Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: What Experts Are Predicting for DH12

The NBA trade deadline is one week from today and many analysts and experts believe that Dwight Howard will not be going anywhere.

In fact, every one of the five panelists on the 5-on-5 segment on ESPN's website think that the Orlando Magic will not be moving their superstar center.

Myles Brown, Zach Harper, Marc Stein, Ethan Sherwood Strauss and Michael Wallace all responded “fiction” to the question - "Fact or Fiction? The Orlando Magic will move Dwight before the deadline."

It’s quite ridiculous that this many hoops junkies feel that the reigning three-time Defensive Player of the Year will not be flipped within the next week. Howard is constantly surrounded by trade rumors and has even made a wish list of teams he would prefer to be moved to.

The five analysts almost unanimously agree that Orlando will take a giant risk and hope they can sway the big man to stay during the offseason, as the small chance he does so far outweighs their other options.

Orlando would be crazy to think he is actually staying, though. Not moving him would only set them back further in the rebuilding process.

Dwight knows better to stay with a team that hasn’t been able to find a legitimate, offensive-minded superstar to pair with him since he was drafted No. 1 overall in 2004.

GM Otis Smith has been battling with his own incompetency since taking the reins in 2006 and Howard has surely lost faith in the organization and the way it is run by now.

Unfortunately, Smith’s lack of ingenuity is the reason why the Magic probably will keep DH12. He’s banking on the minuscule chance his star decides to re-sign and everything will work out.

There is no contingency plan if he decides to leave.

The Magic will be mired in mediocrity for years to come, just like they were after Shaquille O’Neal left town in the 1990s.

If Orlando knew what was good for them, they’d get some value out of Howard before he departs this summer.

Of course, they don’t, which is exactly why the analysts are right.