yet.

Game 7 will be Saturday between these teams meaning the Thunder won’t play Game 1 of the second round until Monday. With the Lakers up 3-1 it looked like they would easily move on but now Denver surely has momentum and could easily win this series.

Metta World Peace will return for Game 7 after being suspended for elbowing James Harden. I don’t think anyone looks at this series and says the Lakers could use World Peace and they’d be fine.

You can also download the podcast here.

I look back at the games from the weekend and give my thoughts on all the series. I look at the Miami Heat and their now easier path to the NBA Finals and I explain why the Spurs should be the favorites to win the NBA title and how the Thunder could beat them.

You can also download the podcast here.

Dale Zanine-US PRESSWIRE

The Atlanta Hawks shocked a lot of people beating the Boston Celtics 83-74 on Sunday to win Game 1 of the series.

The Celtics were without Ray Allen for the game and got off to a very slow start while Atlanta looked fresh.

The Hawks were led by Josh Smith who scored 22 points to go with 18 rebounds and four assists and completely outplayed Kevin Garnett.

In the fourth quarter with frustrations high, Boston’s Rajon Rondo was ejected from the game after arguing a call and then bumping referee Marc Davis.

It is expected now that Rondo will be suspended for Game 2 and possible Game 3 because of the incident.

Rondo had 20 points and 11 assists in the game and surely the Celtics will have a much tougher time beating the Hawks in this series without him.

If the suspension is just one game and Rondo and Allen return for a Game 3 at home, the series shouldn’t be viewed as completely over but it will be tougher than most thought for the Celtics to advance to the second round.

Spruce Derden-US PRESSWIRE

The Los Angeles Clippers pulled off one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA history late Sunday night. The Clippers ended their Game 1 with the Memphis Grizzlies on a 28-3 run to stun a Memphis crowd and win 99-98.

Chris Paul had 14 points and 11 assists and scored the final two points of the game at the free throw line with 24 seconds left.

Nick Young made three consecutive three-pointers for the Clippers during the run and led the team with 19 points.

The Clippers came into the game with not a lot of playoff experience and it showed as the Grizzlies immediately jumped out to a big lead.

Memphis of course had the great run last year in the playoffs and were looking as good as any team thus far in the playoffs this year.

The Grizzlies may have had a little fool’s gold though with their percentage from beyond the arc making 11-of-16 threes before going cold in the final minutes of the game.

This series promised to be one of the best first round matchups and with the Clippers stealing Game 1 on the road it probably will live up to that.

Richard Rowe-US PRESSWIRE

The Oklahoma City Thunder will play Game 2 tonight against the Dallas Mavericks. It will be the second game in a TNT double-header with the Miami Heat and New York Knicks playing first. Orland and Indiana will also tip Game 2 tonight on NBA TV.

The Thunder looked great in the final quarter against Dallas coming back to win thanks to Kevin Durant’s game-winner but they will have to play with the same intensity they showed in the fourth quarter for 48 minutes to ensure another victory.

Miami blew out New York badly in Game 1 but all the Knicks have to do is steal Game 2 and they’ve done their job of getting homecourt. After the Clippers-Grizzlies game, a complete flip-flop of fortunes in the Miami-New York series doesn’t seem as farfetched.

Indiana – like Memphis – blew what should have been an easy Game 1, home win to Orlando. The Magic scored the final 11 points of Game 1 to win.

The Pacers showed a sizable inside advantage with no Dwight Howard and Roy Hibbert blocking nine shots in the game but he also only scored eight points. The Pacers will need to find more reliable offense to get by the Magic tonight.