Dwight Howard didn't say much about the Nets — certainly nothing that would explain why he reportedly has asked the Orlando Magic to trade him, with the Nets being his No. 1 preferred destination.

"We’re not talking about the Nets right now," Howard said. "We’re talking about the Magic. That’s the team I play for. There’s no need to talk about any other team – who’s interested in them or not. I’m not going to get into a discussion about it."

Howard was told how Nets point guard Deron Williams has said the two talk often, and how Williams said he'd like to play with Howard.

"Well, me and Deron have talked for a couple of years," Howard said. "We did play with each other in the Olympics. I talk to a lot of guys – not just Deron, but Jameer (Nelson); Gilbert (Arenas); I talk to Big Baby (Davis) – I talk to a lot of guys. And everyone wants to get together and play basketball. But as of right now, the only thing that matters is this next game, coming out and playing and getting the job done."

Deron Williams is playing without a post presence, a guy to dump it into, a situation he admitted he has “never” experienced in the pros. As a result, he is getting lots of attention.

“Especially on pick-and-rolls, it’s tough to score on pick-and-rolls because a lot of teams are doubling, forcing it out of my hand, so until we figure out some things, some other ways to get going, I don’t see it stopping,” said Williams (10 points, one assist, six turnovers).

“I’m just struggling. … Hopefully, I can get it goingEverything is kind of sped up right now, our offense is sped up, especially when we put ourselves in a hole early. You get too much of a sense of urgency.”

According to sources close to the situation, the Magic will not hold out for youth and draft picks in a potential deal for Dwight Howard.

The Magic would instead prefer to acquire several established players who can keep the team competitive.

Owner Rick De Vos, 85, is believed to have little interest in rebuilding in the wake of Howard's departure.

Dan Fegan, Howard's agent, has formal permission to discuss trade possibilities with the Nets, Lakers, and Mavericks.

The ripple effects of Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard both being part of the Adidas endorsement family is that the shoe company wouldn't want the two players on the same team.

As one high-ranking sneaker executive says, “Adidas simply cannot have its two signature players on the same team in the same market. … Derrick is the face of that market, owns that market, and Adidas can’t possibly have maximum bang for its buck with Dwight there.

“It serves Adidas no purpose. They need them as rivals in competing markets.”

Howard has an Adidas renewal on deck in the next year, and Los Angeles and Brooklyn guarantee him maximum money.

Mehmet Okur was sent from Utah to New Jersey for a second-round pick in 2015.

The Nets acted quickly to acquire a big man on the same day that they lost center Brook Lopez to a stress fracture for an indefinite period of time.

The Nets were able to absorb Okur's contract with the team's salary cap space.

Soon after the diagnosis of a stress fracture in Brook Lopez's right foot, which will require surgery on Friday, word began circulating of a recovery period that could be as short as four weeks. That timetable would put Lopez back on the court in plenty of time to showcase his health to the Magic.

But a medical expert guesses that due to his size, a 12-week timetable is more likely and says that estimate would actually be an "early" return.

"Biomechanics are such that with a bigger guy, the more pressure you put on it, the bone has to be more solid," said Dr. Victor Khabie, the chief of the department of surgery and sports medicine at Northern Westchester Hospital. "It may not make a difference in the healing, but it needs to be more fully healed before you let a 7-footer start jumping up and down on it."

"If I saw him as a patient, I would say: `Listen, hopefully, we'll get you back in three months.' I would say that would be a very optimistic type of call. This could be season-ending, potentially, seeing how short the (NBA) season is," said Dr. Khabie.

The Nets have a strong interest in getting Lopez back in action as soon as possible, since he will be a key part of any offer the Nets make to Orlando for Dwight Howard.  Twelve weeks would put Lopez out until after the March 15 trade deadline.

The Nets announced this morning they have waived 6-6 swingman Stephen Graham, whose $1.1 million contract would have become fully guaranteed had he been on the team's roster on Christmas Day, when the NBA season opens.

Graham, who signed with the Nets as a free agent prior to last season, averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 59 games (28 starts) last season. The six-year veteran has averaged 4.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 239 NBA games.

Brook Lopez has been diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right foot. The injury will require surgery which will be performed on Friday.

The Nets had been pursuing a trade for Dwight Howard and Lopez was a key part of their offer to Orlando. There were initial reports that Lopez could be back on the court as soon as early February. The trade deadline this season is March 15.

Lopez sustained the stress fracture during a pre-season game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

The Nets have reached an agreement with DeShawn Stevenson and will sign the veteran today.

The 30-year-old will be playing for his fifth team in 12 seasons, after starting 52 games last season for the Mavericks. He has career averages of 7.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.1 assists.
 
Stevenson will join a crowded backcourt that includes rookie MarShon Brooks, but is versatile enough to play small forward.

The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on forward Stephen Graham, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today.

Graham, who signed with the Nets as a free agent prior to the 2010-11 season, averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 rebounds in 59 games last season. The six-year veteran holds career averages of 4.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 239 NBA games.