Dwight Howard: Orlando Magic Star Reportedly Fought Move to Los Angeles Lakers

In the most recent development in the never-ending Dwight Howard soap opera, it looks like the Orlando Magic center was almost headed out of Florida at the March 14 NBA trade deadline.

According to Fred Kerber of the New York Post, a fed-up front office was ready to trade Howard to either the Lakers or the Nets before backing off at the last second.

Anonymous league sources told the Post that Orlando's front office got so fed up with Howard's indecision concerning his desired location that they threatened to trade him to the Lakers—where he didn't want to go—unless he agreed to waive his opt-out clause for the final season of his contract.

It is understood that Howard only signed the agreement after he was told "he would be a Laker by the end of the day" if he didn't. A source added that if he left the Magic, the only place he wanted to go was New Jersey.

Howard is now locked up in Orlando through the end of next season at a cap hit of $18,091,771. 

What It Means

The relationship between Howard and team management may be even more tenuous than originally thought. Howard hasn't been doing himself any favors lately, either, given the recent leak that claims he asked the team to fire head coach Stan Van Gundy.

Obviously, it also means there's virtually no way Howard will ever end up in L.A. 

What Comes Next

At the end of next year, Howard will either become a free agent or he will sign a long-term extension with the Magic this offseason. Judging from these sources, if he leaves Orlando, it looks pretty likely that he will end up with the Nets at some point in the near future.