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.

Real GM

Steve Nash will be a free agent this summer, increasing the odds that the Suns could trade him before the deadline.

Shawn Marion

One executive whose team has had serious interest in Nash in the past told SI.com that the Suns are “as close as they’ve ever been” to realizing that they need to strongly consider a trade.

“I have no idea what the club will eventually do if a bunch of offers are thrown in their face,” Nash said, “but I feel like I’m not nervous about [the trade deadline] and I’m not thinking about — what’s the word? — I’m not anticipating anything to happen. I feel like I made a commitment and I feel like I owe it to my teammates — the city, the fans, the club — to play it out and to play as hard as I can.”

Real GM

Steve Nash

The Suns would accommodate Steve Nash with a trade, but the former MVP has yet to express an interest in a move.

“It’s really on him in terms of what he wants to do or not do,” a person with knowledge of the situation said.

Nash, 37, is averaging 14.5 points and 9.9 assists.

The Suns are 9-14 and 12th in the Western Conference.

Real GM

Steve Nash

Steve Nash’s brilliant career is winding down and he could lose a full season of his twilight if the NBA lockout wipes out the 2011-12 season.

While many believe Nash’s only chance to win a championship would come with a trade to a contender, the Victoria-raised point guard is still hopeful that the Suns can pull a rabbit from their hat.

“I think we definitely can get back, but obviously we need to improve our roster a little bit,” he said. “As it stands now, we’re probably a player or two short. But we’ve seen many teams win championships by acquiring a Pau Gasol [Los Angeles Lakers], or a Tyson Chandler [Dallas Mavericks] or a Rasheed Wallace [Detroit Pistons], whether it’s at the deadline or the summer. So, if we can somehow happen across a player of that calibre, it would be great.”

HoopsWorld

Steve Nash

A new professional basketball league in Canada plans to open in November with seven teams and a 36-game schedule.

The National Basketball League of Canada announced Thursday that Moncton, New Brunswick, will become the seventh franchise for the 2011-12 season.

The city joins teams in Halifax, Nova Scotia; Quebec City; Saint John, New Brunswick; and London and Oshawa in Ontario. Another team will be in Prince Edward Island, although the city is not set.

Inside Hoops

In the wake of Phoenix Suns president and CEO Rick Welts’ revelation that he is gay, Suns point guard Steve Nash has made a video in support of New York’s marriage equality proposition.

ESPN.com

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Directed by Michael Hamilton and Corey Ogilvie. Teaser score by Andrew Halliwell

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Steve Nash

Steve Nash, again, reiterated his interest in staying in Phoenix.

Nash said he was not behind agent Bill Duffy’s comments in a recent article that “We would expect that they [the Suns] may entertain moving him during the summer,” and that he and Nash are “ready” for that. “Sometimes, what’s said is in the context of something else,” Nash said.

“I haven’t spoken to him about it. I expect to be here [in Phoenix]. I’m happy here. I expect to be here even next year. I don’t even think about it. I’m just happy to try to make the playoffs.”

Suns management often has stated an intent to not trade Nash.

FanNation

Steve Nash

The odds of Steve Nash being traded in the next nineteen days remain slim.

All season long, the Phoenix Suns have maintained that Nash is not going anywhere because he is too important to the team and it would be nearly impossible for the Suns to obtain equal value in deal that involved their star player.

The Atlanta Hawks, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Dallas Mavericks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Toronto Raptors are among the teams that have repeatedly expressed serious interest in Nash, according to the report.

Even though Nash likely will not be on the move, this list pulls the curtain back on several teams and raises some interesting questions as the deadline approaches.

FanNation