The storyline that has held the NBA news cycle hostage for over a year continues to plod forward without much progress. Dwight Howard wanted the Brooklyn Nets, and the Nets wanted Howard. Howard wanted a max contract this offseason and had an out in his deal with the Orlando Magic that would have made him a free agent. The Nets had enough space to take him on. Somehow, all of the parties misplayed their hand in search of a few more dollars, and now Howard's dream of taking his vast Ed Hardy t-shirt collection to the Nets seems dead. So, what's next?

Of course, it's circled back to the Los Angeles Lakers. Howard said he would not sign an extension with L.A., presumably scared of following a little too closely in Shaq's footsteps. The Magic and Lakers are currently engaging in discussions to bring Howard to Los Angeles, but it still appears to be in the preliminary stages. Lakers center Andrew Bynum, who would go to Orlando in a proposed trade, doesn't want to sign an extension with the Magic, either. So here we are, all these months later, with too many parties halting on the whims of a dominant center with a balky back. There is no end in sight.

• 'Linsanity' is off to Houston. The New York Knicks refused to match the Houston Rockets' offer sheet to Jeremy Lin, so the budding point guard will leave Madison Square Garden for the Toyota Center.
• Courtney Lee wants to be a member of the Boston Celtics, but it appears as if Boston can only offer $1.9 million per season. Lee wants more than that.
• The Los Angeles Clippers waived Ryan Gomes and signed 39-year old forward Grant Hill.

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