Dwight Howard still prefers a trade from the Magic, according to a source.

Orlando announced that the tenures of Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith were over on Monday, but Howard still seeks a trade before the start of the season, according to the source.

The Nets are considered the frontrunner, but "it is not going to be a one-horse race,” the source said. The Mavericks and Knicks are also in the conversation, while the Lakers and Clippers are as well to a lesser extent.

Howard is eager to begin the next phase of his career and the Magic don't want a repeat of circumstances they endured during the 11-12 season.

Executives from the Magic are expected to meet with Howard soon and will accomodate his trade request should he ask for a trade.

The team that is able and willing to take back the contract of Hedo Turkoglu is likely to have an edge in trading for Howard.

Andrew Bynum was asked whether he expects to sign a long-term extension with the Lakers.

"I'm not sure," Bynum said. "It really doesn't matter to me. I'll play anywhere. I think for the most part I had a pretty decent season and then an OK postseason. Obviously this last game was the worst game I've probably played. It sucks, obviously, we're going fishing. My focus is next year and coming back stronger, adding things to my game."

The Lakers have a $16.1 million team option on Bynum for next season.

"I definitely want to stay," Bynum said. "You kind of asked an open-ended question. Obviously things are going to be different come next year. I'm going to be ready."

Adam Morrison competed in the start of a three-day mini-camp staged by the Nets in East Rutherford.

“He knows how to play. Unfortunately he didn’t have a point guard who could find him because he came off screens open,” Nets general manager Billy King said. “But he knows how to set himself up, come off screens. He didn’t make some shots early, but he got them to go. One thing, we know he can do that."

Morrison was selected by Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats with the third pick of the 2006 draft.

“I understand I’m never going to shake being a bust or being a failure in some people’s eyes,” said Morrison. “I’ve experienced a lot of highs in basketball, so I guess you could call it a hardship, but it’s really not. I get to play basketball for money. That’s pretty good.”

Delonte West said that there is "no question'' he'd like to return to the Mavericks.

"It's in the Lord's hands,'' West said. "All I know is that it's always tough in free agency. I hope I showed this team and the NBA that I'm invested in the future. I kind of really found my groove this year and I'm still a young man, but I also have so much playoff experience.

"I've been to the playoffs (almost) every year and I'm just going into my prime. Once I incorporate the floater into my game, I feel I'll be very valuable to anybody's team. In these playoffs, I see how deep all these teams are and a guard like myself could be very valuable. I've found a home here in Dallas. And I'd like to finish my career out here.''

West signed a one-year deal for the veteran's minimum last December.

The Knicks officially are expected to sign Mike Woodson to long-term contract this week, according to multiple sources.

The Knicks finished 18-6 under Woodson during the regular season.

Kobe Bryant sounded defiant after the Lakers’ 106-90 season-ending loss in Game 5 against Oklahoma City.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Bryant said. “It’s not one of those things where the Bulls beat the Pistons and the Pistons disappeared forever. I’m not going for that (stuff).”

The Lakers are well above the luxury tax threshold, which will limit their options in free agency.

“It’s tough to really process (so soon) exactly what we need with improvements and what area we need to improve on,” Bryant said. “But that’s something that we’ll definitely think through and we’ve really been great at as an organization. Mitch (Kupchak, the general manager) has really done a phenomenal job this past decade in building title teams pretty quickly. We just have to do it again.

“I’m not the most patient of people and the organization’s not extremely patient either. We want to win and win now. I’m sure we’ll figure it out. We always have and I’m sure we will again.”

Neil Olshey was noncommittal on whether the Clippers would pick up Vinny Del Negro’s option for the 2012-2013 season.

"That’s not what we’re here to talk about," Olshey said. "Coaching contacts, GM contracts, trainers' contracts, that’s not today.

"I think we deserve the same courtesy everybody else gets. ...  [Atlanta Hawks Coach] Larry Drewgot his option picked up a few days [after their season ended]. … I think Vinny did a great job, and that’s as far as I’m going to go today.”

Del Negro owns a 72-76 over his two seasons in Los Angeles.

Some rival executives believe Dwight Howard may be more willing to sign a long-term deal with the Magic this offseason following his season-ending back surgery.

The Magic parted ways with Stan Van Gundy and Otis Smith on Monday, a sign that there is new hope of the team retaining Howard.

Stan Van Gundy has been relieved of his duties as head coach of the Magic, while President of Basketball Operations and General Manager Otis Smith and the organization have mutually agreed to part ways.

"On behalf of the DeVos Family, we sincerely appreciate and thank Otis and Stan for all that they have done on and off the floor for the Orlando Magic,” said Martins. "These are the days you dread in this business, but we feel it's time for new leadership and new voices."

Van Gundy was named head coach in June of 2007. Van Gundy has a career NBA head coaching regular season record of 371-208 (.641), including 259-135 (.657) in five seasons in Orlando.

Smith was named general manager on May 3, 2006. He was assistant general manager during the 2005-06 campaign, after serving as director of player development for two seasons.

Chauncey Billups, who missed the final 46 games of the regular season after tearing his left Achilles tendon, said returning to the Clippers is something he would like to do.

"I'm definitely going to give this a huge amount of consideration this summer. I feel like we've got some unfinished business a little bit," Billups said. "You never know what direction the team is going, if they even want me back. I've learned not to really assume nothing.

"I don't know if this is going to be my last time here. But if it is, I had a good time. But if not, I'm looking forward to continuing. I'm definitely going to be back playing next year. For sure and you can believe that. Believe it."

Billups was claimed off waivers by the Clippers on Dec. 12, two days before Chris Paul was traded to the Clippers