"It has been an interesting couple of days for the Nets.

In the last 48 hours, the Nets lost out on three of their top-rated free agent targets but moved to the cusp of signing a fourth, Denver's Nene. They were rumored to be preparing to welcome Dwight Howard into the fold through a trade demand purportedly initiated by the Orlando superstar, but then were fingered as potential tampering culprits for an alleged clandestine meeting with the All-Star center.

And then the tampering charges and supposed meetings were denied by most everyone, including by Howard's agent, who came forth and declared he and Howard, with Orlando's permission, have spoken to the Nets in phone calls, not in sit-downs, and are exploring a deal with New Jersey.

That about cover it? Oh wait, they started training camp, too.

The tumultuous stretch seemingly culminated last night with Avery Johnson putting 14 charges through day one of what will be a shortened camp for an abbreviated season. Among those attending Johnson's second Nets camp were Brook Lopez, the young center rumored headed to Orlando as part of a package for Howard — and, of course, the player around whom everything is being built, Deron Williams, in his first full season in the East.

But then Dan Fegan, who represents Howard (and Nene) presented a prepared statement to ESPN The Magazine which ran on ESPN.com. Fegan labeled reports that Howard was to be traded to the Nets yesterday as well as subsequent tampering claims as "inaccurate."

"Tampering doesn't apply once a team grants permission for a player and/or his representatives to make contact with another team. The Magic have given us permission to have contact with several teams in order for Dwight to explore his options. I most definitely had contact with the teams I was granted permission to speak with," Fegan told The Magazine.

And one of those teams is the Nets. Magic officials confirmed the Nets did receive permission, and according to SI.com, the Lakers and Mavericks did as well.

So for a second straight season, trade rumors dominated the training-camp landscape (see: Anthony, Carmelo; 2010).

"We're just focused on basketball, focused on the things we can control on the court. Hopefully, whatever is being talked about will get resolved," Johnson said."