NBA Rumors: Magic Will Pay Heavy Price for Not Getting Dwight Howard Deal Done

The Orlando Magic have, once again, frustrated another potential trading partner for Dwight Howard.

According to Ken Berger of CBSSports.com, the Magic are unsatisfied with the latest offer that the Los Angeles Lakers have put forth and will continue to hold out for a better deal.

This idea is going to backfire terribly.

Magic GM Rob Hennigan has to realize that Howard will be departing via free agency next year and his team will get absolutely nothing in return for the big man if that were to happen.

The organization already passed up on a lucrative package from the Brooklyn Nets that included star center Brook Lopez, emerging guard MarShon Brooks and multiple first-round picks to rebuild around.

Hennigan’s hesitancy now has the Magic in the unenviable position of trying to trade with L.A., who cannot directly give them any first-round picks because of the Steve Nash trade and Ted Stepien clause that dictates franchises may not trade first-rounders in consecutive years.

This means a third party must be brought in, a team likely willing to take on Andrew Bynum, in order to appease Orlando's desire to have numerous first-round draft picks to build around.

While that would normally not be a problem due to Bynum’s immense size and skill, he only has one year left on his deal. It would be reckless for a GM to mortgage the future of their franchise for possibly one year of the 24-year-old’s services.

The longer Hennigan continues to hold out and wait for a better trade offer, the less likely he is to get one. It’s doubtful that the team will find any that compare to the one they rejected from Brooklyn.

Since the Lakers and other teams are saving cap space for DH12, business around the league is currently at a crawl. These franchises will soon get so frustrated that—like the Nets—they will just give up and start signing other free agents.

When that happens, Orlando will be stuck with Howard and will likely watch him just walk away by this time next year.