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Dwight Howard has an early-termination option on the last year of his contract (2012-13) and thus can exercise it and become a free agent after the 2011-12 season.
And as Ken Berger of CBS Sports notes, there has been some indication Howard hasn't 100 percent married himself to the Magic before their trade deals on Saturday.
"People with knowledge of Howard's thinking said the superstar is on board with Orlando's moves, with one saying he's 'a big fan' of the changes," wrote Berger. "But as he grew restless over the summer about the developments in South Florida, and as the Magic were exposed in recent weeks, Howard privately already was beginning to weigh his options. Like the list of stars he wanted to join him in Orlando, he was forming another list: potential suitors for him. Two teams were on it, according to sources: the Knicks and Lakers."
Like Berger, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher is also hearing the Lakers whispers, which we've reflected below.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports adds more to all this, writing it's possible it might be championship or bust for Orlando to keep Howard.
"As the Magic GM tore apart one of the best teams in the NBA, the words hung over his every machination," he wrote. "To keep Howard, the mandate's unmistakable: nothing short of a championship."
So while Howard may like the team's recent changes, it's possible how they perform this year and next -- whether the Magic can contend for, or make, the NBA Finals -- may go a long way towards revealing what Howard's future holds.
And as Ken Berger of CBS Sports notes, there has been some indication Howard hasn't 100 percent married himself to the Magic before their trade deals on Saturday.
"People with knowledge of Howard's thinking said the superstar is on board with Orlando's moves, with one saying he's 'a big fan' of the changes," wrote Berger. "But as he grew restless over the summer about the developments in South Florida, and as the Magic were exposed in recent weeks, Howard privately already was beginning to weigh his options. Like the list of stars he wanted to join him in Orlando, he was forming another list: potential suitors for him. Two teams were on it, according to sources: the Knicks and Lakers."
Like Berger, ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher is also hearing the Lakers whispers, which we've reflected below.
Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports adds more to all this, writing it's possible it might be championship or bust for Orlando to keep Howard.
"As the Magic GM tore apart one of the best teams in the NBA, the words hung over his every machination," he wrote. "To keep Howard, the mandate's unmistakable: nothing short of a championship."
So while Howard may like the team's recent changes, it's possible how they perform this year and next -- whether the Magic can contend for, or make, the NBA Finals -- may go a long way towards revealing what Howard's future holds.
Originally posted by ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher
So this year is melo hype, next year will be dwight howard..
shades of 96
)
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