The Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics are the first known teams to secure face-to-face recruiting meetings with free-agent big man Dwight Howard, according to league sources.Sources told ESPN that Howard, 30, is likely to meet with as many as five teams in free agency, with a return to the Houston Rockets widely seen as unlikely after Howard declined his $23.2 million player option for next season.Teams can officially begin negotiating with free agents at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday. Howard will hold meetings in Atlanta on Friday, then in Las Vegas on Saturday, according to a league source.The Miami Heat, sources said, have not yet booked a meeting with Howard in free agency, but could emerge as a more serious Howard suitor after registering preliminary interest in him.?ESPN reported earlier Tuesday that the Hawks, while still trying to convince Kevin Durant to grant a face-to-face sitdown, have been weighing a run at Howard to pair him with Al Horford in their frontcourt. Howard, a three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, is a native of Atlanta.Horford is also a free agent this summer and will receive considerable outside interest.Before Howard opted for free agency by declining his 2016-17 option, ESPNs Calvin Watkins reported that some members of the Rockets organization were lobbying Howard to stay.But the recent arrival of new head coach Mike DAntoni, under whom Howard never clicked when both were with the Los Angeles Lakers, encouraged interested teams to pursue Howard this summer.Fake Football Jerseys Online . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Football Jerseys China . 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Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter.OAKLAND, Calif. -- Oakland As right-hander Kendall Graveman was 12 starts into the season and was searching for answers. He was 2-6 with a 5.28 ERA, and opposing hitters were batting .309 with 11 home runs against him.Thats when pitching coach Curt Young made a suggestion that helped turn Gravemans season around.Curt came up to me and said, You got to find what works for you, what makes you have a chip on your shoulder, whats going to lock you in, Graveman said.Graveman said he remembered how locked in he was in 2014, when he visualized his pitches before every game and rocketed through the Toronto Blue Jays system, earning five promotions and finishing the season in the major leagues.It was something that I just had to get back to, visualize throwing every pitch to both sides of the plate to lefties and righties, Graveman said. Its almost like youre visualizing a pitch that you want to make in a big situation to try to get someone out, but also just visualizing quality pitches.I think for me it sets up nicely because I get to see the movement when I visualize it. Youve seen it so much after you throw it and watching video that I think that just reinforces it. The minds a powerful thing. I think we know that now in the game of baseball. You start really thinking positively before a start, I think positive outcomes will happen.In his past six starts, Graveman has gone 4-0 with a 2.68 ERA, and opposing hitters are batting .232 with two home runs.Graveman will take a career-high five-game winning streak into his start Saturday against the Tampa Bay Rays and left-hander Drew Smyly.Smyly has lost a career-high seven straight games and is trying to escape the worst slump of his career. Hes 2-11 with a 5.64 ERA. Smyly, who missed 105 last year because of a left shoulder injury, entered this season with a career record of 24-15 with a 3.24 ERA.Its just been a slump, man, Smyly said. I wish I had an answer but I dont.dddddddddddd You just got to keep grinding, keep searching. Im healthy. I feel fine. Every chance I get Im competing my hardest, so hopefully I can get it turned around. It is what it is.Despite Smylys struggles, the Rays have no plans to take him out of the rotation, manager Kevin Cash said.Were very confident he is going to pitch his way out of this, Cash said before the Rays 1-0, 13-inning loss to Oakland. Were looking forward to getting him on the mound (Saturday). I sat down and talked to him casually with him after his start in Colorado. Hes doing all the right things. The results just arent coming. Sometimes youve got to let it kind of work its course and one start, one, two good innings of something clicking can be really beneficial for him.Smyly gave up five runs and needed 100 pitches to get through five innings in a 7-4 loss to the Rockies on Monday at Coors Field.First of all, I believe hes healthy, too, Cash said. Weve talked to Drew. I think its just inconsistencies in his off-speed pitches. He has not gone into a start here recently where hes really had his wipeout cutter or wipeout breaking ball and it becomes difficult. Youre facing some good hitters, good lineups and to go out there with just a fastball -- he tries to get really picky with the fastball knowing that he doesnt have that. I know thats kind of been the focal point for him, to try to get one if not two of those off-sped pitches going for him.Graveman, who relies heavily on a nasty sinker, is 1-1 with a 2.04 ERA in three career starts against Tampa Bay. He took the loss on May 14 at Tropicana Field, allowing four runs over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-0 defeat.Smyly is 1-2 with a 6.87 ERA in six appearances against the As, including three starts. ' ' '