Orlando Magic Reportedly Willing to Wait on Dwight Howard Deal
There's no end in sight for the Dwight Howard saga, especially with the newest twist in this bizarre journey.
According to ESPN's Chris Broussard, a Magic exec has told NBA executives that they may keep Howard.
"The Orlando Magic have told rival executives that they might not trade Dwight Howard after all, according to league sources.
An executive who has had discussions with the Magic regarding Howard said Orlando only will trade the star center in a deal that is great for the franchise. The executive said this has been Orlando's stance for the past "week or so."
Another executive who has talked with Orlando said he thinks the Magic may start the season with Howard and wait until the February trade deadline to move him.
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Throw more mixed signals on top of the plethora of confusion we've faced already. Any phrase that doesn't include the word "imminent" should have NBA fans screaming a collective "are you kidding me?" I don't see the word in there; do you?
Broussard goes on to discuss the Rockets and Lakers. Both franchises have been in hot pursuit of Howard from Day 1, but both their front offices claim the feeling that Orlando doesn't want to move its star center.
Well, it doesn't matter at this point. It's not a matter of if the Magic will lose Howard, it's a matter of when. There's not a package in the world that's less valuable than having a top star walk away for absolutely nothing in return.
Orlando really has nothing to gain here. The packages aren't going to get better, Howard's stock isn't going to get higher and he's not going to be any happier than he was before. Rather than let him fester on this team like an infected wound, Rob Hennigan and Co. should move him immediately.
Instead, NBA fans everywhere are kept on notice. Howard's "look-at-me" act will be allowed to continue, and the Magic will keep searching for a brighter option.
If they find one, Hennigan is a genius, but that doesn't seem possible at this point.
