Otis Smith is going to gauge the mindset of Dwight Howard and make a determination on the best way to proceed.  He would not rule out a trade, or any other course of action, depending on what he learns.  Howard can be a free agent after the season and has made comments that some interpret as indicating a desire to leave Orlando.

"I don’t think you can take anything out of consideration," Smith said. "I think, one, you have to talk to your player first. We have to figure out where his head is, not where everyone thinks his head is, and just more figure out where he wants to be. And then you have to make the best decision of what’s in the best interests of the franchise. That’s how I’ve always went about it: to make the best decision that’s in the best interests of the Orlando Magic."

The Nets are prepared to offer Brook Lopez and two future first round picks to acquire Dwight Howard before he becomes a free agent next summer, according to sources.

In order to improve the offer, the Nets are willing to absorb the contract of Hedo Turkoglu, who has three seasons and $35 million remaining on his contract. The Nets would be able to acquire his contract due to cap space created by the expected release of Travis Outlaw.

The Lakers and Knicks are widely presumed to be Howard's preferred destinations.

Despite their interest in Howard, the Nets are expected to make offers to Nene and Tyson Chandler.

While the Clippers would be an alternative choice for Chris Paul if he is unable to end up with the Knicks, the team's preference is to pursue Dwight Howard by all means necessary, say sources.

The Clippers will do everything they can to acquire Howard short of trading Blake Griffin.

Howard and Paul are members of the 2012 free agency class.

RealGM's Jarrod Rudolph reported earlier on Monday that Howard won't be interested in playing for the Clippers. Rudolph also reports that the Celtics will pursue Howard and that the Magic remain a viable option.

The owners dropped their insistence that extend-and-trade deals be excluded from a new collective bargaining agreement. This was commonly referred to as the Carmelo Anthony Rule.

This will allow 2012 free agents Dwight Howard, Deron Williams and Chris Paul to leverage their way to new situations while being eligible to sign four-year extensions.

Chris Broussard of ESPN reports several particulars of the owners' new proposal.

There will be an annual mini-midlevel for luxury tax teams at $3 million. The previous offer included an offer at $2.5 million every other year.

Luxury tax teams will also be able to execute a sign-and-trade during the first two years of the new deal. This two-year grace period clearly makes a huge impact on the NBA landscape because of the impending 2012 free agencies of Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Deron Williams.

The union contends that the problem is that the owners changed the definition of tax payer in such a way where Bird Rights would be destroyed.

adidas has unveiled the adiPower Howard, an all-new signature shoe designed for Dwight Howard. 

The adiPower Howard is the third signature shoe for Dwight, and features a SPRINTSKIN upper for increased strength and reduced weight and Z-Torsion technology for stability on the court. 

Each shoe features the number 12 on the outside ankle support area. The three stripes are broken into separate pin lines inspired by his jersey.

The shoe will be available beginning on November 3rd.

Multiple sources report that the salary cap figure will remain level this season, at $58 million, and projections are that the cap for the 2012-13 season would be approximately $60 million to $61 million.

“That’s what we’ve been discussing, though the exact dollar amount is not set until the new deal is done,’’ one league source said.

If these numbers hold up, the Knicks would have significant room under the cap next summer when Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Dwight Howard are slated to hit the free-agent market.