Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith refuted widely spread reports that star center Dwight Howard asked for coach Stan Van Gundy to be fired.

“He never asked me; I didn’t have that knowledge,” Smith said in an interview Saturday with ESPN.

Smith went on to confirm that Van Gundy would remain the coach in Orlando for the rest of the season. However, Smith was more noncommittal when asked if Van Gundy will return as head coach for 2012-13.

“Don’t have the answer for that,” Smith said. “I don’t have the answer to who’s going to be on our roster, either.”

In one of the more bizarre shootaround exchanges, Van Gundy told the media he was aware that Howard asked for him to be let go. Van Gundy said he could be fired and still have a good day. Howard walked into the interview and denied the allegations immediately after his coach made the claims.

On Saturday, Van Gundy took a different approach, telling the Orlando Sentinel he wants to return next season.

“I don’t have a scenario in my head where I wouldn’t,” Van Gundy said of coaching in Orlando. “They’re going to make decisions. But I’m a basketball coach, and I know this: I don’t want to go anywhere else. I mean, I love Orlando, and this is where I want to be. And I want to coach.”

WRITTEN BY ASN & FULL STORY HERE