For over a year, the Brooklyn Nets relentlessly pursued a trade with the Orlando Magic to acquire center Dwight Howard, who made it clear that Brooklyn was his preferred destination. The Dwightmare, we called it.
But proposal after proposal fell short, and the Magic elected to trade Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers in an attempt to press the reset button on their franchise.
Speaking with Jessica Camerato of Basketball Insiders, Howard sheds a little more light on his thought process in those days, and how he presumed a trade was definite.
From Basketball Insiders:
... MORE →
Houston Rockets
Deron Williams (AP)
The Rockets, who have been looking at potential trade scenarios for disgruntled center Omer Asik, called the Nets and made an offer as part of their "due diligence."
According to ESPN, the offer, made before the Nets lost Brook Lopez to a season-ending foot injury, would have included Asik and Jeremy Lin in a package for Deron Williams:
According to a league source, the Rockets had preliminary talks with the Nets last week about Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin. Talks never gained any steam, but the source said the Rockets were doing their due diligence and Williams' name came up. The Nets balked because one of the main reasons Pierce and Garnett agreed to a trade to Brooklyn was to play with Williams, according to the source. Williams, who signed a five-year, $98 million extension in 2012, was playing well upon returning from an ankle injury, and the Nets were looking better.
Should the Nets revisit talks with the Rockets or another contending team and consider trading a key piece like Williams, Garnett or Pierce now that Lopez is out for the season? It might be worth contemplating because this $190 million roster that was supposed to be a Rolls-Royce now is an expensive luxury car with a transmission problem.
This trade would have given the Rockets a three-headed monster of Williams, Howard, and James Harden, potentially catapulting the 18-10 Rockets into championship contention. Conversely, it would have brought Jeremy Lin back to New York City, where he began his incredible Linsanity run -- but instead of re-joining the team he made the run with, he'd join their biggest rivals, and the team that his Linsanity run started against in the first place.
With Garnett and Pierce joining Brooklyn to play with Williams, and Williams rounding into form after a few freak ankle injuries, this trade doesn't make any sense. But Nets GM Billy King may find one that does soon enough.
"Fatigue," Jason Kidd said after the game, scrawling another excuse for another lackluster Brooklyn Nets performance, one where they gave up a franchise-record nineteen three-pointers and 114 total points, all either in the paint, from beyond the arc, or at the free throw line.
"No one quit. It's fatigue," Kidd said, after benching most of his starters for the entire second half after losing the first 24 minutes by a score of 66-40.
There are reasons to point to fatigue. The Nets have had a brutal road schedule so far, with no back-to-back games at home and three road trips of at least two games. The Nets played a back-to-back, the first game on the road, before taking off to Houston on the Thanksgiving holiday. But it's shortsighted and reductive to blame the Nets' issues on the tryptophan in their system.
They haven't been fatigued for sixteen games. They've been bad.
... MORE →
Dwight Howard (AP)
At 4-11, the Brooklyn Nets aren't very good. They're at the bottom of the NBA in defensive efficiency and their offense isn't much better. Three players skipped the team's two-game road trip with injuries, and a fourth missed seven straight games heading into tonight.
Here's three things to watch on the floor that aren't soda as they take on the 11-5 Houston Rockets.
... MORE →
Former imaginary Brooklyn Net Dwight Howard & the Houston Rockets host Brooklyn. (AP)
One day after the NBA fined coach Jason Kidd roughly the median family income for spilled soda, the 4-11 Brooklyn Nets land in Texas to take on the 11-5 Houston Rockets, led by one man that the Nets desperately tried to acquire two seasons ago.
... MORE →
Here's Mario Elie's exact quote, if you can't get the video to play:
"Hopefully, Dwight Howard, you've got to come down to Texas, man. No state taxes, ain't no pressure down here. You don't have to worry about LA, Hollywood, or Brooklyn. Texas is great. The fans are terrific down here. We support. We're not like the Miami fans leaving when the game's not even over. (laughs) We stay until the end here in Houston. Come on down to Texas, Dwight."
Elie is currently a Brooklyn Nets assistant coach, listed alongside Popeye Jones, Doug Overton, and Patrick Spurgin (technically a player development coach). With new Brooklyn head coach Jason Kidd looking to build a bench with significant coaching experience, all four may not make it to next season. Elie's mind is elsewhere -- even if Elie doesn't end up with the Rockets organization, he played for the team from 1993-98.
As for Howard, the Nets have no shot to acquire him anyway -- they're over the cap and can't sign him outright, and can't do a sign-and-trade since they're above the luxury tax apron; the team would need to shed about $30 million in salary just to get there. Not happening.
Warm-Ups
Lin gets a loud reception at Barclays. What did he ever do for the Nets? Oh yeah it’s because most Nets fans were Knicks fans last year
— Evan G (@eYank45) February 23, 2013
#nets #brooklyn @ Barclays Center instagr.am/p/WDb1VCuRQ2/
— ME Boudin (@meboudin) February 23, 2013
Yeah Brooklyn. #linsanityredux (@ Barclays Center for Houston Rockets vs Brooklyn Nets w/ 271 others) [pic]: 4sq.com/YiFKam
— Greg Galant (@gregory) February 23, 2013
Just realized the Brooklyn Nets' Barclays Center practice facility looks like a background from NBA Street
— Matt Truck (@BroTruck) February 23, 2013
Knicks vs Raptors on the big tv while their little brothers(Nets) play the Rockets on the small tv! twitter.com/2Kcarp/status/…
— Kevin Carpenito (@2Kcarp) February 23, 2013
Grade the Game At Any Time!
Tonight: After beating the Bucks in back-to-back contests, snapping a 13-game losing streak against Milwaukee, the 33-22 Brooklyn Nets play host to the 30-26 Houston Rockets at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The Rockets are fresh off a 122-119 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder, who hold the league's third-best record, after a night in which James Harden scored 46 points while taking just 19 shots.
The BK Game Streak: Today marks game 3 of "The BK Game Streak," where you can build a streak of wins along the betting line over the course of the season. Three prizes will be awarded at the end of the year, with first prize a $200 Amazon Gift Card. Log in with Facebook to get started, vote in the box above, and good luck!
Watch & Listen: Tonight's game is broadcast on YES Network. Ian "The Birdman" Eagle and Greg "The Wear Brooklyn At" Anthony are on the call. The game is radio simulcast on WFAN, and in Spanish on WADO.
More on tonight's game, including injuries and stats, after the jump... MORE →
Today's game marks round 3 of "The BK Game Streak," where you can build a streak predicting how well the BrooklynNets will do in each game for a chance to win a $200 Amazon Gift Card!
The game is as simple as it sounds:
1. The contest relies on a standard betting line for each game. (Note: you must be logged into Facebook to play.) To make your prediction, select YES or NO to agree or disagree. For example: today's statement is: "Brooklyn will beat Houston by 2 or more points." If you think the Nets will win tonight's game by 2 points or more, select "YES." If you think they'll lose or win by just one, select "NO."
2. String together wins and try to get the longest streak of correct predictions before the end of the NBA regular season. Follow game results on the leaderboard on the right sidebar.
At the end of the season, we'll award three prizes to the players with the best three streaks: The Gold Net Trophy (longest streak) and a $200 Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to first place, the Silver Net Trophy (second-longest streak) and a $50 Amazon Gift Card to second place, and the Bronze Net Trophy (third-longest streak) $25 Amazon Gift Card and a Bronze Net Trophy to third place.
Read more rules for the contest here.
Good luck!
WARM-UPS
#Nets visiting #Rockets with Karl Lane officiating. Brooklyn has lost 11 of their last 12 games officiated by Lane. #NBA
— NBA Ref Stats (@NBARefStats) January 27, 2013
Watchin Brooklyn vs Houston Im going for my hometown Brooklyn baby #Nets
— Theo Dieu (@Theo_Dieu8) January 27, 2013
#Rockets have beaten the #Nets 11 straight times. Lets hope I don't jinx them with this post or my attendance at the game.
— Sports Pillow Talk (@SportsPillowTlk) January 27, 2013
Jeremy Lin, i love you man and all, but when you play my #Nets... you are my enemy. still love you though !
— Andrew Silos (@mrSilos) January 27, 2013
Start now! #Rockets #Nets Lets go #RedNation twitter.com/ElTurko1213/st…
— Engin Polar™ (@ElTurko1213) January 27, 2013
Williams reacts to his ejection. (AP)
For the second straight game, their opponent exploited Brooklyn's major weaknesses on the way to victory... MORE →
