A break from Lin to put focus back on Howard

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) -- Before Jeremy Lin's emergence, the big story around the NBA was Dwight Howard's situation.

With All-Star weekend arriving in his city, the spotlight is back on Howard for a few days.

The Orlando Magic center has asked to be traded, but he's still here and there's no telling for how much longer. Howard says this weekend should be a celebration, and he wants everyone to focus on having fun.

But his status was the talk of Friday, with Howard drawing a crowd so large that players couldn't even tell who was behind the wall of cameras surrounding him.

Lin wasn't forgotten, though. Many All-Stars were asked about the Knicks guard enjoying a breakout stretch, and Lin was given his own evening press conference to accommodate the large media interest.