Forward Caron Butler is having a rough year on the struggling Washington Wizards. And forward Josh Howard is having an even rougher year on the very solid Dallas Mavericks. Both players could use a change of scenery, and that’s reportedly going to happen tonight.

UPDATE: The trade is official. Click here.

According to at least four media outlets, including the Washington Post (Michael Lee), the Mavericks will trade Howard, forward/center Drew Gooden, guard Quinton Ross and forward James Singleton to the Wizards for Butler, center Brendan Haywood and guard DeShawn Stevenson.

Howard this season is averaging just 12.5 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 assists on 40.1% shooting in 26.7 minutes per game. His role on the Mavs has been in decline.

Butler averages 16.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.45 steals on 42.2% shooting in 39.4 minutes per game.

In the view of InsideHoops.com, this seems like a good deal for both teams. Butler gets to join a winning team he can contribute to, though he’ll be asked to be more of a role player than he may be used to. And Howard gains more responsibility, something that may do him good.

The most important player in this trade other than those two guys is Haywood, a solid center having a good season. He should definitely help Dallas.

More coming tonight when the deal actually becomes official.

Sam Amick of the Sacramento Bee reports:

Eitan Casspi had the right idea.

No media obligations, no autographs to sign and no high-profile games to play – unless table tennis inside the Nike suite qualifies.

The brother of Kings small forward Omri Casspi had his slice of All-Star Weekend paradise Friday afternoon, when he alternated between the pingpong table and the massage station inside the swank setup at the Hyatt Regency. As for his brother and fellow fan and media favorite Tyreke Evans? It was quite a different experience.

They were Kings of the room in the morning, when reporters still surrounded them long after every other Rookie team member was done with those duties. They were embraced by children while visiting area schools in the early afternoon. They commanded the most attention in the hotel lobby, where fans of all sizes came in from the snow to have them sign pictures, balls and even T-shirt sleeves. Both players graciously obliged.

And when they made their way to Nike’s four-star hideaway that was fitted with snacks and drinks, music and dartboards, a paid barber on site, video games and even a scenic view of Texas’ winter wonderland, even that setting wasn’t relaxing enough. By the time the late afternoon arrived, Evans and Casspi poked their heads in and proceeded to head the other way. It was nap time.

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose will not defend his Skills Challenge title Saturday night at 2010 NBA All-Star weekend in Dallas, Texas.

Rose has a bruised hip and has been considered “probable” for the weekend’s events. But Saturday afternoon, Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was named as a replacement for the tonight’s competition.

Rose still hopes to participate in Sunday’s NBA All-Star game.

According to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Breaking Sports News, “Bulls physician Brian Cole re-examined Rose’s bruised right hip and back following Saturday morning’s Eastern Conference All-Star practice, and Rose dropped out of the competition Saturday afternoon. The NBA announced that Oklahoma City guard Russell Westbrook would replace his close friend and summer workout partner in the competition. Bucks guard Brandon Jennings, Suns guard Steve Nash and Jazz guard Deron Williams also will compete.”

The AP reports:

Former NBA player Juan Dixon has tested positive for the steroid nandrolone, his Spanish team Unicaja announced.

The player gave the drug test in Greece in November, before he joined the Malaga-based team, Unicaja said on its Web site.