Rockets C Dwight Howard over the weekend fired his longtime agent, Relativity Sports' Dan Fegan, but Howard noted that there was "nothing personal or specifically done" that led to his decision, according to Jonathan Feigen of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Howard, who is "expected not to opt into the final season of his Rockets contract to become a free agent this summer," offered "little indication of why he made the move." Howard: "Since I went to All Star break in Sedona (Ariz.) I've been spending time thinking and just trying to figure out what I can do to better myself and better my situation. It was nothing against my agent. It wasn't anything bad that he did to me. Sometimes, change is good. I just made a decision based on what I feel I needed to change." Howard said that he has "not targeted another agent and is not weighing his free-agent options" (CHRON.com, 2/27). USA TODAY's Sam Amick noted Fegan, who was "recently fired" by Clippers C DeAndre Jordan and Wizards G John Wall, is "widely known in NBA circles as one of the most disruptive forces in the agent ranks." That style has "worked well for his clients at times, to be sure, but routinely results in the sort of public relations chaos that Howard has been no stranger to in recent years." For Howard, the decision to part ways with Fegan could "certainly have a ripple effect on his uncertain future" (USATODAY.com, 2/26).
CHANGING DIRECTION: In DC, Mike Jones reported Redskins LB Junior Galette "has fired" Authentic Athletix agent Peter Schaffer and under league rules "must wait five days" before hiring a new one. The Redskins were "offering a multi-year deal that featured a low base salary and incentives." But Galette "had no interest in taking such a deal despite Schaffer advising him to do so." Galette’s next agent "will be his fourth since entering the NFL." Last fall, he fired Paramount Sports & Entertainment's Alvin Keels "over a dispute and hired Schaffer" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 2/28).
