Dwight Howard: Why Orlando Magic Would Be Foolish to Let Howard Test Free Agency

Even though no trade that the Orlando Magic try to set up seems to be working, Rob Hennigan must continue his attempt to move Dwight Howard as soon as possible.

It would be foolish and utterly absurd to allow Howard to test free agency during the summer of 2013. 

If Hennigan gets a great deal, he should obviously do it. However, he should pull the trigger now even if he's being offered far less than market value would dictate.

Keeping Howard until next summer has absolutely no benefit whatsoever to the Magic. 

This team isn't going to compete for a title and it will be lucky to even find itself in the postseason when the 2012-2013 regular season draws to an end. Not many of the playoff teams in the Eastern Conference moved in a backwards direction, while the Milwaukee Bucks, Cleveland Cavaliers and Washington Wizards are all clamoring for a berth in the postseason. 

Subjecting the Magic to another full season of questionable effort and enthusiasm from Howard isn't a good idea.

Hennigan has already turned down a couple of deals, most notably from the Houston Rockets and Brooklyn Nets.

Why? So he can hold out and get a better deal, one that might never be coming?

With every extra day that he waits to pull the trigger now, Howard's value decreases just a little bit. By December, when recently signed players like Brook Lopez are able to be traded again, Hennigan's asking price is going to have to go down as well.

It would be foolish for the Magic to let Howard test free agency. Hennigan knows this. Howard knows this. Other teams know this.

If Howard remains in Orlando throughout this next season, the Magic risk losing him for absolutely nothing. At the very best, they could get back a few pieces in a sign-and-trade.

Any deal on the table now would likely give the Magic far more in return for their star center than they'd be getting next summer.

Letting Howard become a free agent is the last thing that Orlando wants to do.