Howard still wants trade

ORLANDO CENTER Dwight Howard said yesterday that his trade request hasn't been withdrawn, a day after Magic general manager Otis Smith shook off questions about what offers he'd received and said that trade discussions involving him "could go to the end of the season."

The team is off today, its first break since training camp opened last week.

"There's no back and forth," Howard said. "It still stands and we know what's going on. I talked to Otis today. What we talked about is going to stay between me and him."

Howard also brushed off a question about whether there needs to be any mending to their relationship going forward.

"Right now me and Otis are going to continue to try to make this team better," he said. "And I'm going to do my part on the court. That's the reason I'm here. To get our team better and to make myself a better leader for this team.

"And we're doing great. Practices are going great, guys are coming in and they're focused - nobody's playing around. We're having fun, but at the same time we're getting the job done . . . There's no need to talk about trades or what's on ESPN or in the newspaper. There's no need to bring it on the court."

The All-Star center is eligible to opt out of his current contract in July 2012. Smith has previously given Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, permission to discuss trades with Dallas, New Jersey and the Los Angeles Lakers.

* A recent heart exam on new Sacramento Kings big man Chuck Hayes shows an abnormality that will require further testing. A stress echocardiogram revealed the abnormality. The former Houston Rockets forward-center signed a 4-year, $21.3 million deal with the Kings last week.

* Free-agent guard Jamal Crawford has joined the Portland Trail Blazers on a 2-year contract. Portland also signed free-agent forward Craig Smith, who played the last two seasons with the Clippers.

In order to sign Crawford, the team used the NBA's amnesty clause to waive All-Star guard Brandon Roy, who announced his retirement last week because of ongoing knee problems.

* The Hornets wrapped up an agreement on a 1-year contract with free agent Carl Landry, who started at power forward late last season and during their first-round playoff series.

* Minnesota signed Bonzi Wells, who hasn't played in the NBA since 2008.

* The New Jersey Nets signed free-agent forward Shawne Williams away from the rival Knicks. Last year, he posted career-best averages of 7.1 points and 3.7 rebounds in 20.7 minutes per game. The Nets also waived veteran forward Travis Outlaw and signed veteran free agent forward Ime Udoka.

*  Utah Jazz officials say they have reached a deal with free-agent Josh Howard pending the outcome of a successful physical.

*  The Denver Nuggets signed forward Michael Ruffin, a 9-year NBA pro.

* The Golden State Warriors signed free-agent forward Dominic McGuire, who appeared in 52 games with the Charlotte Bobcats last season.

* The New York Knicks signed center Jerome Jordan, the second 7-footer they added this offseason. The other, of course, was Tyson Chandler.