The Nets and Knicks will play Thursday despite Hurricane Sandy. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBA/Getty Images)

The New York Knicks and the Brooklyn Nets will play their game on Thursday as scheduled, despite Hurricane Sandy, confirms NBA spokesman Tim Frank.

The game is scheduled to be played at 7pm at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. SI.com reported Tuesday that the NBA is watching developments and assessing the situation as far as other games on the week’s schedule.

From the NBA’s perspective, all eyes are on Thursday, when the Brooklyn Nets are scheduled to host the New York Knicks in the highly-anticipated opening of the new Barclays Center. The New York Post reported last week that tickets for the game were averaging $800 on the secondary market, with a courtside seat drawing up to $8,100. USA Today reported that the Nets were forced to cancel their practice on Tuesday.

There are more than eight million households without power in 17 states including two million in New York because of the “superstorm”, according to the Associated Press. Parts of Brooklyn lost power, streets ended up under water, and part of the subway system leading to the arena are also flooded.

Knicks-Nets game will be played as scheduled this Thursday at 7 p.m. at Barclays Center—
Tim Frank (@tfrank14) October 31, 2012

NBA will continue to assess Heat-Knicks game Friday night at MSG. Heat, of course, would need a working airport at which to land.—
Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) October 31, 2012

JFK Airport will be open Wednesday, as will Newark Liberty International for limited service. #Sandy on.cnn.com/Sbtwhb—
CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) October 31, 2012

Hurricane Sandy, which left millions without power as it swept through on Monday night, won’t have an affect on the NBA’s opening night, according to a report from NBC Sports. The games scheduled for Tuesday night are in cities unaffected by the storm and include: the Wizards and Cavs in Cleveland, the Celtics and Heat in Miami, and the Mavs and Lakers in L.A.

Games later in the week, particularly those to be played in New York and Philadelphia, are still questionable. Tim Frank, the league’s Senior Vice President of Basketball Communications, tweeted:

For the many asking: Tonight's NBA games will be played. We are still assessing the situation with regards to the rest of the week.—
Tim Frank (@tfrank14) October 30, 2012

The Nuggets are scheduled to play the Sixers in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, and the Knicks kick off their season against the Nets in the new Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn on Thursday; both Philadelphia and New York were hit hard by the storm. The Barclay’s Center is at least in practicing condition, according to the New York Times’s Howard Beck:

Nets will practice Wednesday at Barclays Center. Power is out at their training center in East Rutherford. (Still no word on Thurs.)—
Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) October 30, 2012

Whether or not power outages have been restored and the subway system is back up and running will affect the league’s decision on the Knicks-Nets game.

New Lakers center Dwight Howard admitted he wanted a trade to the Nets in the offseason. (Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)

Dwight Howard said Thursday that he did indeed prefer a trade to the Brooklyn Nets this offseason, but added that where he ended up — with the Los Angeles Lakers — is a “blessing in disguise.”

“I did want to go to Brooklyn. That’s a place where I told the Magic that I really wanted to go,” Howard told Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco on ESPN NewYork 98.7 FM. “[But] I was traded to the Lakers, and I think it was a blessing in disguise.

” … I think there’s a reason why everything happened the way it happened. So far it’s been an unbelievable experience for me. … It’s like a dream come true.”

After an offseason filled with trade rumor after trade rumor, Howard was finally dealt to the Lakers from the Orlando Magic in a four-team trade. Howard had pressed for a trade to Brooklyn and numerous reported deals were close to being finalized, but all of them fell through. The Magic also had serious discussions involving the Houston Rockets.

But Howard said Thursday he was pleased with how everything shook out.

“I thought I was going to get traded at the beginning of the year, actually, that’s when I asked for it,” he said. “But everything happened for a reason. I had to go through last year to get to where I’m at today. It’s made me a stronger and better person for it. I had to go through the hell and the stormy forecast to come out to a place like this … and I’m thankful for it.”

The Brooklyn Nets announced that they will use the 2013-2014 option on MarShon Brooks, per the New York Times’ NBA and Nets reporter Howard Beck:

Nets announce they have picked up 2013-14 option on MarShon Brooks.

—
Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) October 19, 2012

The decision comes on the heels of speculation that the Nets’ promising young sixth man might miss most of the preseason from tendinitis in his right foot.

His role with the team also seemed to be diminishing, after the Nets added wings Gerald Wallace, Joe Johnson and Josh Childress; Brooks is no longer a starter for the Nets.

However, Brooks maintains that his goal for the season is Sixth Man of the Year.

For the first time, Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams has given some specific insight into what caused him to pass up his hometown Dallas Mavericks and remain with the Nets for their move to Brooklyn over the summer. According to a Tweet from The New York Times‘ Howard Beck, it has a lot to do with the Mavericks’ famous owner.

Deron Williams elaborated on choice of Nets over Mavs. Says Mark Cuban's absence at meeting helped cinch decision.—
Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) October 08, 2012

Deron met w/Carlisle and Donnie Nelson. But he had questions about Mavs' future that only Cuban could answer, he said.—
Howard Beck (@HowardBeckNYT) October 08, 2012

Cuban missed the crucial meeting with Williams because he was in Californai shooting episodes of “Shark Tank,” the Emmy-winning reality show for which he is a judge, according to Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News.

Leandro Barbosa is talking to the Lakers, Nets and Suns about a contract. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Indiana Pacers free agent guard Leandro Barbosa confirmed that he is talking to the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns, and is even getting recruited over texts from Lakers point guard Steve Nash, according to a Hoops Hype translation of a report from OUL Deporte:

“Among others, I’m talking with Phoenix, the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. Steve Nash even texted me because he wants me there.”

Barbosa, who made $7.6 million last season, said he would accept a veterans minimum salary to play for a contender, but the Lakers have very little room to add another contract so it may be wishful thinking for him and Nash to text about playing in Los Angeles together. If he doesn’t sign an NBA contract, Barbosa said that he would play in his native Brazil.

ESPNs Marc Stein reported Aug. 2 that he heard the Lakers have interest in the guard, but the team has little room on the roster for him given their salary cap.

The Nets, meanwhile, would certainly benefit from using Barbosa in their backcourt but the team is also committed to over $85 million in salary next season.

The Suns, while certainly an option for Barbosa because of the success he enjoyed in Phoenix under Mike D’antoni, would likely be a longshot for the guard because of his desire to play for a contender. Barbosa turns 30 a month after the season tips off.

The Brooklyn Nets will try Josh Childress at backup forward. (Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets are hoping they’ve found their backup small forward in Josh Childress.

Childress agreed to terms with the Nets on Tuesday, according to The New York Times.

Childress, 29, is set to sign a one-year nonguaranteed contract at the veteran’s minimum, according to two people briefed on the deal. He is essentially a training-camp invitee, but his experience and skill set makes him a virtual lock for the opening-night roster.

The Nets needed an established veteran to play behind Gerald Wallace, and Childress — the former sixth man for the Atlanta Hawks — was the best candidate left in the free agent market. Childress averaged 11.1 points a game in four seasons with the Hawks before spending two years in Greece.

Childress made headlines in 2008 when he left the Atlanta Hawks to play in Greece for a record non-NBA contract. He used his two-years overseas to study Greek and travel through Europe.

Childress returned to the NBA in 2010, signing with Phoenix, where his play was lackluster, averaging 5 points a game in 2010-11 and 2.9 points last season. The Suns subsequently used the amnesty clause to release him.

Andray Blatche will sign with the Brooklyn Nets next week for the league veteran minimum. (Gary Dineen/NBA/Getty Images)

Andray Blatche is headed up the East Coast to Brooklyn.  His agent confirms that the forward will sign a Blatche will sign a one-year, non-guaranteed deal worth the league minimum of $1.1 million, the Washington Post reports.

Blatche, who played for the Washington Wizards last season, has averaged 9.9 points in his career, including a career high of 16.8 in 2010. Blatche had fallen out of favor with the team since signing a three-year, $28-million extension in September 2010.

Blatche had a disappointing 2011-12 campaign – on and off the court – and was eventually sidelined for the final 21 games to work on his conditioning after his weight ballooned to at least 280 pounds. The Wizards went 10-11 without him.

Andray Blatche could end up with the Heat instead of the Nets. (Glenn James/Getty Images)

Free agent forward Andray Blatche was going to sign with the Brooklyn Nets as of Wednesday but the deal has not been finalized and the former Washington Wizard reportedly has a competing offer from the Miami Heat that is still being considered, according to a report early Thursday morning from Michael Lee of The Washington Post:

[A]ccording to two sources close to Blatche, the 6-foot-11 forward has yet to make a decision and is also considering an offer from the Miami Heat. One person close to Blatche said, “Nothing is finalized.”

Blatche had said on Sept. 1 while working out in Houston for Nets coach Avery Johnson that he hopes to be on an NBA roster in the next couple of days. It’s worth noting that when Blatche recently spoke of the prospect of playing with the Nets, he said “we” when talking about who the team has on the roster:

“Deron Williams to me is one of the best point guards if not the best point guard in the league and we have Joe Johnson and Gerald Wallace, Lopez and Humphries.”

Blatche was amnestied by the Wizards this offseason after a disappointing season in which he averaged 8.5 points on a career-low 38-percent shooting in only 26 appearances. While Blatche’s potential signing with Brooklyn would boost the Nets’ frontcourt depth, going to the Heat would most likely give the 26-year-old his best shot at winning a title in the near future.

Howard Beck of the New York Times reported on Saturday that Brooklyn Nets coach Avery Johnson was scheduled to travel to Houston to meet with free-agent forward Andray Blatche, late of the Washington Wizards. Blatche, who was amnestied by Washington, is working out in Texas with former coach/player John Lucas.

Now, ESPN’s Marc Stein reports that a deal between the two parties is imminent.

Team in pole position to sign Andray Blatche, I'm told, is indeed Brooklyn. Blatche told HoopsWorld he'll have a new team this week—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 05, 2012

Sources close to process say Nets confident of completing Blatche signing this week. @HowardBeckNYT reported that parties met over weekend—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) September 05, 2012

The 6’11″ Blatche entered the league out of high school in 2005 and has flashed considerable skill (he averaged 16.8 points and 8.2 rebounds just two seasons ago), but maturity issues have kept him from realizing his potential. He is still due $23 million from the Wizards, so the Nets likely would only have to pony up the veteran minimum.

Utah Jazz unrestricted free agent forward Josh Howard is reportedly working out with the Charlotte Bobcats and also has the eye of the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, according to a tweet from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Earlier in August, Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld.com named the Golden State Warriors and Indiana Pacers as two other teams interested in the swingman:

Howard may ultimately return to Utah, but he’s also receiving interest from the Indiana Pacers, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets among other teams.

Howard insists he’s 100-percent healthy after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last season. He played in 43 games for the Utah Jazz, averaging 8.7 points and 3.7 rebounds in 23 minutes per game.

Though hardly the player he once was from his days of averaging nearly 20 points per game as a member of the Dallas Mavericks, Howard can still provide depth on both ends of the floor and for multiple positions.

He signed a one-year contract with the Jazz in December 2011 worth approximately $2.2 million and is expected to sign with a team for near the veterans minimum next season.

Free agent F Josh Howard, a Winston Salem native, has been working out with Charlotte this week, sources tell Y! CHI, NY amongst interested.—
Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) August 29, 2012

Miami Heat unrestricted free agent Eddy Curry is getting another chance to leave his mark on the league, this time with the Brooklyn Nets, as the team spent Wednesday morning working out the center for a possible roster spot next season, according to a tweet from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

The Nets also worked out free agent forward Hilton Armstrong, who was selected 12th overall in the 2006 NBA Draft but hasn’t played since the 2010-11 season when he was with the Atlanta Hawks.

Curry, though widely-considered to be one of the biggest busts in the league after being selected by the Chicago Bulls fourth overall in the 2001 Draft, would provide insurance for the Nets should Brook Lopez and/or Reggie Evans go down with an injury. In 14 appearances last season with the Heat, Curry averaged 2.1 points in 5.9 minutes per game en route to the team winning an NBA championship.

Nets working out FA Cs Eddy Curry & Hilton Armstrong today & seeking vet C & SF. Billy King looking for next Gerald Green diamond in rough.—
Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) August 29, 2012

Kris Humphries’ parents are divorcing. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Kris Humphries’ much publicized 72-day marriage and divorce from Kim Kardashian forced the Brooklyn Nets forward to endure boos at almost every NBA arena last season.

Will his parents face similar wrath?

TMZ is reporting his mom, Debra, filed for divorce from his father, Will.

There will be some serious burger money up for grabs in the split — William owns several Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurants throughout Minnesota.

It’s pretty ironic … Kris is fighting a divorce from Kim because he says it goes against his religious beliefs. Perhaps it’s time to take a cue from mom?

It’s unclear how long the couple was married … but it was definitely longer than 72 days.

Charlotte Bobcats free agent Eduardo Najera has reportedly recovered from surgery after sustaining a season-ending head injury in April, and the forward is drawing interest from the Brooklyn Nets, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves, according to a tweet from Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports.

Najera had surgery in April to repair a fractured frontal lobe in his forehead from an inadvertent elbow to the head during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks. Assuming he lands a roster spot with one of those teams, Najera will provide a low-cost option for a team looking to upgrade its perimeter defense. The 36-year-old forward would likely sign for a veterans minimum.

If he doesn’t come back to the league as a player, he may turn to coaching. According to Mike Fisher of DallasBasketball.com, Najera has been in talks with the Mavs about becoming a coach once he retires:

“I’ve actually been talking to Donnie (the Mavs GM and the owner of the D-League Texas Legends) for two years about someday going into coaching,” Eddie tells me. “Hey, if I’m going to retire, I’ve got to start doing something, right?’

Najera became the second Mexico native to play in the NBA, and the first ever to be drafted. In 22 games last season for the Bobcats, he averaged 2.6 points in 12 minutes per game.

Free agent F Eduardo Najera fully recovered from fractured forehead frontal bone & is back playing. HOU, MIN, BK interested, source tells Y!—
Marc J. Spears (@SpearsNBAYahoo) August 08, 2012

The Nets will reportedly host the Knicks on opening night. (Jeyhoun Allebaugh/Getty Images)

The NBA schedule isn’t officially released until 7 p.m. EST on Thursday, but key games are already leaking.

According to a report Wednesday afternoon from Al Iannazzone, the New York Knicks beat writer for Newsday, the Nets will kickoff their innaugural season in Brooklyn by hosting the Knicks in a nationally televised game on Nov. 1.

The game between the Knicks and Nets will set the stage for what is expected to be a cross-river rivalry featuring some of the NBA’s most prominent stars in Carmelo Anthony and Amare Stoudemire for the Knicks and Deron Williams and Joe Johnson for the Nets.

Jason Kidd, now a member of the Knicks, led the Nets to two NBA Finals appearances including the franchise’s first in a 2002 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

The following night, the Knicks will host LeBron James and the Miami Heat at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks lost to the Heat in Game 5 in the first round of last season’s playoffs.

According to Ira Winderman, Heat beat writer for the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the Heat will receive their championship rings on Oct. 30 when the team kicks off the season by hosting the Boston Celtics, the team that took Miami to the brink of elimination in Game 7 of last seasons Eastern Conference Finals. A month after that series, Ray Allen left Boston for Miami.

New Brooklyn Nets point guard C.J. Watson, Derrick Rose’s former backup in Chicago, said that teammate Deron Williams is the best point guard in the NBA, according to tweets from media members, including The New York Daily News’ Stefan Bondy and The Star-Ledger‘s Colin Stephenson.

CJ Watson, who played with Derrick Rose, said Deron Williams is the best point guard in the league

—
Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) July 24, 2012

Watson calls Deron the best point guard in the league. Says Derrick Rose won't be mad at him for saying that.

—
Colin Stephenson (@Ledger_Nets) July 24, 2012

Watson reportedly wanted to return to Chicago, but the Bulls declined to exercise his $3.2 million option for this season. He then signed a two-year deal with Brooklyn. The 28-year-old Watson averaged 9.7 points and 4.1 assists per game last season with Chicago. He was a part-time starter while Rose battled injuries throughout the season.

If Watson is right and Rose doesn’t care about his comments, then any attention they receive now should fade away quickly. But if Rose isn’t happy about Watson’s statement, the words could become a motivating force.

Last season, Rose was unhappy with the Indiana Pacers’ celebration after an early-season victory over Chicago.

“I’ll never forget how they celebrated just from winning this game,” Rose told reporters after the game. “I can’t wait to play them again.”

Any fallout would have to wait a while to play out. Reports on Monday said Rose may be out until March as he recovers from ACL surgery.

Might the Dwight Howard trade rumors be going on reprieve?. (Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Orlando Magic might bring the on-again, off-again Dwight Howard trade rumors to a halt — for now.

Citing multiple league sources ESPN.com’s Chris Broussard reported Monday night that the Magic are holding out for a trade that would be “great” for the franchise. The organization has shifted to this position in the past “week or so.” From Broussard’s report:

Another executive who has talked with Orlando said he thinks the Magic may start the season with Howard and wait until the February trade deadline to move him.

Each executive left the door open for posturing, noting that the Magic may be bluffing in hopes of coaxing better offers out of opposing teams. But the overriding sense is that Howard may not be moved for weeks, if not months.

Because the Magic could just be taking a hard-line public stance, the rumors probably won’t go away just yet. Just last Thursday, a three-team deal between the Lakers, Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers picked up steam as reports emerged that Howard would be willing to sign an extension with Los Angeles.

But Broussard reported Monday that both the Lakers and the Houston Rockets, the other team most in the mix for Howard right now, believe that, at the moment, “are not interested in trading” him.

If the Magic wait until the season to deal Howard, the Brooklyn Nets could also again become a potential trade partner. The Nets recently re-signed center Brook Lopez, who would be the main piece in a deal for Howard. But he cannot be traded until January 15, about a month before the trade deadline.

Point guard C.J. Watson has signed with the Brooklyn Nets, reports the New York Daily News‘ Stefan Bondy on Twitter.

Nets have officially signed CJ Watson. He'll be introduced to the media tomorrow.

—
Stefan Bondy (@NYDNInterNets) July 23, 2012

The 28-year-old Watson spent the past two seasons backing up Derrick Rose with the Chicago Bulls. He now will back up another of the league’s best point guards in Brooklyn’s Deron Williams.

The Nets have reconfigured their roster this season and look poised for a playoff appearance. The team’s trade for guard Joe Johnson solidified its starting lineup, and Watson’s acquisition should bring increased depth.

Chicago declined to exercise Watson’s $3.2 million option, instead signing Kirk Hinrich and drafting Kentucky’s Marquis Teague to play point guard.

Watson averaged 9.7 points and 4.1 assists per game last season as a part-time starter while Rose was out with injuries.

Free agent Nazr Mohammed is on a plane bound for Newark, and FOX Sports columnnist Chris Tomasson reports Mohammed is close to signing with the Nets.

Nazr Mohammed is on the verge of signing with Brooklyn Nets. He tweets he's flying to Newark.

—
Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) July 20, 2012

Tomasson is referring to this tweet by Mohammed minutes earlier.

Airplane mode to Newark... ✈✈✈

—
Nazr Mohammed (@NazrMohammed) July 20, 2012

Mohammed is a 14-year NBA veteran who averaged 2.7 points and 2.7 rebounds per game last season for the Oklahoma City Thunder behind Kendrick Perkins.

With the Thunder signing Hasheem Thabeet this month, Mohammed has been looking for a new home to be a backup center. Earlier this week, the Nets inked Brook Lopez to a maximum deal.

Forward Kris Humphries will re-sign with the Brooklyn Nets on a two-year contract, reports ESPN’s Marc Stein on Twitter.

Just going up online and via SportsCenter: Kris Humprhies is staying with Nets on two-year deal valued at $24 million

—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 17, 2012

The 27-year-old Humphries has averaged a double-double the past two seasons. Last year, he scored 13.8 points and grabbed 11.0 rebounds per game.

Humphries, who was famously married to reality TV star Kim Kardashian for 72 days, was a key part of Brooklyn’s many attempts to acquire the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard. In most trade scenarios, Humphries had to agree to a sign-and-trade deal that would have sent him to a third team. For a while, when there were rumors the Nets and Magic were getting close to a deal, it appeared Humphries would head to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

But Cleveland backed out when Humphries wouldn’t agree to a contract with only one year guaranteed. The Nets are reportedly no longer looking to acquire Howard, meaning Humphries’ re-signing helps them complete their frontcourt. With Brooklyn’s trade for Joe Johnson, the team should contend for a playoff spot this season.

The Brooklyn Nets signed 17-year veteran Jerry Stackhouse to a one-year contract. (Fernando Medina/NBA/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets continue to work over their roster, signing veteran guard Jerry Stackhouse to a contract, the team announced Monday.

Stackhouse, 37, signed a one-year deal, worth $1.3 million.

Stackhouse is expected to provide scoring off the bench behind Gerald Wallace, Joe Johnson, and Deron Williams. The 17-year veteran, who has played for eight different teams, averaged 3.6 points in 30 games with the Atlanta Hawks last season and has averaged 17.4 points, 3.4 assists and 3.3 rebounds for his career.

The Brooklyn Nets have signed veteran guard/forward Jerry Stackhouse.—
Nets PR Dept. (@Nets_PR) July 16, 2012

Guard C.J. Watson agreed to a two-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. (Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBA/Getty Images)

Guard C.J. Watson agreed to a two-year deal with the Brooklyn Nets late Saturday, securing the team’s need for a backup point guard behind All-Star Deron Williams.

Watson, 29, will play at the veterans minimum and owns the player option for the second year.

Watson is in his sixth year in the NBA and averaged 9.7 points and 4.1 assists in 25 starts with the Chicago Bulls last season.

Nets guard Joe Johnson says that the Nets have the best team in New York City. (Getty Images)

Newly acquired Brooklyn Nets guard Joe Johnson isn’t shy about saying who he thinks is the best team in New York City.

“The Nets. Definitely, the Nets,” Johnson said at Friday news conference at Brooklyn. ”I haven’t been this excited since my Phoenix days,” when asked what he thought about him and guard Deron Williams playing together.

Of course, those afflliated with the organization are going to agree with him as Nets general manager Billy King took it one step further.

“This is a great day because it’s a day when we put together the best backcourt in the NBA,” referring to Johnson and Williams, who signed a contract worth $98 million over five years this week.

The Nets haven’t made the playoffs since 2007 and have gone 58-172 the past three last seasons, including a 22–44 record last season in New Jersey.

Given that the Brooklyn Nets needed someone to take Kris Humphries off their hands in order to facilitate a trade for Dwight Howard, it seems odd that they are now focused on re-signing him. Worse for the Nets, they have competition for Humphries’ services.

Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer tweets:

Exclusive: The #Bobcats are re-engaged in acquiring Kris Humphries to upgrade their power forward spot, an informed source tells Observer.—
Rick Bonnell (@rick_bonnell) July 12, 2012

Humphries reportedly wants a multiyear deal, and both the Bobcats and the Nets are happy to oblige, reports ESPN.com’s Marc Stein:

Numbers circulating in Kris Humphries' bidding war: Word is Nets offering three-year deal worth $24 mil; Bobcats offering three years, $22M—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 12, 2012

If those numbers are accurate, the Bobcats may have to sweeten their offer to get Humphries, who averaged 13.8 points and 11.0 rebounds last season, to fly south — unless he feels more secure moving on than remaining in Brooklyn as trade bait.

UPDATE: David Aldridge of NBA.com says that Humphries appears likely to stay with the Nets.

League sources believe that, eventually, Kris Humphries is likely to return to the Nets rather than go to Charlotte. No other teams involved—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 13, 2012

The Charlotte Bobcats are looking to acquire forward Kris Humphries from the Nets. (Gary Dineen/NBA/Getty Images)

The Charlotte Bobcats, who are in desperate need for some frontcourt help, are once again inquiring about the services of Brooklyn Nets forward Kris Humphries, according to the Charlotte Observer.

The Cleveland Cavaliers backed out of a deal yesterday that would have sent Humphries there because they did not like what they would have gotten in return.

The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Humphries would likely command a paycheck of $10 million a year over three or four seasons, according to reports.

In 2011-12, Humphries made $8 million and averaged career highs in points, rebounds, blocks and minutes per game

RT @rick_bonnell: Exclusive: Bobcats are re-engaged in acquiring Kris Humphries to upgrade their power forward spot, source tells Observer—
Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) July 12, 2012

Brook Lopez’s max deal with the Brooklyn Nets means the Dwight Howard pursuit is over … for now. (Brian Babineau/NBA/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets have reached a four-year, $60.8 million deal with center Brook Lopez, according to multiple reports.

The Charlotte Bobcats were also reportedly in pursuit of Lopez.

Lopez, who has been one of the players mentioned in a possible Dwight Howard trade, is expected to sign the deal tonight. The earliest that Lopez can be traded is Jan. 15.

Lopez broke his right foot and missed the first 32 games of the season. He played only five games in the lockout-shortened season before the Nets shut him down after he twisted his ankle.

Deal is $60.8M/4 yrs. Bobcats had committed to offer sheet; Nets gave Lopez similar contract to avoid having to match. Same as Indy/Hibbert.—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) July 11, 2012

The Brooklyn Nets have found a veteran presence to help the team deal with its roster upheaval this offseason. The team agreed to a one-year deal with 37-year-old Jerry Stackhouse, reports ESPN’s Chad Ford.

Just going up on ESPN: Sources: The Nets reached a verbal commitment with Jerry Stackhouse on a 1-year deal worth $1.3M

—
Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) July 11, 2012

Stackhouse averaged 3.6 points in 30 games with the Atlanta Hawks last season.

Brooklyn is looking for cheap players to fill out its bench. The team gave up five players in a trade for Joe Johnson. If the Nets can complete a deal for Orlando’s Dwight Howard, they will likely be giving up more role players.

Stackhouse can play limited minutes and help guide the younger players as Brooklyn’s roster comes together.

The Brooklyn Nets will end their attempt to acquire Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard today, whether they are successful in completing a trade or not, ESPN’s Ric Bucher and Chad Ford report on Twitter.

Source: Nets will "resolve" their pursuit of DH today; either get him or move on.

—
Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) July 11, 2012

Following up on @RicBucher report: Nets have told Magic if there's a Dwight Howard deal, must be done by end of business day

—
Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) July 11, 2012

The Nets have been considered favorites to land Howard for much of the past year, but the teams have never been able to close the deal.

In the past week alone, reports on a potential trade between the two sides have often conflicted. At one point Monday, the Nets were said to be “close” to acquiring Howard in a four-team deal. Then, the Cavaliers reportedly dropped out of the trade, reopening the process.

More recently, reports that the Rockets and Lakers were again involved in discussions to trade for Howard have made Brooklyn’s chances look worse.

Ford reports the Nets are concerned that free agent center Brook Lopez, who would be the centerpiece of their package for Howard, will sign an offer sheet with another team.

Lopez's agent pushing Nets to either sign Lopez for themselves or do a sign-and-trade by end of the day.

—
Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) July 11, 2012

Nets fearful of an offer sheet for Lopez from another team if they don't act by end of day. Offer sheet would kill sign-and-trade anyway

—
Chad Ford (@chadfordinsider) July 11, 2012

The Atlanta Hawks will buy out the contract of Jordan Farmar, who will then go play in Europe. (Nathaniel S. Butler/Getty Images)

Point guard Jordan Farmar, who the Brooklyn Nets last week agreed to send to the Atlanta Hawks as part of their deal for Joe Johnson, will sign with a European club after being bought out by Atlanta, reports The Star-Ledger‘s Colin Stephenson.

Farmar exercised his $4.25 million option to stay with the Nets two days before being dealt to Atlanta, Stephenson reports. After the trade was announced, Farmar asked to be bought out, and the Hawks agreed. Farmar will receive $1.5 million in the buyout.

The 25-year-old will then sign a three-year contract believed to worth $10.5 million with Anadolu Efes, an Istanbul-based team, Stephenson reports. Farmar has some experience playing overseas: He played in Israel during the NBA lockout.

Farmar averaged a career-best 10.4 points in 39 NBA games last year. He started his career with the Los Angeles Lakers and played the last two seasons with the Nets.

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports that the Brooklyn Nets are “progressing” toward a max contract with restricted free agent center Brook Lopez, who was the centerpiece of their offer to the Orlando Magic for Dwight Howard.

Nets president Billy King and Lopez’s agent, Arn Tellem, are finalizing the length of the deal — four years for $58 million, or five years for $78 million — and ironing out protections on the back end to account for a right foot that Lopez broke twice in the past year, sources said.

King is scheduled to travel to Los Angeles on Wednesday to work on completing the deal with Tellem.

Here’s the rub: Once Lopez re-signs, he can’t be traded until December, making it unlikely that Howard would be wearing a Nets uniform on opening night.

Sources tell Wojnarowski that the Nets are starting to believe that Magic general manager Rob Hennigan simply wants to do a deal elsewhere.

“The Nets are pushing hard on Lopez’s deal to apply pressure to Orlando,” Wojnarowski writes, “but there’s nothing left for them to offer Orlando that they haven’t already made available to them.”

The Dwight Howard trade saga goes on. Just one day after a deal taking the six-time NBA All-Star to the Brooklyn Nets seemed to be imminent, Yahoo! Sports‘ Adrian Wojnarowski reports via Twitter that the Cavaliers have pulled out of the three-team deal.

Cleveland is out as a third-team trade partner in a possible Orlando-Brooklyn deal for Dwight Howard, sources tell Y! Sports.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 10, 2012

If Brooklyn and Orlando are to make a deal for Howard in near-term, it will likely be a trade between the two teams, sources tell Y! Sports.—
Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) July 10, 2012

The proposed deal between the Magic, Nets, and Cavaliers making the rounds yesterday included Nets power forward Kris Humphries, who would have been sent to Cleveland but wasn’t likely to accept the one-year deal the Cavs would offer him. This would seem to support an ESPN report from earlier in the day indicating that the Magic have begun to lose hope in completing a deal with the Nets and have starting listening intently to offers from other teams in the league.

However, not all teams are eager to take part in a deal.

Being the cog in creating another super team in Brooklyn, with Deron Williams and Joe Johnson already in the mix, is not palatable to some teams concerned about competitive balance.

“You can talk about the new (luxury) tax all you want, but if the Lakers get Nash and the Nets get Howard, then what did the new CBA accomplish?” one GM said. “You have to realize part of long-term planning is making sure you don’t help create teams you can’t beat.”

Howard has repeatedly stated that his one preferred destination is Brooklyn, and his insistence on that fact may also prevent other teams from taking the plunge – Howard has one year remaining on his contract and is unlikely to sign an extension with any team not named the Nets.

The Brooklyn Nets are reportedly close to landing center Dwight Howard in a four-team trade. (Steven Freeman/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets are “close” to an agreement to acquire All-Star center Dwight Howard from the Orlando Magic in a trade that would also involve the Cleveland Cavaliers and Los Angeles Clippers, reports ESPN.com’s Chad Ford.

But according to multiple reports, the deal is not yet imminent.

The proposed deal would send Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark to Brooklyn; Brook Lopez, Damion James, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson, Cleveland’s Luke Walton and three first-round picks to Orlando; Orlando’s Quentin Richardson, Brooklyn’s Sundiata Gaines and Kris Humphries, a first-round pick and $3 million to Cleveland; and Brooklyn’s MarShon Brooks to the Clippers for another first-round pick, reports Ford.

CBSSports.com’s Ken Berger reports that the Clippers have not officially agreed to trade a first-round pick for Brooks. He also reports that other teams are in the mix for Brooks and could act as the fourth team in the deal.

NBA.com’s David Aldridge also reports that, although there is a framework in place for the deal involving the Cavaliers, the Nets are still looking for other teams to potentially fill Cleveland’s role in the trade should the agreement break down.

The Nets and Magic have engaged in talks to send Howard to Brooklyn over the past year. When the Nets acquired guard Joe Johnson from the Atlanta Hawks, it appeared initially that the team would be out of the running for Howard. But while the trade has made coming to terms on a deal for Howard more difficult, the two sides are still reportedly close to an agreement.

Talks between the teams heated up over the weekend. The deal has appeared to grow increasingly likely, with numerous reports noting that pieces of the deal were falling into place.

With so many moving parts, though, a finished deal could take time or still fall apart. The trade will involve multiple sign-and-trade deals that must be finalized. Cleveland reportedly has reservations about taking Humphries on more than a one-year deal. But Humphries’ agent Dan Fegan told Sports Illustrated‘s Chris Mannix that a one-year deal has not been discussed. The most likely solution would be a multi-year deal with only one season guaranteed, but Mannix reports that Humphries would not accept that type of deal.

To be clear, I'm told Kris Humphries is only interested in multi-year GUARANTEED deal.

—
Chris Mannix (@ChrisMannixSI) July 09, 2012

That hurdle could slow any potential deal or open the process to the point other teams could again have a shot at landing Howard.

For the Brooklyn Nets to complete a trade for the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard, the team needs to find a third team willing to take forward Kris Humphries.

CBSSports.com‘s Ken Berger reports that, although no deal is imminent, the Nets have moved closer to finding that third team. The Cleveland Cavaliers are apparently one potential landing spot for Humphries.

Nets "making progress" on finding a third team to take Kris Humphries in a scenario that would send Dwight Howard to Brooklyn, source says.

—
Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 08, 2012

One possible destination for Humphries is Cleveland, who would get the forward in a sign-and-trade arrangement, source says.

—
Ken Berger (@KBergCBS) July 08, 2012

The Nets are reportedly trying to acquire an extra first-round pick, which would allow them to send three first-rounders to Orlando as part of their package for Howard. It seems likely that the team acquiring Humphries would need to include a future draft pick in the deal.

Many pieces would still need to fall in place for Howard to end up in Brooklyn. Humphries and center Brook Lopez, both free agents, would need to agree to sign-and-trade deals. Orlando would also have to decide that Brooklyn’s offer is its best. That may not be the case. The Lakers could offer center Andrew Bynum, for example, which would give the Magic a much better piece to start rebuilding around.

Marcus Camby can only see himself going to the Heat in a sign-and-trade now, and the Knicks are in the lead to sign the free agent. (Cameron Browne/Getty Images)

Marcus Camby canceled his scheduled visit with the Miami Heat on Saturday, a move that puts the Knicks out in front to land the free-agent center.

The Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson reported Saturday afternoon that Camby had postponed his meeting with the Heat after the team agreed to a contract with free-agent guard Ray Allen. The Heat gave Allen its full $3.1 million mid-level exception, and Camby now will wait and see if the Heat can complete a sign-and-trade deal with the Houston Rockets.

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported that Camby is looking for a starting salary around $3 million and a multi-year contract. The Knicks could still offer Camby their mid-level exception — if they complete a sign-and-trade for point guard Jason Kidd with the Dallas Mavericks. Or they could work out a sign-and-trade with the Rockets and give Kidd, with whom they agreed to terms on a deal this week, their mid-level exception.

A crucial point in the Camby sweepstakes is that the Rockets are reportedly willing to execute a sign-and-trade with the Knicks but not the Heat because they are more interested in the Knicks’ potential package, ESPN’s Windhorst reported. That would mean Miami could only offer the veteran-minimum salary of $1.4 million, less than half of what the Knicks could give Camby.

The Miami Herald’s Jackson reported that the Heat have offered Joel Anthony, Norris Cole and a future first-round draft picks to the Rockets. The Knicks could send the expiring contract of point guard Toney Douglas, center Josh Harrelson, and the non-guaranteed contract of Dan Gadzuric, Jackson reported.

The San Antonio Spurs and Brooklyn Nets have also expressed interest in signing Camby. Camby averaged 4.9 points and nine rebounds per game last season with the Rockets and Portland Trail Blazers.

Deron Williams said the Nets’ trade for Joe Johnson pushed him “over the hump” to re-sign with Brooklyn. (Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

Brooklyn Nets point guard Deron Williams, who recently re-signed with the team as a free agent, admitted Friday that he was “really close” to leaving the team and signing with the Dallas Mavericks.

What made him come back to the Nets? Their brash move to acquire the Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson this week.

“I was really close to going to Dallas,” Williams told reporters at the Team USA basketball training camp in Las Vegas, according to CBS. ”I actually thought that’s where I was going to go, but I had the meetings and I changed my mind. Once I got out of the meeting with Dallas, the way they were going, the team they were putting out there, and we just made a trade for Joe Johnson, I just felt that team for a longer time would be a better team.

“Joe I think got me over the hump. I’ve never played with anybody like him. A guy on the wing who can get his own shot, get me involved, is a great defender. I think we can be one of the top backcourts in the NBA for sure.”

On Monday, the Nets agreed to trade for Johnson, sending DeShawn Stevenson and the expiring contracts of Jordan Williams, Johan Petro, Jordan Farmar and Anthony Morrow to the Hawks in exchange.

During the week, the Nets also signed Bosnian forward Mirza Teletovic and acquired Reggie Evans in a sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Clippers. They also re-signed forward Gerald Wallace. Williams told reporters that the flurry of moves has him “excited” for what’s to come during the season.

“I think we’re going to have a pretty good team this year, so we have a chance to become better,” Williams said, according to ESPN. “A lot of our guys are a little underrated. Brook Lopez is a little undervalued. Gerald Wallace, people say he’s old. He’s 30 years old. The same with Joe. It will kind of be like a rejuvenation for all of us.”

And the Nets might not be done yet, as SI’s Sam Amick reported Friday that there is still a chance they could land megastar center Dwight Howard in a trade with the Orlando Magic.