New name. New borough. New arena. New logos, too.
Brooklyn Nets
The Nets will have a black-and-white color scheme, which pays homage to the old New York subway signage system.
The Nets will have a pair of primary logos. The first features a shield and the name “NETS” accompanied by the letter “B” inside a basketball and “BROOKLYN” underneath. The second features the letter “B” inside a basketball encircled by “BROOKLYN NEW YORK.”
“Hello, Brooklyn! I’ve been waiting a long time to say that,” center Brook Lopez said at the team’s formal logo unveiling at the Modell’s Sporting Goods store across the street from the team’s new home, the Barclays Center.
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Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard signed a waiver Thursday that keeps him under contract with the Orlando Magic through next season.
The waiver denies him the right to terminate his contract after this season. After going back and forth regarding his intentions, Howard said Wednesday that he would sign the waiver.
A source had told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher that the New Jersey Nets had been told earlier Thursday that Howard would not be available in trade.
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Brook Lopez
New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez is expected to miss three weeks with a sprained right ankle, the team announced on Monday.
The 23-year-old suffered the injury in the third quarter of Sunday night’s game in Charlotte and did not return. He underwent X-rays later that night, but the team did not reveal the news until Monday.
Lopez left the locker room in crutches, and coach Avery Johnson said he “badly rolled” his right ankle.
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Dwight Howard
The reportedly preference for Dwight Howard is to sign with the Nets in the offseason as a free agent, which would allow the franchise to retain the assets they do have.
Howard is enthused about teaming up with Deron Williams and he could likely receive a more lucrative adidas extension in Brooklyn.
The Magic have not given up on keeping Howard and are interested in a trade for either Steve Nash or Monta Ellis, but both possibilities are remote.
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According to sources with the Warriors, there is little to the trade rumors involving Monta Ellis going to the Nets for Brook Lopez.
Monta Ellis
Sources that spoke with Marcus Thompson said the Warriors would want more than Lopez in exchange for Ellis.
Golden State still believes they have a shot to acquire Dwight Howard.
Howard has made it clear that he is not interested in playing for the Warriors long-term.
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Deron Williams
Deron Williams does not want to address the subject of possibly playing in his hometown on a permanent basis during this trip to Dallas, but his coach acknowledged that the Mavericks are a major threat to sign the free agent-to-be.
New Jersey Nets coach Avery Johnson has a lot of respect for his former boss, Mavs owner Mark Cuban.
The billionaire has teamed with Dallas president basketball of operations Donnie Nelson to give the Mavs the financial flexibility this summer to attempt to sign Williams and/or Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.
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Chris Kaman
The Heat have targeted Hornets center Chris Kaman and are hoping his contact will be bought out after the March 15 trade deadline.
Heat president Pat Riley has reportedly been calling people who know Kaman to ask about him. The Hornets recently sent Kaman away from the team for seven games in an effort to trade him.
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Deron Williams’ first choice is to stay with the Nets and to build something special in Brooklyn, but if it does not work out with his current team, his short list of desirable destinations includes the Mavericks, the Knicks and the Lakers, according to sources close to the situation.
Deron Williams
While the league’s post-lockout trade buzz has been centered on Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, little attention has been paid to Williams, who like Howard can opt out of his contract and become a free agent after this season.
Williams has publicly stated his desire to re-sign with the Nets, and New Jersey, which views him as a building block for next season’s move to Brooklyn, has refused to entertain potential trades involving Williams. Yet both sides know their future together is tied to Howard.
If the Nets are able to obtain Howard, either through a trade before the March 15 deadline or in free agency this summer, Williams will re-sign. If Howard goes elsewhere, Williams is likely to leave New Jersey, according to the sources.
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The Nets have yet to offer a contract extension to Brook Lopez and are unlikely to do so before the Jan. 25 extension deadline for players drafted in 2008, according to general manager Billy King.
Brook Lopez
“I’m sure I’ll have a conversation with his agent [Arn Tellem],” King told reporters before Wednesday night’s game against the Warriors. “But I don’t know if we’ll do anything with him at this point. I think you just have to wait. They may throw a number at you that makes sense.”
Lopez, who remains out with a fractured foot, is in the last year of his rookie contract and will make roughly $3.1 million this season.
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O.J. Mayo
The Grizzlies are again discussing whether to deal reserve guard O.J. Mayo.
This time, Memphis has explored at least two trade scenarios with the Nets over the past couple of weeks, according to sources.
The Nets are interested in acquiring Mayo for salary-cap reasons as they try to clear room to make a run at Orlando center Dwight Howard in the offseason.
With that in mind, the Nets have offered fourth-year guard Anthony Morrow for Mayo. The Nets have also offered point guard Jordan Farmar, a draft pick and cash in a separate package for Mayo.
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