The day is here. It's the NBA trade deadline. Signs point to Dwight Howard signing his wavier for his early-termination option, cementing him with the Magic through the 2012-2013 season and forcing us to go through this whole thing again next year. (We're really excited about that.) But then again, he's changed his mind four times in the past 24 hours so who knows.
With that, here are all the latest NBA rumors and updates as today's 3 p.m. deadline approaches.
Multiple outlets are reporting that Dwight Howard has told the Magic he intends to sign the waiver for his early-termination option this afternoon which will keep him under contract to the Magic through the 2012-2013 season. To review:
- Reports surface that he told teammates he plans to stay with the team through next year.
- Those reports are refuted by some, confirmed by others, chaos ensues.
- ESPN reports Howard has changed his mind and told the Magic he intends to opt out.
- Howard tells Real GM that he's changed his mind, again, and will stay with the Magic, waiving his opt-out.
- Multiple outlets confirm that he's informed the Magic he intends to sign the waiver.
Meanwhile...
3:40 p.m.
- The Nuggets, Clippers and Wizards have a three-team deal that sends Nick Young to Los Angeles, JaVale McGee to Denver and Nene and Brian Cook to Washington, according to multiple reports.
- Even though the deadline has already passed, NBA.com reports the Wizards and Nuggets are in "serious" discussions about a deal involving Nick Young, JaVale McGee and Nene. Yahoo! Sports reports the Clippers have acquired Nick Young as part of a three-team trade. So we'll see what happens there.
- The Lakers traded Derek Fisher and a first round pick to Houston for Jordan Hill, according to Yahoo! Sports and confirmed by Ken Berger of CBSSports.com.
- The Portland Trail Blazers are selling off everything. After dealing Gerald Wallace to New Jersey, they also completed a deal with the Rockets sending Marcus Camby to Houston for Jonny Flynn, Hasheem Thabeet and a second round pick.
- The Blazers though couldn't sell off everything as Jamal Crawford and Raymond Felton will remain with the team, according to reports.
- According to Yahoo! Sports, the Hawks won't be trading Kirk Hinrich.
- The Warriors and Spurs swapped Richard Jefferson and Stephen Jackson. Captain Jack of course returns to San Antonio, where he was part of a title team.
- The biggest chip to fall today is a chip that didn't fall. Dwight Howard is staying in Orlando for the rest of the seaso after waiving his early termination option.
- The Lakers and Cavs completed a deal sending Ramon Sessions and Christen Eyenga to L.A. for a first round pick and Luke Walton.
- According to ESPN.com, Richard Jefferson for Stephen Jackson is being discussed.
- Yahoo! Sports reports that the Nets are engaged in "serious" discussions for forward Gerald Wallace.
- ESPN.com reports the Lakers offered a Pau Gasol package to New Jersey for Deron Williams in December and if the Lakers tried again today, they would be rebuffed again. The feeling is that with Dwight Howard potentially off the Nets radar, they might be willing to make a dramatic move elsewhere.
- Yahoo! Sports reports that several contenders are calling the Celtics about Ray Allen. The Celtics are said to be interested in getting a first round pick or a young player for him.
- Trevor Ariza, Emeka Okafor and Chris Kaman are all reportedly on the block. Yahoo! Sports reports that the Hornets are getting realistic expectations of what they can get for Kaman, which isn't a first rounder.
- The Pacers and Raptors completed a deal to send Leandro Barbosa to Indiana for a second round pick. The trade essentially takes the Pacers out of the running for other deals, as Barbosa will eat up most of their open cap space.
- Ken Berger of CBSSports.com has Sam Young headed to Philadelphia in a deal that would return a former second round pick to Memphis.
- A deal that would send Jamal Crawford to the Timberwolves, Steve Blake to Portland, and Michael Beasley to the L.A. Lakers is said to be on its way to being done.