Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Would Be Crazy to Keep Him at Trade Deadline

And so the (mostly boring) Dwight Howard trade rumors take another twist (sort of). This time around, Howard is letting folks know he doesn't think the Magic plan on moving him this season. From the New York Post:

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“I don’t think they are going to do anything right now because we’re winning,” Howard said of the Magic after they beat the Kings on Sunday to improve to 6-3. “Even if this is the last season, let’s go out hard, regardless.”

Howard’s representatives can discuss trade possibilities with the Nets, Mavericks and Lakers. The Nets’ chances of trading for Howard were hamstrung by the preseason injury to Brook Lopez, who was expected to be the centerpiece of any potential deal. Lopez suffered a stress fracture in his foot and his return date remains uncertain.

The Nets are hoping to head to Brooklyn next season with Deron Williams and Howard, but the nightmare scenario of not having either is possible if the two superstars, and friends, decide to team up elsewhere. It is unlikely Williams would stay with the Nets without Howard or another top-level player joining him.

“I think (Howard) leaving or going has nothing to do with Orlando,” Magic GM Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel. “I think he wants a bigger market. I can't do anything about that."

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Let's break this down in two ways: Why would Howard come out and say this, and why the hell would the Magic risk getting nothing in return for him by not trading him at the deadline?

For one, it is in Howard's interest as well as the Orlando's that the team has leverage when trying to deal him. Orlando isn't going to move him for a bag of peanuts and an in-flight movie after all.

And with the constant talk surrounding Howard being traded, teams around the league may try to low ball Orlando believing that Howard wants out and won't re-sign with the team.

Thus, Howard might be sending the message to other teams that Orlando isn't desperate to move him and thus makes it more likely the team will have the leverage to get a deal on the market they want. Bring your finest offers—PLEASE!—might be the subtext here.

It could be a throw-away quote that doesn't have any subtext attached to it at all as well, but how boring is that?

Let's keep it real here for a second, folks—Orlando isn't going to hold onto him if they don't believe they can re-sign him. They would be absolutely crazy to let one of the game's best players walk without getting something in return.

The only way he stays on the team is if Howard says he would stay on the condition that the team would agree to sign or trade for a player like Deron Williams, Williams lets it be known through Howard he would be willing to move to Orlando, and Orlando's management says they are open to the possibility.

Right? That's the only way Howard could possibly be sporting an Orlando jersey come the trade deadline, isn't it?

If not, the Magic would be putting their future down on one number at the roulette board and praying for a win.

And that's just bad business.

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