NBA Trade Rumors: Magic Play Dangerous Game in Calling off Dwight Howard Talks

The Orlando Magic have called off all talks for star center Dwight Howard. It's a move that is nothing short of a dangerous gamble. 

There are really only two things that can be going on behind the scenes in Orlando: Either they firmly believe they can keep Howard beyond next summer, or they think that the market will only improve for the best center in the NBA. 

Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski reported the Magic's decision to call off their trade talks for Dwight Howard. By his assessment, Howard was none too pleased. 

The report cited a source who intimated, "Dwight’s not a happy camper." That is the opposite of what the Magic need right now. This is a player that they supposedly want to keep in Orlando, and the only way to do that is to make him smile on a consistent basis.

They can keep up the charade of entertaining trades if they need to. In a sense, they could do what the Hornets just did and wait until the perfect deal comes across the table.

What they can't do is bank on a team giving them a better offer in March when the NBA landscape will be set. Those in the playoff hunt will not want to gut the team, only to see their chemistry falter with one new superstar gracing their roster.

Meanwhile, teams that are out of the running won't send off their valuable talent when they can merely reload and possibly get Howard for free in the summer.

In fact, this is a gamble that borders on a classic bluff by the Magic. They know that unless some very good talent comes to Orlando, Howard is gone.

The only thing they have bought is time to mull about life without Howard. It's a foregone conclusion that he will leave—especially now that he is angry over the ending of trade talks.

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