Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
While the Orlando Magic are keeping all their options open, Dwight Howard is not.
There are only four teams that Howard would sign a long-term contract with, according to a source close to the situation… Check who they are after the jump…
— the Magic, New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks or Los Angeles Lakers.
That severely limits the trade possibilities for Orlando, which has said it will not rule out trading Howard to any of the league’s 29 other teams. Without a long-term commitment from Howard, no club is likely to put an enticing offer on the table.
Howard’s stance essentially relegates the Magic, whose ideal scenario is to re-sign Howard, to talking trades with only the Nets, Mavericks and Lakers.
There has been speculation that Chicago Bulls might be a possible destination for Howard since the Bulls offer a big city environment, a superstar in Derrick Rose, and plenty of talent to send back to Orlando. But Howard’s refusal to sign there ends that possibility.
While Orlando will field offers for their All-Star center, they also will take their time in an attempt to rebuild their relationship and improve the strength of their team.
New Magic CEO Alex Martins met with Howard when he arrived at Amway Center Monday morning. Afterward, Howard sounded like he’d softened on the possibility of staying in Orlando as long as there are some changes.
“I love this city, there is no place I’d rather be but Orlando,” Howard said. “I just want to make sure we have the right things here so we can win a championship. I’m all about change. If you’re willing to change and you’re willing to do what it takes to win then, you know, you got me.”
Martins, who took over at CEO just last week after the surprising resignation of Bob Vander Weide, is making a strong public stance that the franchise believes it can keep Howard and convince him to extend his contract. Howard has the option to become a free agent next summer, which created the leverage to force a trade.
On Friday the Magic announced they would allow Howard to speak with the Lakers, Nets and Mavericks about a trade.
A day later Howard announced he’d indeed asked to be traded. Then on Sunday night he followed up with an explanation that his relationship with Magic general manager Otis Smith had eroded, in part, because Smith had not acquired players Howard had suggested over the last several years.
WRITTEN BY Chris Broussard is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. ESPN.com’s Marc Stein and Brian Windhorst contributed to this report & FULL STORY HERE
Follow Chris Broussard on Twitter:Â @chris_broussard
