Dwight Howard Trade Rumors: Magic Must Make a Move Before Losing Him for Nothing

Throughout the offseason, I've been a proponent of the Orlando Magic holding onto Dwight Howard until the NBA trade deadline in order to get maximum value in return for the All-Star center.

However, with Howard's on-again, off-again trade demands that seem to switch more often than I change the channel on the television, the time may be rapidly approaching that the Magic deal him before they lose him for nothing.

The Magic pulled Howard off the market, but Howard said his trade demand still stands.

Howard has flip-flopped on this issue quite a bit in the past couple of weeks. It has gotten to the point that you don't know whether to believe anything that comes out of his mouth.

You can't rule out the fact that Howard could change his stance and decide to remain in Orlando then change his mind again after it's too late for the Magic to get anything for him.

Magic GM Otis Smith needs to get value for Howard and get it soon.

One thing he can't do, though, is overvalue Howard.

They had a chance to acquire Brook Lopez, Gerald Wallace and a first-round pick for Howard. That's a hard deal to pass up.

Despite Smith's claims that he won't give in to dealing Howard to the teams on his wish list, he really has no choice. The only way he will get value for Howard is if he signs an extension with the team he is dealt to.

Ultimately, Smith is going to have to deal Howard and likely soon.