While the New Orleans Hornets try to trade Chris Paul, Dwight Howard wants to be moved too.
Howard has formally requested a trade from the Orlando Magic, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday.
It’s unknown if the Magic will grant its all-star center’s wishes, but it has given New Jersey, Dallas and the Los Angeles Lakers permission to talk with his agent about trades.
The Hornets seem more motivated to deal. The NBA, as their owners, killed the first attempt Thursday, a three-team trade that would have sent Paul to the Lakers. But general manager Dell Demps said they will keep trying, since Paul has told them he won’t sign a contract extension this season.
Howard, Paul and the Nets’ Deron Williams were expected to lead the 2012 free-agency class. Instead, two of them could soon be on the block, giving the NBA an immediate jolt to its post-lockout return.
“I’m like everybody else. I’m adapting to all this nonsense,” Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said. “I think this whole league is in a bunch of uncertainty at this point.”
Some deals are getting done. Tyson Chandler joined the New York Knicks via a sign-and-trade in a three-team deal, and Boston re-signed Jeff Green. But most of the focus remained on the status of the two all-stars.
