NBA Rumors and News Roundup: OJ Mayo to Nets, Rasheed out of Retirement and More

The O.J. Mayo trade rumors just won't die down, and the latest potential destination may surprise some fans.

Dwight Howard put on an absolute show with 45 points and 23 rebounds in a win against the Golden State Warriors, breaking Wilt Chamberlain's 50-year-old free throw record in the process.

Making an emphatic statement against the team that had reportedly been interested in acquiring him, Howard made only 21-of-39 shots from the stripe but shot an impressive 12-of-21 from the floor.

Despite it sometimes seeming like Howard is the only player who may be on the trade block, there are certainly other players who could find themselves suiting up for another club some time within the next couple of months.

With critical injuries piling up around the league and rumors galore, we're heading into the weekend with some intriguing things to monitor.

Michael Redd

Redd made his season debut for Phoenix on Thursday night, returning from back-to-back ACL tears in the same knee.

He looked better than a lot of people thought he would, scoring 12 points in a limited role off the bench for his new team in a 101-90 loss to Cleveland.

Alvin Gentry is already giving consideration to starting Redd as early as Friday's game against New Jersey, and it will be interesting to see what the veteran can contribute.

Rasheed Wallace

Both teams played hard—right, Mr. Wallace?

After retiring following the 2009-10 season following just one season with the Boston Celtics, Wallace has the itch to play again and is reportedly investigating the possibility of a comeback attempt.

There are legitimate concerns about how his conditioning might hold up during a shortened season, and it makes sense considering he's now 37 years old.

He averaged 9.0 points and 4.1 rebounds on 40.9 percent shooting during his tenure with the Celtics.

Grant Hill

Hill re-signed with the Suns in the offseason for one year and $6.5 million, and that is looking like a ridiculously foolish investment for a rebuilding team right now.

He left Thursday night's game with a quad injury and did not return, and it certainly hasn't helped that he's been playing heavy minutes in a starting role.

After averaging 13.2 points in 80 games last year, Hill has managed just 8.2 points per game through his first 10 games on a meager 33 percent from the field.

Jason Richardson

Richardson injured his knee in Thursday's contest against the Golden State Warriors, and he's set to undergo further evaluation on Friday.

Although X-rays were initially negative on his knee when he was taken out of the game, Richardson will undergo an MRI today to assess the extent of the damage.

If he was forced to miss significant time, J.J. Redick would likely slide into the starting lineup, but it would be a big blow for a Magic team that needs Richardson to produce offensively.

Steve Blake

Blake was thought to be dealing with a minor rib injury, but what he currently has is much more than just a bruise.

He was diagnosed with a costrochaondral fracture, and he has been having trouble doing simple things like laughing and breathing.

Although the Lakers continue to list him as day-to-day, look for an increased role for rookies Andrew Goudelock and Darius Morris while Blake is banged up.

Kwame Brown

Brown signed a heavily scrutinized one-year, $7 million deal with the Warriors in December, and now the team will be without him for the foreseeable future.

Golden State announced that he'd miss at least the next three months with a torn pectoral muscle, and he'll undergo surgery to correct the issue.

Given that the Warriors have a whopping $16 million invested in Brown and incumbent Andris Biedrins this season, it's safe to say that the team may not be getting its money worth at the center position.

Mo Williams

Williams has received the short end of the stick since Chris Paul arrived in Los Angeles, and a backup role is not something he's likely to be interested in long term.

Although he's been a good soldier and hasn't formally requested a trade, it's no secret that he'd like more playing time, and it makes a lot of sense for the Clippers to attempt to move him before the trade deadline.

Ken Berger speculates that the Lakers might be interested in acquiring him considering the team's problems at the point guard position, but for now Williams remains with the other team in Los Angeles.

Andrei Kirilenko

Kirilenko won't be returning to the NBA this season, instead playing out the entire year with his Russian team CSKA Moscow.

However, that doesn't mean that Kirilenko is done in the league, and it sounds like he's strongly leaning toward a return next season.

His agent said that Kirilenko would be willing to return if the "right kind of offer" presented itself, and in a loaded 2012 free agent class, we'll have to see just how lucrative of an offer AK-47 will receive.

Al Horford

Thursday was a tough day for pectoral muscles around the NBA.

After initially being diagnosed with a shoulder sprain, an MRI revealed that Horford suffered a torn left pectoral muscle and is expected to be sidelined for the next three to four months.

It's a devastating blow to an Atlanta team looking to take the next step in the postseason, and it will be next to impossible to replace what he brought to the team both on and off the court.

O.J. Mayo

The Mayo trade rumors have been brewing since last season's deadline when he was almost shipped to the Pacers, and they're unlikely to die down anytime soon.

A restricted free agent at the end of the season, the New Jersey Nets have had some dialogue with Memphis about a potential deal which would send Anthony Morrow and a draft pick to Memphis in exchange for Mayo.

It really doesn't make a lot of sense for the Nets to do the deal considering Mayo won't convince Deron Williams to sign a long-term extension, and the last thing this franchise needs to do is continually sacrifice draft picks.

Spencer Hawes

Hawes has been on an absolute roll for the Sixers this season, but a back strain has recently limited his effectiveness.

After missing Wednesday's game with the injury, Hawes said that his back was "feeling better," but he's still a game-time decision on Friday night.

Shooting a ridiculous 61.8 percent from the floor thus far this season, Hawes has really looked like a different player this year.

Carmelo Anthony

Anthony is dealing with all sorts of bumps and bruises early in the season, but last night the Knicks got a serious scare when he rolled his ankle and left the game against Memphis.

X-rays in the locker room were negative and it's just a sprain, but he's uncertain to play in New York's next game on Saturday.

He also jammed his wrist on Thursday, and the Knicks can ill-afford to have a game without Anthony in the lineup given the early season struggles.

Dwight Howard

Just over a week ago, the Golden State Warriors reportedly "emerged as aggressive suitors" for Dwight Howard in a trade.

Let's slow down that speculation, shall we?

Howard torched the Warriors for 45 points and 23 rebounds on Thursday night, but that wasn't the worse news Golden State received in regards to Howard.

Sam Amick reported that Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, has made it clear to the Warriors that Howard is completely uninterested in playing for the team.

It was highly unlikely that the Warriors could concoct a deal which would satisfy Orlando's demands for Howard, and it's even more unlikely that Howard would be open to signing a long-term extension with the Warriors.

Perhaps it's time to scratch this idea off the list.