HispanicBusiness

Dwight Howard's dream of playing for the Brooklyn Nets has sustained a potentially insurmountable setback, enhancing the chances that the Orlando Magic will open training camp with the disgruntled superstar on their roster.

After talks between the Magic and the Nets reached a stalemate, Brooklyn signed free-agent center Brook Lopez to a four-year deal worth about $60 million on Wednesday night. That move will prevent the Nets from trading Lopez until Jan. 15 because of NBA rules. And with Lopez ineligible to be dealt, the Nets simply don't have the assets to make a deal with the Magic.

What happens next is not immediately clear. Magic general manager Rob Hennigan told reporters that he's in no rush to trade Howard, and he would not rule out having Howard begin training camp with the team in early October.

"What I've said from Day One is that we will do whatever it is that's in the best interests of this organization," Hennigan said. "I'm going to stand firm to that."

Although many Magic fans have clamored for the team to trade Howard to the Los Angeles Lakers for All-Star center Andrew Bynum, any potential Magic-Lakers deal faces a significant hurdle.

Magic officials have concerns about the health of Bynum's knees, according to two NBA sources with knowledge of the team's thinking. Bynum's lengthy injury history worries the Magic more than the fact that Bynum is scheduled to become a free agent after the 2012-13 season.

With the Nets out of the picture until at least mid-January and with a deal for Bynum facing a roadblock, the Houston Rockets now might be the front-runners to acquire Howard. The Rockets, desperate to add some star power to their perpetually mediocre roster, are willing to trade for Howard even if Howard gives them no assurance that he will remain with the franchise beyond next season.

The Rockets could offer a mix of draft picks, rookies and established veterans, such as Luis Scola and Kevin Martin.

Hennigan spoke with Howard on Wednesday over the phone and told Howard that the talks with the Nets had collapsed.

According to a report by the website Real GM, Hennigan told Howard that the Magic were going to suspend all trade discussions with other teams until the Magic hire a head coach. But Hennigan said the report was inaccurate and that he'd continue to field calls about potential trades.

Howard now faces a choice: Will he consider expanding the list of teams he could consider signing with long-term?

So far, he has said he only would re-sign with the Nets.

It still seems highly unlikely that Howard will reconsider his stance toward the Magic.

Many NBA observers believe his relationship with the franchise suffered irreparable damage in early April, when team officials did not defend him after Stan Van Gundy said, in response to a direct question, that Howard wanted him fired.

The Magic seem poised to begin a significant rebuilding project, and Hennigan wants to shed as many of the team's current long-term contracts as possible while he also stockpiles draft picks.

Hennigan said he has no deadline for resolving Howard's uncertain status.

"We're not worried about our personal feelings," Hennigan said. "If I get some gray hairs because of it, so be it. We're going to do what we think is the best decision for us."