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GustavBahler
Posts: 42817 Alba Posts: 15 Joined: 7/12/2010 Member: #3186 |
![]() http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7686147/orlando-magic-saying-trade-dwight-howard-absent-commitment-sources-say
Dwight Howard's public plea late Tuesday to remain in Orlando for the rest of the season has only served to anger the Magic and has instead pushed them closer than ever to trading their superstar center, according to league sources with knowledge of the situation. 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.
Tuesday night, Howard said he has talked with Magic owner Rich DeVos and other front-office executives about his desire to stay for the past two weeks. But Howard would not commit to signing a long-term contract extension and could opt out of his deal to enter free agency in the summer. The Magic believe Howard is legitimately torn about whether to leave or to stay in Orlando. 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 its players and assets, thereby enabling Howard to join a stronger Nets team this summer as a free agent, the sources said. If it had its druthers, New Jersey would indeed sign Howard as a free agent in July and team him with Brook Lopez, Marshon Brooks and the other solid role players they would lose this week in a trade 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 them long term. That being the case, they have thus far refused the temptation to engage Orlando in trade talks. |
MSG3
Posts: 22788 Alba Posts: 4 Joined: 2/2/2009 Member: #2476 USA |
![]() GustavBahler wrote:http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7686147/orlando-magic-saying-trade-dwight-howard-absent-commitment-sources-say I would only Do Amar'e and Tyson. I would hate to give up Tyson though only because of what a great team guy and defender he is. My favorite Knick by far since Spree. And I would only do it if Dwight stayed past this year. |
GustavBahler
Posts: 42817 Alba Posts: 15 Joined: 7/12/2010 Member: #3186 |
![]() MSG3 wrote:GustavBahler wrote:http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/7686147/orlando-magic-saying-trade-dwight-howard-absent-commitment-sources-say Me too, that's the deal I've been for if there were one. |