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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

NBA boss unconcerned by Howard's trade talk

By: Staff Writer

Posted: 02/9/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0 (including replies)

HOUSTON -- NBA commissioner David Stern doesn't believe this year's all-star game in Orlando will be upstaged by Dwight Howard's uncertain future.

Stern spoke Wednesday in Houston, where he officially announced the all-star game would be held there in 2013. Where Howard is playing by then is anyone's guess.

The Magic's six-time all-star has asked to be traded, and he'll be a free agent after the season. This year's game will be played Feb. 26, less than a month before the March 15 trade deadline.

"We're going to get a great rating. It's going to be seen in 200 countries. We'll have the usual media experiences like the one I'm enduring now," Stern said. "But the great thing is the game is going to start and then there's going to be all this spectacular basketball playing, and all these stars are going to take centre court."

Last year, the trade talk swirled around Carmelo Anthony over all-star weekend in Los Angeles. He was dealt to the New York Knicks less than a week after the game.

Stern says the league is fine with players choosing where they want to play, believing the terms of the collective bargaining agreement make it difficult to leave. In Howard's case, the Magic can offer him a five-year contract extension with 7.5 per cent annual raises, while other teams are limited to offering a four-year deal with 4.5 per cent raises.

"I go back far enough to remember when Kareem decided he didn't want to be in Milwaukee, and that's a long time ago." Stern said. "Or when Wilt wanted to move some place. We've built in some pretty interesting incentives.

"That'll work itself out. We don't have a problem with that at all."

Stern said the league was in good health, despite the lockout that shortened training camp and compressed the regular season to 66 games. He acknowledged the level of play had suffered and said he wished teams could've played eight preseason games, instead of two.

-- The Associated Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition February 9, 2012 C11

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