NBA Trade Rumors: Magic GM in Denial Dwight Howard Isn't Intrigued by Clippers

The Orlando Magic are starting to play the oblivious card and it’s a horrible idea.

Magic GM Otis Smith told the Orlando Sentinel on Tuesday that Howard never informed him of his recent intrigue with the Los Angeles Clippers.

SheridanHoops.com reported on Monday that Howard added the Clippers to his wish list of teams he would accept a trade to. Currently the list is the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.

Howard told the Sentinel that he hasn’t added them to his list, but take that with a grain of salt. Publicly picking your potential destinations is bad enough, adding another one when your team is in first place is even worse.

Howard has been extremely tight-lipped on the situation since the season started and with good reason. There are enough distractions in the locker room and adding gasoline to the fire is a slap in the face to the teammates that have supported him for so long.

If Smith thinks he can convince D-12 to stay, he’s crazy. He has made up his mind and the Magic have to get as much for him as they possibly can.

Smith hasn’t allowed Howard’s agent permission to speak with the Clippers and that’s a big mistake. The Clippers have a ton of valuable trade commodities that rival even the Lakers' offer. DeAndre Jordan or maybe even Blake Griffin? It’s certainly better than anything the Nets of Mavericks could offer.

The Mavericks have a grand master plan that would land them Howard and Deron Williams in the offseason, giving them a better big three than the Miami Heat. That’s what’s going to happen if the Magic don’t act now.

So let this be a plea to Mr. Smith: please consider trading Howard to the Clippers. You will save your franchise from irrelevancy and you will save the rest of the NBA from two big-threes meeting each other in the next five NBA Finals.