Dwight Howard Trade Demands Reportedly Still Intact After Meeting with Magic GM

Orlando Magic general manager Rob Hennigan's final plea to Dwight Howard has fallen on deaf ears.

According to Hoopsworld's Alex Kennedy (via Twitter), Howard still wants out of Orlando:

"

Meeting between Dwight Howard and Rob Hennigan is over. Howard wouldn't drop his trade demand, per source. Magic's last-ditch effort failed.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 26, 2012"

This can't come as shocking news to the Magic community, as Howard has constantly stated he wants his tenure with the team to come to an end.

Less than two weeks ago, the 30-year-old Hennigan called Howard to personally ask the face of his franchise to stay with the team, but to no avail (via ESPN).

Apparently, Hennigan never learned no means no.

Unfortunately, this news doesn't change the status of the "Dwightmare" that the basketball world has been forced to endure for months. Kennedy's information comes on the heels of Chris Broussard's recent ESPN report that the Magic might hold on to their star center into the upcoming season.

The Magic previously engaged in negotiations with the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets as potential suitors for "D12" but never found the deal that the front office felt would satisfactorily compensate for the loss of one of the game's best players.

Talks with the Nets fell through a couple of weeks ago after the team agreed to terms on a max deal with Brook Lopez. 

Negotiations with the Lakers and Rockets were complicated due to uncertainties surrounding whether Howard would sign a contract extension with either team next offseason.

Never have we seen a player hold an NBA franchise hostage in the way that Howard has done for the better part of the past year. 

Now that it is an absolute certainty that the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year has unequivocally refused to play for his current team, it will be ever harder for the Magic to find adequate or passable value in return if a prospective trade comes to fruition.

As always, stay tuned for the latest info regarding Howard's circus act and all other NBA news.