NBA Trade Rumors: Magic Should Take Best Offer for Dwight Howard and Move on

The Dwight Howard saga has gone on long enough. It's time for the Orlando Magic to take the best offer available and allow everybody involved to put the entire ordeal in the past.

There are multiple options on the table for the Magic with the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets emerging as the most interested teams, according to Ken Berger of CBS Sports. Berger also states the Magic are in no hurry to complete a deal, however.

That doesn't make much sense. While it's understandable they are trying to increase Howard's value by making it seem like they aren't pushing him out the door, it's hard to believe another general manager would be fooled by that tactic.

It's clear the relationship between Howard and the Magic organization has been slowly crumbling since prior to the trade deadline last season when this entire mess began. Even though he ultimately exercised his player option to stay another season, there's still plenty of tension there.

If there was any doubt about that, it was erased when Orlando used both of its draft picks on post players. The Magic added the versatile Andrew Nicholson and the intriguing Kyle O'Quinn, ensuring they would have some young depth if a deal for Howard was finally reached.

Keeping Howard in the mix any longer really doesn't do the team any good. He's become the biggest distraction possible, and the chances of him remaining a key part of the organization beyond next season are microscopic.

Instead of letting the issues carry on any longer, it's time for the Magic to get serious about getting Howard off the roster. Let the Lakers, Nets and any potential sleeper teams in the mix know that he will go to the highest bidder.

The franchise can't continue to get held down by a dissatisfied player, no matter how good he can be on the court. At the end of the day, talent is only part of the equation.

Howard might be worth the risk to the Lakers, who are building up for another run at the NBA title after acquiring Steve Nash, or the Nets, who are looking to add more star power as they head to Brooklyn. He isn't worth the headache to the Magic.

Moving him would finally give Orlando's front office some freedom and allow them to start plotting a strategy for the future. Depending on the deal, things might get worse before they get better, but the Magic certainly can't afford to lose him for nothing at season's end.

So, rather than delaying the inevitable, it's time for the front office to send Howard on his way and get to work upgrading the roster in other ways.