Dwight Howard Reportedly Had Ideas for Stan Van Gundy's Successor

Dwight Howard wasn't vague about who he wanted to replace Stan Van Gundy.

Howard has repeatedly denied that he asked ownership to remove Stan Van Gundy as the head coach of the Orlando Magic, but more information comes out every day that refutes his claims.

According to Bright House Sports Network:

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Multiple sources close to Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard told Bright House Sports Network’s David Baumann that prior to the season, Howard indicated that he preferred the Magic would have hired Indiana Pacers associate head coach Brian Shaw or Golden State Warriors assistant coach Michael Malone to replace current Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy.

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Both coaches have the respect of the league and both would make for excellent choices. However, Howard's camp continues to push back against the idea that he has anything to do with who the Magic bring in to be the head coach—if Van Gundy is even fired.

Kevin Samples—Howard's agent—spoke on the matter, per ProBasketballTalk:

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”Dwight has nothing to do with the coach situation,” according to Kevin Samples, Howard’s manager.  When asked why a coaching change wasn’t made after the Magic were bounced in the first round of the playoffs last season, Samples said, “That’s a great question.  You’ll have to ask Otis (Smith).”

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The back and forth is really getting annoying. 

The only thing I know for certain is that Howard is becoming more trouble than he's worth.

The fact that he continues to deny he requested Van Gundy's dismissal is ludicrous. 

Everyone knows he did it, including Van Gundy, who says he doesn't want to leave.

He said as much, per the Orlando Sentinel:

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I don't have a scenario in my head where I wouldn't...They're going to have to make decisions. But I'm a basketball coach and I know this: I don't want to go anywhere else. I mean, I love Orlando, and this is where I want to be. And I want to coach.

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The likeliest scenario in my mind is that both Howard and Van Gundy end up elsewhere next season.

This saga isn't going away. Howard has made a huge mess of the entire thing, and Orlando will probably lose a perfectly good head coach because of it.

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