NBA Free Agency 2012: Daily Buzz From Around the NBA

With the NBA offseason now in full swing, I will have your daily updates from around the NBA concerning the latest rumors and speculation concerning all free agent signings and potential trades.

With that being said, let’s dive right into the latest buzz around the association after the first day of free agency.

Dwight Howard: Has requested a trade to the Brooklyn Nets (stop me if you’ve heard this one before). ESPN’s Chris Broussard reports that Howard met with new Orlando general manager Rob Hennigan and demanded a trade to Brooklyn.

Toronto Raptors: ESPN’s Marc Stein is reporting via Twitter that the Raps are shopping point guard Jose Calderon so they don’t have to amnesty his $11 million or another large contract on the roster. Toronto is also aggressively trying to sign Steve Nash, offering him a deal that pays $12 million a year accoriding to SI.com’s Sam Amick.

Roy Hibbert: Is leaning towards signing a max-deal offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers, which would give the Indiana Pacers three days to match, something you would think they would have to do.

Nicolas Batum: The Minnesota Timberwolves are making a very hard push to sign the restricted free agent.

Steve Nash: In addition to the raptors making a strong push for the two-time MVP, Marc Berman reports that the New York Knicks are exploring sign-and-trade options to acquire the future Hall of Famer.

Joe Johnson: Yahoo Sports Adrian Wojnarowski reports that the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks are discussing a deal that would bring Johnson and his huge contract to Brooklyn.

Gerald Wallace: Howard Beck reported that Wallace agreed to a four-year deal with the Nets.

 Boston Celtics: Having already re-signed Kevin Garnett, Celtics president Danny Ainge says re-signing Ray Allen is the team’s No. 1 priority, according to mark Murphy of the Boston Herald. If that doesn’t work, Boston will target shooting guards, Jason Terry, O..J Mayo, Jamal Crawford, Nick Young and others.

Deron Williams: Appears to be leaning toward re-signing in Brooklyn, according to several sources, but will meet with both the Mavs and Nets on Monday.

Jason Kidd: Appears to be signing with whatever team Williams does as he wants to be his backup.

Goran Dragic: Wants to be a starter and a slary that starts at $10 million, reports CBS Sports Ken Berger. I like Dragic a lot but not that much.

Pau Gasol: The Minnesota Timberwolves are the team hottest after Gasol, but I would expect a lot of teams to start to get into the sweepstakes.

Luis Scola: The Rockets tried to deal Scola in last year’s nixed Chris paul trade, but Stein reports that the Rockets are aggressively shopping Scola in different packages to attempt to land a franchise player.

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