Dwight Howard's Situation Is Granted a Bit More Clarity

Or it's been thrown another soon-to-be-refuted curveball. We never can tell these days, can we?

Regardless, Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel is operating under the assumption that Dwight Howard's days with the Magic are numbered, and that it will be the initial duty of the team's GM-to-be to find an appropriate landing spot for league's premier big man (via SB Nation):

"

Next Magic GM -- it's likely either Jeff Bower or Dennis Lindsey--- must hit ground running. Biggest job: Trading Dwight. He wants out.

— Brian K. Schmitz (@MagicInsider) June 15, 2012"

If this is indeed the true leaning of the organization, it's probably for the best. Howard's candy-grubbing courtship has been an absolute disaster, and though NBA teams have shown themselves willing to go to great lengths to attract and appease stars, the Magic allowed their entire franchise to be derailed in their attempts to lock up Howard long-term. This is a case where we're inevitably bound by some kind of consequentialism, but nevertheless, there's something to be said about a team working in its best interests without making a mockery of itself. Believe it or not, there's room in this superstar-driven league to still achieve both ends, rather than mindlessly cater to Howard's every cap-crippling and coach-firing desire.

This reboot may not be pretty for the Magic (though that ultimately depends on what stands to be gained in a trade for Howard), but it figures to be clean. In today's NBA, that matters; getting caught in the league's middle ground can be brutal, and if Orlando's new GM plays his cards right, the Magic could have the kinds of picks and young pieces to really anchor a rebuilding core.

That may be giving a team with an expensive arena too much credit, but both Bower and Lindsey strike me as far too capable to concede trading Howard for consolation veterans. The Magic can–and should–do well in trading Howard, and at the very least can get some players in uniform who aren't quite as self-serving as the former face of their franchise.