NBA Trade Rumors: Dwight Howard Must Use Media to Ensure a Trade

Dwight Howard needs to put his foot down.

He is plodding along through the 2011-2012 season with no emotion, looking incredibly miserable, wasting one of the prime years in his career.

It’s effecting the entire Orlando Magic organization. Not a day goes by where head coach Stan Van Gundy isn’t asked about the situation. He is beginning to get very testy with reporters about it, and I’d have to imagine that his patience is wearing incredibly thin.

Howard’s teammates are forced to be a part of this, and the fans are already tired of the soap opera. They see the writing on the wall.  

It’s time for Howard to assert himself and start getting more vocal. He already voiced his wishlist of getting traded to the LA Lakers, Dallas Mavericks or New Jersey Nets. Why not continue to push the Magic front office’s hand?

Howard is currently walking a fine line of trying to look like a good guy will quietly stomping his foot in anger behind closed doors. Clearly this method isn’t working.

Why not start calling out the front office, threaten to sit out games or just stop showing up? Is that childish? Sure. Will it put a major dent into his public image? You bet.

But is it the best move to make at this point?

Unless GM Otis Smith magically gains some sense and realizes his team is on the road to nowhere, it’s time to jump start the rebuilding process now. There is no doubt that Howard is gone as soon as he can and trying to convince him otherwise is a waste of time.

If Howard is constantly talking about his desires to the media, it will only help him get out of town. It’s the worst kept secret in the NBA and Howard needs to stop pretending that it’s not distracting him.

That’s the best gift to give the Magic at the end of the day.