NBA Rumors Roundup: Chris Paul to Clippers or Lakers, Dwight Howard to NJ Nets?

The Chris Paul trade talks are back on the table, and the Hornets continue discussions with both Los Angeles teams.

As rumors continue to swirl around the league, Dwight Howard remains on the trade block as well, and there are several notable free agents who have yet to ink a new deal for the upcoming season.

There isn't much time left before the 2011-12 campaign gets underway, and we should be seeing a plethora of decisions forthcoming as we creep closer to the highly anticipated start date.

Mo Evans

Evans was in the public spotlight for much of the offseason due to his role in NBA lockout negotiations, but we haven't heard much from him of late.

The veteran has bounced around the league throughout his career, but he's always contributed regardless of where he's landed.

Now, the Knicks will look to add him to the fold if the team can't obtain some of its more preferred targets, and he would make for a nice veteran addition capable of backing up multiple positions for New York.

Jamal Crawford

Crawford's free-agent decision has been a closely monitored process, and he should make his decision about a new destination in the very near future.

After turning down an offer to join the Indiana Pacers, Crawford has narrowed his choices down to just three teams: Sacramento, Portland and New York.

His parents want him to sign with the Trail Blazers, and LaMarcus Aldridge is working hard to recruit him onto the team.

It is worth noting that Crawford is extremely close with Brandon Roy.

Richard Hamilton

Hamilton was bought out of his contract with the Pistons, and that was a long time coming considering how rocky his tenure was with the team last season.

The rebuilding Pistons waved goodbye to the veteran, and he's expected to sign with the Chicago Bulls on a two-year contract.

He would be a very nice fit alongside Derrick Rose and would allow the club to retain long-term financial flexibility rather than spend lavishly on a free agent.

Josh McRoberts

McRoberts signed with the Lakers for two seasons and the full mini mid-level exception, and he's a good addition to a team that desperately needs big-man help in the second unit.

No, he won't replace the traded Lamar Odom, but that's not why he was brought aboard.

McRoberts is a much better backup behind Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol than the veteran route the team has gone previously with the likes of Theo Ratliff, Joe Smith and D.J. Mbenga.

He'll back up the power forward position and possibly even play a little center at times, and the Lakers did well to add both youth and size on a reasonable contract.

Baron Davis

Despite an earlier report that Davis would be a victim of the amnesty provision, the team has yet to make a decision on whether or not he will be waived from the roster.

Currently sidelined with a bad back, Davis is definitely a candidate to wind up with a new team this season, but for now he remains a member of the Cleveland roster.

It will be interesting to see if a team takes a flier on the veteran even if the club has to wait out a potential injury, as there will certainly be teams interested in bringing him aboard.

Reggie Williams

Williams would be a solid addition to a number of teams looking for scoring help in the second unit, and his market has suddenly picked up.

Golden State has rescinded its qualifying contract offer to Williams, making him an unrestricted free agent, and he's received interest from a number of teams.

Charlotte, Portland, Toronto and Houston are all in the market for his services, and he should make a decision before long, as the season is about a week-and-a-half away from tipping off.

Arron Afflalo

Afflalo is one free agent who many thought might have a home by now, but his restricted status may be preventing teams from pursuing him, as the Nuggets have the ability to match any offer.

It's hard to imagine him winding up with another team other than Denver, and the two sides have made "progress" on a new contract for last season's pleasant surprise.

It will be interesting to see what the value of his deal winds up being, as many are expecting a bright future for the cerebral player.

Samuel Dalembert

Dalembert has to be smiling right now, considering the market that has been set for big men during the offseason, and he appears poised to score a serious payday.

Now that Houston has lost out on adding a big man both via free agency and trade, the Rockets are expected to turn attention to landing Dalembert.

His presence in the middle would finally give the Rockets some much-needed size beneath the basket, and his defensive presence around the rim would be a welcome addition to the team.

Eric Gordon

Gordon's name has been in and out of rumors of a potential trade of Chris Paul to the Clippers, but the team has little interest in parting with the future star.

The league is hoping to rekindle trade talks with Los Angeles without the inclusion of Gordon, and that could make the Clippers come back to the table and at least listen to the demands of the NBA in exchange for the prized New Orleans point guard.

Should the Clippers be able to land Paul onto the roster and add him to a starting lineup of Gordon, Blake Griffin, Caron Butler and DeAndre Jordan, the team will certainly be an exciting one to watch.

Nene

Nene entertained some offers from other interested teams, but in the end he decided that it was best for him to return to where he was familiar.

The big man got a new five-year contract worth $67 million—that's a phenomenal signing, considering how vastly some other (and less talented) big men have been overpaid during the offseason.

Keeping Nene in the fold allows the Nuggets to have a presence beneath the basket outside of Timofey Mozgov, something the team absolutely has to have to compete in a Western Conference that boasts impressive size on a number of other rosters.

Dwight Howard

The Howard rumors just won't stop despite some Magic fans' hopes that he'll stay long-term, and now New Jersey is reportedly getting aggressive in its push to land him.

The Nets and Magic are working on a "blockbuster" trade involving four teams that would land Howard with Deron Williams, and the Nets would suddenly have a much brighter future ahead if able to successfully facilitate a deal.

The Blazers have "emerged" as a team involved in the discussions, and while the team wouldn't land Howard in the scenario (he'd go to the Nets), the deal would involve sending Gerald Wallace to Orlando.

Chris Paul

The Chris Paul sweepstakes is back on.

Again.

The league has resumed trade talks with the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Lakers remain in the hunt to land Paul as well.

It is going to be awfully difficult to piece together a package more attractive than the one the Clippers can offer for any team that may be interested in acquiring Paul, and the NBA is treading water, attempting to keep its head above water with the fallout this scenario has caused around the league.