Orlando Magic: A "Long and Whining Road" with NBA All-Star Dwight Howard

NBA All-Star center Dwight Howard continues his "long and whining road" with the Orlando Magic. 

Though eligible to opt out of his current contract with the Magic in July 2012, Howard yesterday reiterated his request to be traded to either the Dallas Mavericks, the New Jersey Nets or the Los Angeles Lakers.  

Speculation surrounding Howard's pending free agency started several years ago at the same time the Magic announced plans to construct the dazzling new Amway Center, a world class sports and entertainment venue.

Magic management hoped that Howard would mature both physically and emotionally and would officially make Orlando his permanent NBA home by signing with the team before July 2012. 

However, Howard's on-again, off-again trade requests are growing tiresome and annoying to central Florida fans, who had immediately embraced him as a fresh-faced teenager after the Magic made him the league's No. 1 pick in 2004. 

Orlando Magic fans will soon discover that Howard's idea of a future NBA home apparently doesn't include the Amway Center or their smaller-market city synonymous with Disney World.

(Even though many NBA insiders believe that the 26-year-old, personally immature and fickle Howard is more suited for the tepid Mickey Mouse-oriented environment of the Magic Kingdom than the searing spotlight of the Big Apple, Big D or Hollywood.)

Howard's physical development on the court has been overwhelmingly positive, as the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year now boasts the NBA's most chiseled physique.

However, Howard's lack of demonstrable leadership and poise on the court, his penchant for petty bickering with team officials off the court, and his glaring liability from the free-throw line during key games have all led him down his current "long and whining road" of basketball relationships.

Namely with:

*Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy, who has openly feuded with the NBA All-Pro and has voiced his frustration concerning Howard's immaturity and lack of leadership. 

*Magic general manager Otis Smith, with whom Howard has childishly engaged in off-court spats.

*NBA referees, who whistled the easily-irritated No. 12 for a league-leading 18 technical fouls during the 2010/2011 season.

And now with: 

*Loyal Orlando Magic fans, who have painfully now heard D12 publicly confess that he's done all he possibly can in Orlando—well, er, maybe except make free throws. Howard's woeful career free-throw shooting costs his team points and will always make him a part of the opposing team's "Hack-a-Shaq" strategy during crunch time of key games. 

Yes, Dwight Howard may be one of the NBA's top talents and most engaging players. However, this self-proclaimed basketball Superman (much to Shaq's chagrin) needs to mature fast, measure his words, listen to his coach, make nice with his GM and NBA officials and, most importantly, make free throws. 

Otherwise, NBA fans will continue hearing him whine, and his road to an NBA title will be far longer and much more winding...whether it'll be in Orlando, Dallas, Los Angeles or Brooklyn.    

MIKE—aka Mike Raffone—thee ultimate talking head on sports! 

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