Dwight Howard: Orlando is First Choice

[CameronCrazy06]

Dwight Howard is not planning on following Shaquille O'Neal's lead and bolting the Orlando Magic via fee agency.

Or so Howard is saying a year before the he hits the open market following next season. The center is is under contract with the Magic through the 2012-13 season, but can terminate the deal a year early.

O'Neal, looking to take his talents to Hollywood, left the Magic for the Los Angeles Lakers after the 1995-96 season.

"I'm not trying to run behind nobody like Shaq or be behind somebody else," Howard told the Orlando Sentinel Monday.

"I want to start my own path and I want people to follow my path and not just follow somebody else's path. I want to have my own path, and I want to start that here in Orlando. But I can't do it alone. Not only do I need the right teammates, but I need the city behind me. That's the only way it's going to get done. We can change this small city that we have -- this small market that we have -- and we can make it a big market."

In order to make that leap it appears the Magic would have to re-tool its roster to appease Howard. Following its first-round playoff ouster by the Atlanta Hawks, the Magic brass would have to give the All-NBA center a stronger supposting cast to make the club a bigger threat to win a championship.

A deeper run in the playoffs would perhaps give Howard even more reason to stay put in Orlando.

"As of right now, I'm a part of the Orlando Magic and I plan to be here," Howard told the newspaper.

"And I want the Magic to do whatever they can to make sure that we can get our city behind us. That's the only thing that I want to happen: just to have the city behind me and the support of our fans. I never said I was leaving. I never, ever thought about leaving. That's basically where my head is right now. I never said anything to them (the Magic) about what my plans were because that's not what I'm focused on right now."

Suck a dick DWill.

 

[VC15]

In order to make that leap it appears the Magic would have to re-tool its roster to appease Howard.

AND

But I can't do it alone. Not only do I need the right teammates

This is not happening. Dwight is leaving, it's just a matter of where at this point.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Lol okay have fun losing Deron next year/

 

[VC15]

Lol okay have fun losing Deron next year/

We actually have room to improve, unlike the Tragic, and we likely will.

Dwight will come here before we lose Deron. I'm not even saying that Dwight is going to be a Net.

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Deron is as good as gone next year.

 

[DJT]

lol Dwight is staying...get over it. Deron or CP3 will join him in Orlando.

 

[bosoxlover12]

Dwill how can you say anyone would go to NJ... the whole brooklyn thing means shit. Melo basically declined a trade to NJ, and out of all the great FAs this offseason, the best you got was what, jordan farmar? travis outlaw? smh nobody wants to be a Net

 

[CameronCrazy06]

Probably the first and last time I will ever positive-rep Bosox.

 

[BwareDWare94]

This was the easiest way for Howard to confirm that he intends to leave, haha.

 

[Lake Louise]

I don't see him leaving, but they still need to get better guys around him, or next time they wont be so lucky.

 

[Dorado]

they needa dump Gilberts and Hedo contract. That shit is killin em

 

[Pugz]

lol Dwight is staying...get over it. Deron or CP3 will join him in Orlando.

please explain to me how that happens? they opt out of a max contract for the mle?

 

[DJT]

I'm sure Orlando will find a way to make an appealing offer to them. Most likely will be a sign and trade.

 

[VC15]

I'm sure Orlando will find a way to make an appealing offer to them. Most likely will be a sign and trade.

I thought the Knicks are the only team that can ignore the salary cap rules.

Orlando has no trade assets, except for Dwight.

Dwill how can you say anyone would go to NJ... the whole brooklyn thing means shit. Melo basically declined a trade to NJ, and out of all the great FAs this offseason, the best you got was what, jordan farmar? travis outlaw? smh nobody wants to be a Net

Wow.

http://www.complex.com/sports/2011/05/carmelo-anthony-thought-he-was-going-to-the-nets

Melo wanted the Knicks, but he mainly wanted his money. He was lucky that Dolan was so willing to overpay for a player he could've had for free. It's obvious that he would have signed with us.

We got the better player at the deadline (the best-player in the tri-state area), who has given every indication that he wants to be around for Brooklyn.

Suck on it.

Stick to eating clam-chowder and bandwagoning on New England area teams.

 

[Pugz]

I'm sure Orlando will find a way to make an appealing offer to them. Most likely will be a sign and trade.

who, gilbert, hedo, jameer? jameer would be the only player to consider but its faaaaaar from enough.

 

[DJT]

they have a few more interesting pieces...Bass, Clark could be nice on some teams, Pietrus, maybe someone is interested in Ryan Anderson...etc.

 

[Pugz]

they have a few more interesting pieces...Bass, Clark could be nice on some teams, Pietrus, maybe someone is interested in Ryan Anderson...etc.

pietrus? they gonna get him back from phoenix? earl clark is not a trade piece, neither is bass.

 

[DJT]

lol yes they are...Bass, Clark could all be big role players, Bass could start on a lot of teams.

LOL crap forgot the Suns got Pietrus

Duhon, Redick, JRich all could be good.

 

[Pugz]

jrich is a free agent. jj has a pretty hefty contract. bass, jj, and jameer are the most tradeable. hedo and gilbert are must moves..but they both played like shit so they wont go far.

picks wont go nowhere cause their still a 50 win team.

 

[DJT]

Gil and Hedo could possibly bounce back still...if they are on like the Cavs or Wolves or somewhere like that.