"It was fun while it lasted, but let's allow this to act as the end of the conversation about the Warriors landing Dwight Howard in a trade this season.

Orlando general manager Otis Smith reiterated this week that he has given Howard's representative free rein to discuss potential deals with Dallas, New Jersey and the Lakers. Agent Dan Fegan made it clear to Sports Illustrated that Howard has no interest in playing for Golden State.

And, on his way out of town late Thursday night, Howard said "no thanks" to a return to the Bay Area. He said he appreciated the energy of the Oracle Arena crowd, but he didn't see himself playing in a Warriors uniform in a week or even in five years.

"I don't think they have enough assets to get him in a trade," TNT analyst Steve Kerr said. "You admire that they're bold, that they're going for it and that they're saying they're going to be a big-time franchise. But all of these names being thrown around in the media can be very unsettling to the current roster.

"They may be best suited to just adapt to Mark Jackson's program, be patient and try to build something stable.""