"David Stern sounds unconcerned about the apparent trend of superstars leaving small- or mid-market cities for the bright lights of larger markets.

Asked how he wants to see Dwight Howard's situation play out and whether he's concerned that Chris Paul sought to leave New Orleans and Howard wants to leave Orlando, Stern said he honors players' right to play where they want.

"That's the beauty of the soap opera of basketball," Stern said before the Orlando Magic faced the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Christmas night. "As in life, it'll play out the way it plays out, and we'll all be observers of it. I just don't know.

"But, to me, I am of the view that when somebody has put in his years so to speak and he has earned his free agency he's free to decide where he'll sign, and he's not under a compunction under our system to re-sign with a team if he doesn't want to. But how it plays out? We'll all wait and see.""