Magic center not involved in flurry of trades
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Share on TwitterThe Miami Heat got two more shooters. The Orlando Magic, at least for now, are keeping their center.
A flurry of deals were completed Wednesday and another one was put on hold on the first day contracts could be signed in the NBA.
Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis inked their deals with the NBA champions, who will rely on their perimeter accuracy to create more space on the court for LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
The Spurs announced Tim Duncan was staying in San Antonio. But there’s no deal for the best big man who’s made the biggest headlines of late.
The Magic can’t find an agreement they like for All-Star center Dwight Howard, who has asked for a trade to Brooklyn. The Magic have tried to accommodate, only to find nothing from the Nets that fit their desires.
“We’ve had discussions with Brooklyn; we’ve had discussions with a host of different teams about a host of different issues,” Magic general manager Rob Hennigan said. “And the answer is, ‘Yes we’re still talking to them.’”
The Nets re-signed their current center, Brook Lopez, to an extension. He had been linked to the Howard trade talk for months but knows he will at last begin the season in Brooklyn, ineligible to be traded until Jan. 15.
Free agency opened July 1 and teams were able to sign players at 11:01 Tuesday night. Deron Williams got a quick start, signing his five-year, $98 million extension with the Nets while in Las Vegas for the U.S. Olympic team’s training camp.
Even though he hasn’t been able to get Howard, Nets general manager Billy King kept Williams, traded for All-Star guard Joe Johnson and forward Reggie Evans, kept starting forward Gerald Wallace and signed Bosnian forward Mirza Teletovic.
The Los Angeles Clippers signed Blake Griffin to a 5-year extension worth about $95 million.
Three-point specialist Ryan Anderson, who led the league in 3-pointers last season, was dealt by the Magic to New Orleans for Gustavo Ayon.
The Hornets have 3 days to decide if they want Eric Gordon to play with Anderson. He signed an offer sheet in Phoenix for 4 years and $58 million, but New Orleans has three days to match the deal for the restricted free agent.
Other dealings
• New York Knicks bring Marcus Camby back to New York in a sign-and-trade with Houston and re-sign guard JR Smith. Deals with Jason Kidd and Steve Novak are in the works
• Toronto Raptors acquire point guard Kyle Lowry from Houston and sign fellow guard Landry Fields to a 3-year offer sheet worth nearly $20 million that the Knicks have 3 days to match
•The Golden State Warriors agree to send Dorell Wright to the Philadelphia 76ers in a three-team trade that will net guard Jarrett Jack from the New Orleans Hornets
