NBA Rumors: Orlando Magic Finally Give Dwight Howard Ultimatum Date

The Orlando Magic have finally made a decision regarding Dwight Howard.

It is either to trade or not trade him, but at least they've finally drawn a line in the sand.

According to Brian Schmitz, Magic beat writer for The Orlando Sentinel, a date has been set for the Magic to ask Howard if he wants to stay or go:

Ultimately, that answer will be to leave Orlando and go elsewhere.

DH12 has been a distraction all year long. His teammates are aware of desire to leave town and they've lost six of their last nine games, including a four-game losing streak to close out the month of January.

In those six losses, Orlando averaged an anemic 73 points per game.

In the three wins, the Magic averaged a whopping 30 points more to put them at 101 points per game.

As evidenced by their inconsistency, this team is letting the outside distractions affect them seemingly every other night. They cannot win a title that way. They will not win a playoff series that way. And they certainly won't keep Dwight Howard that way.

D12 leads the team in four of five major categories, and somehow still manages to get his numbers despite being mentally checked out.

That is not a good thing for Howard or the Magic's chances of keeping him around for another year.

Come the March 1st (or roundabout) deadline, the Magic need to make sure they've either changed Howard's mind, or have a suitable deal to make instead.

If things aren't fixed, he'll walk away for free this summer.