3:09 p.m.: If you’re a Celtics fan and you’re waiting for something to be announced in the next few minutes, you’re out of luck.
From Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski:
“The Boston Celtics will make one more run with the Big Three. No deals for them.”
3:05 p.m.:Â It’s officially past 3 p.m. on the East Coast which means the deadline has passed.
There was one more trade right before the deadline as the Lakers sent longtime point guard Derek Fisher to the Rockets for 6-foot-10 forward Jordan Hill. According to Marc Stein, the Rockets will also get the Dallas first-round pick that the Lakers acquired in the Lamar Odom deal.
2:55 p.m.:Â We’re just about five minutes from the deadline, and things are pretty quiet at the moment. As is customary with all trade deadlines, you have to say the obligatory “just because the deals aren’t announced before [insert time here] doesn’t mean they didn’t get done.”
So while it looks like the deadline will come and go without much more action, we’ll keep our eyes peeled until we know for sure.
2:49 p.m.:Â The Richard Jefferson for Stephen Jackson trade mentioned earlier is going to go through according to multiple reports.
NBA.com’s David Aldridge says that the Warriors will get a conditional first rounder in addition to Jefferson for giving up Jackson.
2:35 p.m.:Â An update on the Camby deal. According to Wojnarowski:
“The Rockets will send Jonny Flynn and Hasheem Thabeet to Blazers, source tells Y! Sports.”
2:30 p.m.:Â We’re in the final hour, and things are heating up across the league.
Yahoo’s Marc Spears was the first to report that the Blazers are sending Marcus Camby to the Rockets. In return, Portland is set to receive some expiring deals and a second-rounder.
Meanwhile, FOXS’s Sam Amico (via HoopsRumors.com) hears that the Lakers are closing in on prying Michael Beasley out of Minnesota.
1:55 p.m.: ESPN’s Ric Bucher reports that the Spurs and the Warriors are discussing a Richard Jefferson for Stephen Jackson trade.
1:40 p.m.:Â The Lakers have made a move, and they’re apparently getting some help in the backcourt.
Los Angeles will get Ramon Sessions from the Cavaliers in exchange for a first-round pick, as was first reported by ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.
1:10 p.m.:Â Is Jermaine O’Neal about to be on his way out of Boston?
Wojnarowski is back at it, and this time he says that the Celtics big man would like to be bought out. If he is bought out, he’d prefer to return to Miami.
Believe it or not, Danny Ainge isn’t a huge fan of this idea, so he’s trying to instead trade O’Neal before the deadline. Wojnarowski assumes that Ainge won’t grant the buyout if the indications are that O’Neal will sign with the Heat.
12:40 p.m.:Â Just minutes after Dwight Howard tells Chris Broussard hes’ staying in Orlando, the Nets are reportedly nearing a trade. Coincidence? Well, yeah, maybe, but the Nets don’t seem too wrapped up in losing out on Howard — for now.
Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Nets are close to acquiring Gerald Wallace from the Portland Trailblazers in exchange for Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and a top 3-protected first-round pick.
12:30 p.m.:Â Dwight Howard looks like he’s staying put.
ESPN’s Chris Broussard reports that Howard has waived the early termination option in his contract, and he will remain under contract with the Magic through next season.
That should eliminate any possibility that Howard gets moved before the 3 p.m. deadline.
12:02 p.m.:Â Would the Nets trade Deron Williams to the Lakers for Pau Gasol? In a word, no.
ESPN.com’s Marc Stein reports that the Nets are keeping their word, at least thus far, in regards to not trading their point guard.
“Sources with knowledge of New Jersey’s thinking told ESPN.com on Thursday morning that the Nets’ position won’t change even if the Los Angeles Lakers offer them Pau Gasol in a package for Williams before the deadline,” Stein wrote.
11:34 a.m.:Â Danny Ainge didn’t sound like he was willing to make much of a move before the deadline, but if he gets an offer he can’t refuse, he’s not going to turn it down.
One of those offers may come for Ray Allen.
Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports that there are “several contenders” for the veteran shooter, and some teams are willing to part with a first-round pick or a good, young player to land him.
If the C’s can get both, Wojnarowski speculates, Allen could be on the move.
11:28 a.m.:Â We have another trade, and this time it involves an Eastern Conference playoff contender.
The Indiana Pacers have reportedly acquired Leando Barbosa from the Toronto Raptors in exchange for a second-round pick. That deal was first reported by Yahoo’s Marc Spears.
The eight-year pro is getting just over 20 minutes per night and is averaging 12 points per game.
11 a.m.:Â Those hoping for a big deal from the Celtics may be out of luck, as the C’s president says that if he does make a move, it won’t be ground-breaking.
“I think it’s 50-50, but it may be a small deal,” Ainge said on WEEI’s Dennis and Callahan on Thursday morning, via ESPN.com. “It may not be as exciting as people may expect. BUt we’re working hard, we’ll work hard the rest of the day until 3 o’clock.”
Of course, Ainge may be downplaying that some, but given the things he’s said in the last week or so, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if the C’s stand pat.
10:58 a.m.: Maybe the New Jersey Nets know something we don’t know.
The Nets are still not interested in moving point guard Deron Williams, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein.
“All signals from all angles point to Nets rebuffing any trade interest in D-Will over next 4 1/2 hours. That’s what they’re telling teams,” he tweeted.
That’s noteworthy, of course, because of the whole Dwight Howard saga. If Howard re-ups through next season, that pretty much destroys the immediate plans of the Nets who were going to make a full-court press to bring Howard to Jersey (Brooklyn) and re-sign Williams giving them a pretty impressive 1-2 punch.
Instead, though, it sounds like Howard isn’t going anywhere until at least the end of next season, and Williams is a free agent at the end of the season. So if the Nets can’t get Howard, it all but guarantees Williams is out at season’s end.
10:58 a.m.:Â Maybe the New Jersey Nets know something we don’t know.
The Nets are still not interested in moving point guard Deron Williams, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein.
“All signals from all angles point to Nets rebuffing any trade interest in D-Will over next 4 1/2 hours. That’s what they’re telling teams,” he tweeted.
That’s noteworthy, of course, because of the whole Dwight Howard saga. If Howard re-ups through next season, that pretty much destroys the immediate plans of the Nets who were going to make a full-court press to bring Howard to Jersey (Brooklyn) and re-sign Williams giving them a pretty impressive 1-2 punch.
Instead, though, it sounds like Howard isn’t going anywhere until at least the end of next season, and Williams is a free agent at the end of the season. So if the Nets can’t get Howard, it all but guarantees Williams is out at season’s end.
10:29 a.m.:Â We have a trade, but it’s not necessarily a big name.
Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News reports that the 76ers have acquired Sam Young from the Memphis Grizzlies in exchange for a draft pick. It’s Sam Young, so it may be safe to assume that it’s a second-rounder, but that is purely speculative.
Young has only started a couple of games for the Grizz this season, and he averages just 11 minutes per game. Like we said, not a big name.
9:52 a.m. EST:Â The latest news surrounding Dwight Howard is, well, no news.
We’re still waiting on the Magic center to make it official that he wants to stay through next season, something he’s said he’ll done, but has yet to officially complete.
NBA.com’s David Aldridge is reporting that the Magic “expect” it to happen, but until it actually does, all bets are off.
While we wait, we’ll turn our attention toward the Celtics. The C’s are 8-2 in their last 10, even as trade rumors swirled around the veteran-laden club. Now, Danny Ainge finds himself in an interesting position. Is his team really good enough for one more legitimate push? Or is it time to do some rebuilding, trading away one of his assets.
We’ll turn it over to you — what do you think?
8:50 a.m. EST:Â As we wait for the latest from Dwight Howard, here’s a Lakers-Celtics nugget from ESPN’s Chris Palmer.
“Highly unlikely Pau Gasol will be traded. After LA nixed a potential Rondo swap interest dropped way off, source tells me.”
Both the Celtics and Lakers have made news for their reported interest to trade their respective pieces, but it appears both have backed off those stances. A Rondo-Gasol deal may make at least some sense for both sides as the Celtics desperately need a big man, and a terrific point guard like Rondo may make the Lakers the favorites in the West.
Alas, it doesn’t sound like it’s going to happen.
8:05 a.m. EST:Â While we all slept — at least on the East Coast — Dwight Howard changed his mind yet again.
In an interview with RealGM, the Magic center said that he doesn’t want to go anywhere, and he’s willing to make it official.
“My soul, everything I have is in Orlando,” he told Jarrod Rudolph. “I just can’t leave it behind. I have gotten some bad advice. I apologize for this circus I have caused to the fans of our city. They didn’t deserve none of this.”
Of course, this means nothing until Howard actually signs on the dotted line. Plus, the Magic could decided they’ve had enough of this nonsense and still deal him regardless.
7:45 a.m. EST:Â Thursday will be a busy day for NBA general managers, and it will be a tense one for players across the league.
There are plenty of stories to watch across the league, but there’s no bigger name potentially on the move than Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. He’s gone back and forth about whether or not he actually wants to be traded, and it’s left the Orlando front office with quite a decision to make. Do they try to convince Howard — who is a free agent at the end of the season — to stay in Orlando and allow them to build around him, or do they trade him under the assumption that he’ll walk at the end of the season and get something for him?
The Celtics are another team to watch on Thursday. Danny Ainge has insisted in last week or two that point guard Rajon Rondo is not on his way out, but that doesn’t mean someone else won’t be dealt. Ainge has said that he won’t be afraid to make a move which means the C’s could be busy with the clock ticking.
We’ll be monitoring the rumors across the league throughout the day, so be sure to check back all day for updates on who’s going where and for what.
