Dwight Howard might not get his wish to remain a member of the Orlando Magic … for now. It seems that Howard’s expressed desire to do that might end up being the final straw that pushes the Magic to send Howard packing before Thursday’s NBA Trade Deadline.
ESPN’s Chris Broussard reports that Howard’s statement “has only served to anger the Magic and has instead pushed them closer than ever to trading their superstar center.”
Maybe the Magic are coming to see what most everyone else has seen for a long time. Howard apparently has no intention of staying with the Magic beyond this season. What he really seems to want is to have his cake and eat it, too. The Magic are good and can make a deep playoff run if things fall their way. Howard’s preferred team, the New Jersey Nets, stink right now and would have to gut their roster to make a trade.
Broussard reports that the “Magic are telling teams they will trade Howard before Thursday’s 3 p.m. ET deadline if he does not commit to them beyond this season.”
Why wouldn’t Howard want to stay with the Magic this season, then make his jump to New Jersey as a free agent. This is his perfect scenario — only it is also one that leaves the Magic high-and-dry. The smart move is for the Magic to make a move before Howard bolts on his own.