i TV Pinoy

Source: AFPgmanews.tv

-- The Mavericks traded forward Josh Howard and Drew Gooden to the Washington Wizards on Saturday in a seven-player trade that sees Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood heading to Dallas.

Howard, the 29th overall selection in the 2003 NBA draft, was in his seventh season with Dallas. Gooden was signed by the Mavericks last summer and now heads to his eighth team in as many seasons.

The Mavericks, who lead the Southwest Division, announced the deal shortly before the start of Saturday night's All-Star activities in their home arena.

The Mavericks lost five of their last seven games before the All-Star break and face four contests in five nights when play resumes on Tuesday.

The Wizards have been rocked this season by the suspensions of Gilbert Arenas and Javaris Crittenton, both banned for the rest of the season after admitting bringing a gun to the team's locker room.

"We're all disappointed in how our season has gone. We need some freshness and we're getting proven players who will help us, and it gives us some flexibility down the road," Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. "We want to remain competitive and maybe this group can provide a spark. The group had gotten stale, and we needed a change."

Dallas will also get guard DeShawn Stevenson and cash considerations from Washington. James Singleton and Quinton Ross go to the Wizards.

Butler averaged 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds in 47 games this season, and Haywood was the Wizards' top rebounder with 10.3 per game.

Howard played 431 games for the Mavericks, and was the team's second-longest tenured player behind All-Star forward Dirk Nowitzki.

He was limited early this season as he recovered from ankle surgery and averaged 12.5 points.

Howard was an All-Star in 2007, when he averaged 18.9 points in 70 games. He had his best season a year later, when he averaged 19.9 points.

In 2007, Howard raised eyebrows when he said in a radio interview during the first round of the playoffs that he occasionally smoked marijuana.

Later in the same series against New Orleans he angered then-coach Avery Johnson by hosting a birthday party after Dallas' game-four defeat.

He was in hot water again in 2008 when a video posted on YouTube showed Howard less than respectful during the national anthem at a charity event.