NBA Rumors: Why It's Inevitable Dwight Howard Is Traded

After saying he wasn't leaving Orlando, then requesting a trade, now Magic superstar Dwight Howard is saying general manager Otis Smith won't trade him.

Howard recently told Yahoo! Sports that he was "100 percent" sure that the Magic wouldn't trade him before the deadline on Feb. 26.

Said Howard, via Yahoo! Sports:

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“I don’t think they are going to do anything right now because we’re winning. Even if this is the last season, let’s go out hard, regardless.”

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Howard has been careful not to step on any toes while in Orlando. You can tell he respects the fans in Orlando, if not the organization. However, that doesn't change the fact that the Magic don't have a team that can legitimately contend for the title this season. They've had time to build a roster around Howard, but simply haven't done enough yet.

The truth is, unless the Magic make a big trade before the deadline, Howard will likely tell them that he's not signing an extension with them before he hits free agency in the offseason. At that point, the Magic will have to trade him because letting him walk when they could get some nice pieces for him would be illogical and, frankly, pretty stupid.

Howard said some pretty ominous words when talking to the Orlando Sentinel.

Said Howard, via the Sentinel:

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"I've talked to 'Melo (Carmelo Anthony). I've talked to a lot of guys. It's the same thing: You have to do what's best for you, regardless of what anybody else says. It's your life and you have to live it your way. You can't do it how everybody wants you to do it or be afraid or be upset about what people are saying, because they're not the ones that have to go through it."

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Correct me if I'm wrong, but if Howard is on the same page as Anthony—who was traded to the New York Knicks last season—isn't that proof that he's already made his mind up unless something drastic happens?

"Delaying the inevitable"—that saying couldn't be more true concerning the Orlando Magic and Dwight Howard.