Dec 17 (The Sports Xchange) - Center Dwight Howard said that a published report by SheridanHoops.com claiming he had asked to be traded away from the 12-14 Houston Rockets was off base. "I haven't said nothing to nobody about anything," Howard said. "I've been positive, trying to turn this thing around any way possible. People always going to make up lies or rumors to get off. But I haven't said nothing or anything to anybody. "That's never been a focus. (It's) to try to get these guys to play better, to make myself to play better." --- Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr continues to recuperate from back surgery and is aiming to return to the bench by early January. There is no formal return date set as the organization is leaving the decision to Kerr. "What I've learned is that I miss it," Kerr told reporters. "I'm still hoping in the next two to three weeks to be back on the bench." Luke Walton is serving as interim coach in Kerr's absence and the defending NBA champions are off to a record start. Golden State is 25-1 after rolling to a 128-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. --- The Detroit Pistons assigned guard Brandon Jennings to Grand Rapids of the NBA Development League to continue his rehab from a left Achilles injury. Jennings is scheduled to play in his first game for the Drive on Saturday against the Iowa Energy. Last season, Jennings was sidelined for the final 41 games after rupturing the Achilles' tendon during a Jan. 24 game against the Milwaukee Bucks. --- The Milwaukee Bucks met with free-agent forward Carlos Boozer this week to discuss a possible deal, according to a report. Boozer has not played yet this year. He became a free agent in the offseason after one year with the Los Angeles Lakers and remains unsigned. Bucks coach Jason Kidd and general manager John Hammond met privately with Boozer in Los Angeles, Yahoo Sports reported Thursday. --- The Atlanta Hawks assigned center Walter "Edy" Tavares to the Austin Spurs of the D-League, the club announced Thursday. Tavares has played in four games for the Hawks this season and is averaging 1.0 points. --- The Memphis Grizzlies assigned forward James Ennis, forward Jarell Martin and guard Russ Smith to Iowa of the D-League, the team announced Thursday. Ennis has played in seven games with Miami and Memphis this season, Smith has played 13 games for the Grizzlies and Martin underwent offseason foot surgery and has yet to make his NBA debut. (Editing by Larry Fine) ))