Dwight will not opt-in according to ESPN's Marc Stein
How is this wrong?
NBA players get cut for no reason whatsoever and are not even told. Some players find out they've been traded or released via Twitter or ESPN. Hell, Monta Ellis was already getting ready for his game last night and he was traded.
He did his part during his contract and now it's time for him to get another contract, whether it's with the Magic or not. The NBA is a business, there are no feelings involved. They had 8 years to get it together and they never did. The best player Dwight has ever played with is an old Vince Carter, an old Hedo Turkoglu, and Jameer Nelson.
^His right to go somewhere else and play where he wants to play in one thing.
Playing with the Magic and flipfloping each day and not giving them an idea of his intentions and leading them to believe he might stay in a whole nother thing. This has turned into a circus, and that is the problem I have with the situation.
No-one pressured LeBron, D-Wade or STAT to make a similar move in 2010 and they all played out the season with their respective teams. What Orlando could get for a 20 odd game rental of Dwight would be limited and they would be loathe to take on anything bar expiring contracts I'd guess.
Ok the Magic need to just sit down and ask him a simple questions, "Dwight, do you want to stay long-term?" it's a yes or no question, if he says yes then they can get a deal done and make some trades to improve their team before the trade deadline. If he says no, they can try to trade him to get some pieces back for him. Enough of is "he didn't understand the ramifications" BS, this needs to stop for the good of the Magic, Dwight, and pretty much the whole league.
Can't blame Dwight for wanting to possibly leave Orlando after the year, look at their roster, no way they can contend with that team. Plus they have no assets to get another good player or cap room to sign a good player. Dwight isn't required to commit after this year, Orlando F'd up not surrounding Howard with good players, just like Cleveland, that's why James left, same reason Howard will be gone.
Honestly I think Howard would like to stay in Orlando, but it doesn't look like Orlando will be able to improve enough to be actual contenders, so he leaves, can't blame him for wanting to go to a better team.
The NBA, other pro sports, and even amateur sports now are all the same. Perception is reality. Dwight doesnt want to be another LBJ. This is damage control. I think I agree with Aamir if I understand what he is saying. My thing is, the league, the owners, the agents are all about playing games to gain leverage.
When Dwight came out and said he wanted to finish the year with the Magic, my first thought was "here he goes trying to be the good guy". Dont be fooled. He does NOT want to play there, anything else discussed is filler and for media/public perception.
Of course he will say the Magic is his first choice, why would he villify himself? Its pretty much forgone that he will not sign there long-term. Every player says that. Lebron said that all the way up until the decision. Melo said it in Denver. Even Cousins is saying it about Sacramento now, but I guarantee when his contract is up he will be out of there. Its a P.R. snow job. Plain and simple. Dont believe the hype.
This is complete Bull, and disrespectfull to the game of Basketball.
Dwight just had a conference call with the DeVoss family and told them that although the Magic are his first option, he will not opt-in right now.
And when asked why he was telling teamates and family that he was opting in, he, "didn't fully understand the ramifications" of surrendering his ETO and did so largely because Magic officials warned him that he would be traded by Thursday's 3 p.m. trading deadline if he did not take that step.
That is BS in my opinion, and one of my theories is that his agent refused to sign the ETO waiver form, and this is their cover up.
Dwight has been saying that if the Magic keep him they will have to roll the dice, basically saying that If he's in the mood of signing with them in July, he will, otherwise he's gone.
I now think Dwight is gone, because word is that if the ETO Waiver forn is signed by tonight, than he is Magic. If not, the Magic will trade him, and that is what I believe will happen.
Otis Smith knows his options and surely has deals on the table, but unfortunatly this is holding up several other deals like the Portland-LAL-Wolves deal.
I hope this circus ends soon, cause quite honestly I think it's a joke.
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7688201/sources-dwight-howard-not-give...