Dwight Howard spoke with Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco today on ESPN NewYork 98.7 FM and admitted something we all pretty much knew but never had confirmation.
Dwight Howard admitted Thursday that he wanted to be traded from the Orlando Magic to the Brooklyn Nets.
“I did want to go to Brooklyn. That’s a place where I told the Magic that I really wanted to go,” Howard, who was ultimately dealt to the Los Angeles Lakers. “[But] I was traded to the Lakers, and I think it was a blessing in disguise. … I think there’s a reason why everything happened the way it happened. So far it’s been an unbelievable experience for me. … It’s like a dream come true.”
Trade talks between Brooklyn and Orlando intensified once again in the offseason, with Nets general manager Billy King offering Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, Kris Humphries and four first-round draft picks to the Magic in exchange for Howard. But after a deal could not be consummated, the Nets elected to move on from their all-in pursuit of Howard, and Orlando GM Rob Henningan orchestrated a four-team blockbuster trade to send him to Los Angeles.
“The whole year a lot of people were making up a lot of stories about ‘this deal is getting close, that deal is getting close to being done,’ or whatever, but none of those deals were ever close,” Howard said.
“I thought I was going to get traded at the beginning of the year, actually, that’s when I asked for it. But everything happened for a reason. I had to go through last year to get to where I’m at today. It’s made me a stronger and better person for it. I had to go through the hell and the stormy forecast to come out to a place like this … and I’m thankful for it.”
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WRITTEN BY Mike Mazzeo | ESPNNewYork.com & FULL STORY HERE
