[HotSnotParticipant]

http://www.nba.com/2011/news/06/13/dwight-howard-free-agency-future/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt2

Was there ever any doubt?  Lebron, Wade, Bosh, Amare, Melo… they all played out a full seasons worth of hype.  That old saying "there’s no such thing as bad publicity" is still in full effect in the NBA.  Get ready for another year of Trade Rumors and "What ifs" where Dwight Howards name will be on the tip of everyones tongue. 

I don’t blame Howard but he’s been saying this without actually saying it for the last 18 months.  He says he loves Orl. and there’s no reason to doubt him, but he loves winning even more.  Garnett brought up an excellent point last offseason when Lebron was faced with The Decision.  Loyalty got him nowhere.  "Its just business" has been so abused by teams and owners for so long that players have started becoming just as cold.  Teams aren’t nearly as loyal to their players as they would have you believe.

D12’s options are now to leave via FA to chase championships or remain loyal and fight it out season after season with inferior odds.  Control your own destiny or have faith in your GM to draft and trade his way into a team capable of helping you get to where you want to be?  Is your GM going to slap a bandaid solution on glaring problems by overpaying for average talent, making poor trade decisions and fuddling his way through bad drafts over and over again?  The answer in Orl is Yes!  They Magic possess a roster of mismatched parts and overrated players.  They have not one but two of the WORST contracts in the NBA accounting for half of their salary cap.  They won’t sniff at a lottery pick for quite sometime.  Can you blame Howard for asking himself "whats to look forward to?" 

From Howards perspective the Magic regressed this season.  They didn’t take that next step towards a championship.  The Magic got soundly beat by a Hawks team they crushed by a historical margin during last years playoffs.  A Hawks team that made virtually no offseason improvements.  

So where does D12 go from here?  Howard didn’t mince words.  Howard is not "keeping his options open".  Howard WILL become a free agent and see where things go from there. Remember… Howard said "he will become a free agent".  Sounds like he’s not going to sign off on a trade anywhere. 

By making such a declaration right now the Magic now have a year to trade Howard… to a team he is willing to resign long term with.  Howard also gives many other teams in the NBA sufficient notice to prepare to have cap space for himself and potentially DWill or CP3.  If the Nets don’t pull off a trade for Howard, you can pretty much assume DWill will become a free agent aswell.  DWill wants options too.  Don’t forget about Paul… I’m sure he’s looking at the lay of the land in N.O. and thinking "what if"? 

Its too bad the NYK’s shot themselves in both feet by giving virtually every tradeable asset and young prospect they have on their roster to acquire Melo… who would have signed with them in the offseason anyways.  I think that scenario taught next offseasons big 3 a valueable lesson.  Don’t accept a trade out of "Loyalty" to the team your leaving so that they get assets in return.  All it does is strip your new team of valuable parts you will need to help you win a championship.  If Howard does indeed ride it out untill next offseason and refuses to sign a long term extension with any team interested in trading for him… things should be looking pretty bright for him in the 12-13 season. 

[What The DevilParticipant]

 I’m more interested in who the Magic will trade him to. They can’t make any trades because the contracts they have are horrible. I can’t think of any team that they could trade him to and get fair value. I don’t think the Bynum trade will happen. I kinda see him going to NJ in free agency and teaming up with Deron for when they move to Brooklyn.

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

Of course he will do a sign and trade because there is absolutely no drawback to a sign and trade since he will get max money and will be able to approve the team he is getting traded to.

How would you like a sign and trade of Howard for Bosh? Howard would agree to it and Bosh can go back to being "the Man" on Orlando. Of course there are two reasons why that won’t happen. First, the super friends won’t allow the three musketeers to get broken up like that. I think Wade and Lebron have that type of personal loyalty and friendship with Bosh. Second, Orlando would know that it would create a monster that couldn’t be beaten and it would be suicidal to make a team in its own State that much better.

But sign and trade to New York for Melo? Hmm . . . I’d do that if I was the Knicks in a heartbeat.

[natedogggParticipant]

would magic fans be happy with a trade with the nets involving brook lopez and other pieces?

[tubbyman1Participant]

 Howard is staying with the magic for sure even though i want him 2 go 2 the lakers so bad. He said over memorilla day weekend (excuse me 4 my terrible spelling) that he was working out a deal with management to get resigned it’s just a matter of time. Dwight is just that kind of person with that type of loyalty that he will fight it out for orlando the city he has grown to love. However orlando definateley needs 2 make some moves p get him some help and I think he should have some say in those decisions. 

[LeroyJenkinsParticipant]

"would magic fans be happy with a trade with the nets involving brook lopez and other pieces?"

ಠ_ಠ

[I NO NOTHINGParticipant]

dwights words doesnt want to follow shaqs path, wants his own. The lakers can only get via trade no free agency so that means if your going to sign him better trade your guys so you can pay him. so that leaves it to nets they need this trade more than anyone because if dwill leaves they may be worse team in all of sports. Those are his top 2 choices hes definitly not coming back to magic because they wont build or have the right guys also pieces to move.

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