New York Knicks knocking on Orlando Magic’s door to talk about Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard’s list of preferred teams, as far as anyone knows, has not changed beyond the Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets, but that doesn’t mean others teams won’t make inquiries about trading for him. The New York Knicks may be first in line.

“I’m positive the Knicks have called just in case Dwight changes up,” an Eastern Conference GM told the New York Post. “I’m sure they’ve offered a combination of everybody, excluding Jeremy Lin, of course. (Magic GM) Otis (Smith) deserves a lot of credit for not putting it out on the street which teams have offered what.”

Those combinations almost certainly include center Tyson Chandler. There have already been rumored discussions between the Magic and Knicks about a Chandler-Amare Stoudemire package for Howard, and The Post wonders if Orlando would be amenable to a Chandler-Carmelo Anthony offer. Rookie guard Iman Shumpert could also be included, according to the report.

The Knicks would have to be willing to take on the two years and $23.8 million left on Hedo Turkoglu’s contract, as well as Chris Duhon’s $7.2 million two-year guarantee, The Post notes.

But the most likely scenario may be the Magic holding onto Howard with the hope of re-signing him at the end of the season, a source told Sporting News on Friday. Many around the league, according to The Post report, believe the same thing.

“I can tell you for a fact the Lakers offered Andrew Bynum and the Magic do not want him,” said a Western Conference executive.