Why Giving Dwight Howard Veto Power on Management Is a Dire Mistake

Just when you thought the Dwight Howard saga couldn't get any crazier, the Orlando Magic made their most desperate ploy yet.

According to Matt Moore of CBS Sports, the Magic have offered Dwight Howard the power to decide the futures of head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith. While it's unclear if Richard DeVos will also give Dwight Howard his share of Amway, it appears that might happen, too.

Whether or not Howard will accept the controversial offer is unknown, but it's becoming common knowledge that the Orlando Magic are borderline pathetic and full-fledged desperate; two qualities they should be attempting to avoid as they aim to acquire complimentary talent.

Aside from the fact that Stan Van Gundy has led the Magic to 50-win seasons in each of his four years as Orlando head coach, parlaying the power from staff to player is as self-destructive as placing Jeremy Lin and Carmelo Anthony on the court at the same time.

The fact is, Dwight Howard doesn't deserve the power to make those decisions. He hasn't won five rings like Kobe Bryant, recruited his peers to play alongside him like Dwyane Wade or shown the loyalty to... Who are we kidding? Loyalty is as lost in the NBA as the art of the mid-range game.

Now, let's clear one thing up. The Orlando Magic didn't ask their franchise player for his short list of peers he'd like them to acquire. Nor did they ask him for his opinion on whether or not they should retain their embattled coach and general manager. Believe it or not, every team in the NBA does that more than the collective legion of journalists could ever report. In this instance, however, there is no weighing your options. No balance of power.

Dwight Howard is the judge, jury and the executioner.

Potentially, Dwight Howard could decide to get rid of both Smith and Van Gundy. The issue is, what coach is going to come into a scenario in which one of his players is untouchable?

If Dwight Howard becomes a distraction in the locker room in 2013, what then? Your coach is going to discipline the guy who fired his predecessor? I'm not a gambling man, but I'd put my money on no.

Now, don't get me wrong. Dwight Howard is an incredible athlete that never ceases to amaze his fans, coaches or teammates. What he isn't, though, is a qualified business man. Hell, he isn't even a college graduate!

What it comes down to, at the end of the day, is the system. Without a strong foundation, no star player will be able to carry his fellow teammates into the night sky. Instead, it will be what every team has always feared: anarchy, pandemonium and a locker room without restraint.

It's a mental version of the Brawl at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

So before you finalize this deal, do yourself a favor, Richard DeVos. Sit down, think about your dignity and honor as a businessman, call Dwight Howard into your office and give him an ultimatum: stay or go.