Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak was quick to dismiss reports that emerged yesterday that he had been in talks with Boston to do a trade that centered around Dwight Howard and Rajon Rondo. The two All-Stars would have been exchanged in the deal - extra players would have had to have been involved because the salaries don't match.

Kupchak said he had not spoken to Ainge in weeks, and added that Howard would not be moved.

From ESPN.com:

"I haven't talked to Danny Ainge in weeks," Kupchak told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard. "I made the statement a week or two ago that we're not going to trade Dwight Howard and that hasn't changed."

When asked if a possible Howard-for-Rondo trade was discussed when he spoke to the Celtics weeks ago, Kupchak again said no. He said at no point this season has a Howard-for-Rondo trade been discussed.

Earlier Friday, Howard addressed the possibility of being traded before the celebrity All-Star Game.

Asked if he'd be shocked if the Lakers moved him in the coming days, Howard said: "Well, they told me they weren't going to trade me. So, yeah, I would be surprised."

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