NBA Rumors: Magic's Waffling on Howard Trade Will Cost Team Dearly in Long Run

Much of the talk and rumors circling the NBA right now revolve around a potential trade involving Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. There are no shortage of suitors for the big man's services, but the inability of the Orlando front office to make up its mind about what exactly it's looking for in return may eventually result in the team getting nothing at all.

Sam Amico of FOX Sports recently reported that new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan has repeatedly changed trade terms at the last minute in negotiations. Amico states that this indecision may have been what dashed any hopes of a Howard-to-Brooklyn Nets deal.

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According to sources, the Magic have frustrated potential trading partners by continuously changing terms at the last minute. This supposedly dates back to their dealings with the Nets a few weeks back, when Nets GM Billy King felt an agreement that would send Howard to Brooklyn had been finalized, sources said.

Instead, the Nets re-signed their own free-agent center, Brook Lopez, eliminating themselves from landing Howard.

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Granted, Hennigan has every right to try to strike the best possible deal for his team, and it's vitally important that he try to get the best possible return for Howard, as this is a trade that could have a significant impact on the Orlando franchise for years to come.

Also, it's not like the Nets were the only team looking to land the six-time All-Star. The Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers and Cleveland Cavaliers have all expressed considerable interest in the 6'11" defensive dynamo, so it's not like Hennigan has run out of potential trade partners.

Yet.

Simply put, the vast majority of NBA teams aren't just going to sit on their hands and wait idly while free agency completely passes them by.

The Nets have already moved on, and while the Magic believe that "there's no need to rush when they possess the big asset everyone wants," according to Amico, the Lakers, Cavs and Rockets aren't going to wait forever while Hennigan tries to squeeze a little more out of a deal.

Also, the teams that Hennigan is trying to milk those last few drops from know the same thing that he and anyone who follows the NBA even casually knows: Howard isn't coming back to Orlando next year.

If Hennigan persists in overplaying his hand, then those clubs may follow Brooklyn's lead and just walk away from the table, biding their time until next year when all they have to do is pay Howard a truckload of money.

Hennigan may think he's dealing from a position of strength, but that belief is as much mirage as reality. If the Orlando GM isn't careful, all he and the Magic are going to end up with is one more year of Howard half-playing, followed by his bolting of Florida and leaving the Magic holding a big bag full of nothing.

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