Howard Opts In

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

Dwight Howard has told several teammates, as well as members of the Orlando Magic organization, that he will not opt out of his contract at the end of this season, sources close to the situation said.

That would mean Howard would remain under contract in Orlando through the 2012-2013 season.

Howard has not signed a waiver of his early termination option at this point, which means nothing is guaranteed yet. Both Howard and his representation must sign the documentation.

This latest development comes one day after league sources with knowledge of the situation said Howard's public plea late Tuesday to remain in Orlando for the rest of the season only served to anger the Magic and has pushed them closer than ever to trading their superstar center.

Convinced that Howard, on the advice of his agent, is trying to manipulate the situation, the Magic are telling teams they will trade Howard before Thursday's 3 p.m. ET deadline if he does not commit to them beyond this season, league sources said.

"Dwight's dreaming if he thinks Orlando won't trade him without a commitment,'' a source said. "He needs to make some small commitment to them. They're saying it can't be one way.''

While the Magic would like Howard to sign a maximum extension that would keep him in Orlando through the 2014-2015 season, they would settle for a commitment from him to not opt out of the final year of his current contract. That would give the Magic more time to pull off a trade for a star to play beside him, enhancing their chances of keeping him long-term.

The tension between the two sides has grown. According to sources, the Magic are incensed with Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, who they believe has manipulated Howard and is the driving force behind his push to leave the franchise.

ESPN the Magazine's Ric Bucher, citing sources, reported Tuesday that the club had given Howard the right to decide the fates of general manager Otis Smith and coach Stan Van Gundy. The team responded to that report with a brief statement asserting that only ownership would make such changes.

And the Magic believe Fegan's statement Tuesday afternoon, in which he denied Howard had asked for or wanted that power, was nothing but a ploy to put the team in a bad light.

Already bothered, Orlando was angered even more by Howard's comments after Tuesday's victory over Miami, when he said he wanted to stay with the Magic throughout the season. When asked about the risk the Magic would be taking by doing that, Howard said they should "roll the dice."

Howard said Tuesday night that he has talked with Magic owner Rich DeVos and other front-office executives the past two weeks about his desire to stay.

The Magic believe Howard is legitimately torn. But they also believe his comments Tuesday were a ploy to allow the New Jersey Nets, the team Howard requested a trade to in the preseason, to keep their players and assets, thereby enabling Howard to join a stronger Nets team this summer as a free agent, sources said.

Upset and ready to move Howard unless he changes his stance, the Magic have essentially told other teams -- most notably the Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers -- to let the bidding begin.

If it had its druthers, New Jersey indeed would sign Howard as a free agent in July and team him with Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks and the other solid role players it would lose this week if it traded for Howard.

Even so, sources say the Nets are hoping to trade for Howard this week to bring certainty and closure to their situation. While they feel strongly about their chances of landing him as a free agent, they realize that nothing is certain in free agency and that Dallas is a real threat to sign both Howard and Nets point guard Deron Williams.

The Lakers have been active in talks around the league, mainly about trading Pau Gasol and adding a point guard, but sources say they are still interested in Howard as well.

The Magic would also be interested in a Knicks package of Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler, sources say, should the Knicks make such an offer.

The Knicks have discussed the deal internally but have been given no indication that Howard would remain with the Knicks long-term if the deal takes place. That being the case, they have thus far refused the temptation to engage Orlando in trade talks.

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7686147/sources-orlando-magic-dwight-howard-opt-end-season

Wow he just completely screwed the Nets over. Nets have to trade Deron now.

 

[casmith07]

For now. Trade deadline is tomorrow.

 

[NeonNinja]

If he stays, Deron will be traded.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

If he stays, Deron will be traded.

Hopefully to us.

 

[NeonNinja]

Hopefully to us.

LA will be all over that.

 

[The30YardSlant]

If he doesnt get dealt by tomorrow then he's a lock to be a Maverick next season and most think Dwight will follow him. Even if he does get traded there arent many places he'd be willing to sign an extension and he'll end up in Dallas anyway, which is precisely why I doubt he'll be traded. It's been his dream to play in Big D for a long time.

 

[jterrell]

If he doesnt get dealt by tomorrow then he's a lock to be a Maverick next season and most think Dwight will follow him. Even if he does get traded there arent many places he'd be willing to sign an extension and he'll end up in Dallas anyway, which is precisely why I doubt he'll be traded. It's been his dream to play in Big D for a long time.

Yup. His little brother just finished a fine senior season as the point guard for our local high school. Deron's momma still lives here and he has an AAU team here.

He wants to come back home provided he has the team to win it all.

And he knows how to add; so the tax-rich NYC area isn't all that special to him.

 

[juck]

Hopefully to us.

He wont stay there however.He is comin home.

 

[casmith07]

even if they trade him he likely won't sign an extension unless he gets traded to Orlando or the Lakers, somewhere with a shot to win.

It won't happen, and so he'll probably be in Dallas next year, along with Dwight. Huge youth injection to go along with veteran grizzledness. Dallas will be a lock for the Western Conference crown next year.

 

[juck]

Now its reported he is not opting in.

 

[Cowboys&LakersFan]

This dude is a ****ing indecisive *** clown.

In an exclusive interview Dwight Howard has confirmed to me that he will in opt-in and stay in Orlando for at least another year.

Make up your ****ing mind Dwight.

 

[Gator88]

This dude is a ****ing indecisive *** clown.



Make up your ****ing mind Dwight.

Living near Orlando, it's gotten to a point where it's actually funny. He waffles in every decision he makes. At least he has to decide by the deadline soon.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

He did an interview with Jarrod Rudolph of RealGM after the game last night and said he was opting in.

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/219756/Dwight_Howard_Confirms_Hell_Sign_Opt_In_Before_Deadline

"I have gotten some bad advice," said Howard. "I apologize for this circus I have caused to the fans of our city. They didn't deserve none of this."

Dwight has had a lot of emotions this season, but he is a genuinely good guy and Orlando is lucky to have him for the community as well as his game. He sounds sincere. I am hopeful, but we will see.

The Magic brass are somewhat suspicious that his agent was trying to drag this out so that the Nets would have a high pick in the draft to go along with Dwight and Williams. If that opt in isn't signed by early afternoon then Dwight will be traded by 3:00.

 

[AZBOYZFAN]

I dont know what he wants. Its proven he can win a championship in Orlando. They have beat all the top teams in teh NBA and he was in the finals and the eastern confernce finals he just needs to step up his game

 

[YosemiteSam]

I'm betting he decided to wait (another year) for a specific team to clear salary.

 

[juck]

He will be a Mav in 2013 if DWILL comes home.

 

[DFWJC]

He has changed his mind so much that the team actually did not accept the signiture last night but told him to "sleep on it".
His decision is pending today (Thursday).

 

[YosemiteSam]

I dont know what he wants. Its proven he can win a championship in Orlando. They have beat all the top teams in teh NBA and he was in the finals and the eastern confernce finals he just needs to step up his game

It's proven? He has exactly ZERO rings. :laugh2:

The east has a difficult time beating the west. The west have better teams. Only 3 of the last 13 NBA Champions were from the east. They (Orlando) will never get past Miami as it currently stands.

 

[JohnnyHopkins]

He will be a Mav in 2013 if DWILL comes home.

Here are the other players Dwight has stated he would like to play with aside from Williams (and even asked the Magic to trade for):

Chris Paul - Free Agent 2013
Monta Ellis - Early Term Free Agent 2013 (Magic tried to get a three way trade wit Bucks and Golden State but were booted at the last minute)
Andre Iguadala - Early Term Free Agent 2013
Josh Smith (Dwight's best friend) - Free Agent 2013 (Magic have been discussing three way trades with the Hawks on and off since July 2011)

Dwight is opting in to see if the Magic can find a way to get one or more of these guys. He actually wants to stay in Orlando, but has been frustrated with some of the Magic Front Office moves.

He would simply have opted out if he wanted to play with DWill. It may still happen, but he is giving Orlando a shot to land one of his guys first.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I wife is a huge Monta Ellis fan. My problem with him is he doesn't play defense. He was the quintessential Don Nelson player.