The Orlando Magic's Dwightmare appears to be nearing an end.

The Magic, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver and Philadelphia reached a deal in principle on a four-team trade that would send Howard to the Lakers, ESPN reported late Thursday.

In turn, the Magic was set to receive Denver's Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington, the 76ers' Nikola Vucevic and rookie Moe Harkless and one future first-round pick from each of the three other teams.

The deal also would send Orlando's Jason Richardson and the Lakers' Andrew Bynum to the 76ers and Philadelphia's Andre Iguodala to the Nuggets.

Magic general manager Rob Hennigan did not return messages Thursday from the Orlando Sentinel.

Meanwhile, sources told ESPN The Magazine's Chris Broussard that the 76ers haven't spoken to Bynum and have no assurances he'll sign a long-term extension with the club.

"The Sixers are willing to take a shot (without Bynum's commitment)," one source said.

  • Washington hired Jerry Sichting as an assistant on coach Randy Wittman's staff. He played 10 seasons in the NBA and was an assistant coach for the Warriors (2010-11 season) and Minnesota.

    NHL

    Commissioner Gary Bettman cautioned the league is prepared to lock out its players if a new collective bargaining agreement is not reached by Sept. 15, when the current deal expires. "Time is running short and the owners are not prepared to operate under this

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    collective bargaining agreement for another season," Bettman said after the two sides met at league headquarters in New York. Bettman said a "wide gap" existed between the two sides on numerous issues, while NHL Players' Association executive director Don Fehr referred to the split as "a meaningful gulf." Talks are scheduled to continue Friday.

    College football

    Penn State's board of trustees will meet this weekend to consider whether to ratify a consent decree with the NCAA that imposed penalties for how the school handled the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Board chairwoman Karen Peetz told fellow trustees in an email that there was confusion about how Penn State and president Rodney Erickson accepted the unprecedented sanctions.

  • Washington lost running back Deontae Cooper to another torn anterior cruciate ligament. He missed his first two seasons at Washington after twice tearing the ACL in his left knee.

  • Former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said he hopes to return to the sidelines. Petrino, speaking publicly for the first time since his firing April 10, acknowledged the affair with former football staffer Jessica Dorrell and told ESPN that he's in counseling with his wife, Becky.

    Tennis

    Andy Murray withdrew from the Rogers Cup in Toronto. The Olympic gold medalist hurt his knee Wednesday during a match against Flavio Cipolla. Also, all singles play was wiped out by rain. Murray said he's unsure whether he can play next week in Mason, Ohio, or what his status is for the U.S. Open.

  • Rafael Nadal dropped out of the Western & Southern Open in Mason because of a knee problem.

  • Roberta Vinci routed Ana Ivanovic 6-0, 6-0 in the second round of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. The match lasted 45 minutes.

    Golf

    Pernilla Lindberg holed birdie putts of 40 and 50 feet and added three 25-footers in a round of 7-under 64 to take a two-shot lead at the rainy Jamie Farr Toledo Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. Lindberg has missed the cut in six of 10 starts this season. Pleasanton native Paula Creamer, who won here in 2008, had a 68 at Highlands Meadows.

    The Associated Press contributed to this report.