2012 NBA Trade Deadline: 3 Things We Learned from Dwight Howard Press Conference

Dwight Howard is staying with the Orlando Magic for another year.

Magic fans have to be excited. No fan wants to see their franchise player shipped out of town.

Instead, Orlando has another year to get Dwight the talent he wants to keep him in a Magic uniform.

Howard shed light on his decision in today's press conference.

Let's go inside...

The Magic Have a Great Front Office

Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith has taken his fair share of hits this season. Smith was often criticized for not moving Dwight Howard soon enough.

In the past, Smith might have spoken out against his detractors, but he has recently showed a calm and stable leadership for the Magic.

During the press conference, Magic CEO Alex Martins told his initial thoughts regarding Dwight Howard's free agency, and why he knew the center wanted to stay in Orlando. Martins intelligently opened the press conference with thank you's and set the tone for Dwight to look great in his conference.

Both Martins and Smith seem extremely motivated to bring a title to the Orlando Magic.

Dwight Really Loves Orlando

Dwight Howard said loyalty made him stay in Orlando. The kid is loyal and that's a given. Howard could have bolted at the first sign of free agency as his elite counterparts did but opted not to.

Howard instead plays another year for the Orlando Magic and puts his career in their hands.

There is no guaranteed money for Howard after next season if Dwight has a major injury.

That alone has to show Howard's affinity for the Magic.

Dwight Will Leave Orlando

Okay, it was a great press conference and I have laid out exactly why in the past two slides.

But let's be realistic here.

Dwight made the decision to give Orlando one more year but still didn't sign a major extension with the team.

Howard loves Orlando, but the only way he will commit long term is if the Magic win a title this season.

The Magic have been playing great lately and currently sit behind the Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference's best record. Still, the Magic are far from front-runners for the NBA championship and an early playoff exit solidifies Dwight leaving town next year.

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