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Not surprisingly, center Dwight Howard was a hot topic of conversation as his often absurd relationship with the Orlando Magic took yet another turn. The newest update comes from ESPN's Chris Broussard, who reported that Howard informed new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan that he wants to be traded to the Brooklyn Nets. That Howard is eying Brooklyn as his destination his hardly new, since he was doing the same before the 2011-12 season began.

A settlement involving so-called Bird rights will allow the Knicks to exceed the N.B.A. salary cap to re-sign Jeremy Lin and Steve Novak.

With Mo Williams finally deciding Friday to exercise his $8.5-million contract option, the Clippers and Dallas Mavericks were able to agree to a four-team trade that will bring Lamar Odom back to the Clippers team that drafted him in 1999.

Best in the country and No. 1 and 2 in the NBA draft. The celebration goes on for Kentucky's kids. The Wildcats became the first school to have the top two picks and tied a record with six players taken overall Thursday night. After the New Orleans Hornets made the long-expected selection of forward Anthony Davis with the first pick, Charlotte followed by taking fellow freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

Once Anthony Davis slips on a Hornets hat above basketball's most celebrated eyebrow Thursday night, the NBA draft really starts. Davis will head to New Orleans with the No. 1 pick, even if the college player of the year is reluctant to guarantee it. After that, nobody can be sure what will happen.

Larry Bird is calling it quits with the Indiana Pacers. Bird, perhaps the most respected and beloved basketball figure in a state obsessed with the sport, will leave his job as the Pacers' president of basketball operations at the end of August. He spent four years building the team into an Eastern Conference contender and was this season's NBA executive of the year, but is instead moving on after saying just a month ago that he was willing to stay.

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker is suing a New York City club and its operators for $20 million over a scratched cornea he says he suffered during a fight involving singer Chris Brown and members of hip-hop star Drake's entourage....

With series MVP LeBron James leading the way with a triple-double, the Heat finish off the Thunder 121-106 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, now 2011-12 NBA champions.

Despite Russell Westbrook scoring a career playoff high 43 points, the Miami Heat took a three games to one lead in the N.B.A. finals after beating Oklahoma City for the third time in a row.