Dwight Howard Says He's Playing in ORL for 12-13 Season

[EmpireWF]

Is he telling the truth?

Dwight Howard has informed the Magic that he will play the option year of his contract in 12-13 with the team, sources have confirmed.

Christian Bruey of WFTV initially reported Howard's intentions following a meeting with the Magic.

Howard has not signed the paperwork, but he has told multiple people of his intentions.

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo!, Howard called a meeting with his teammates in San Antonio and told them he was "all in" for the remainder of the season. He also reports that Howard didn't explicitly tell his teammates that he was opting in for next season.

The Nets have long been hoping to pair Howard with Deron Williams, who also can become a free agent this summer.

Howard also put the Lakers and Mavericks on his list of preferred destinations if the Magic were to trade him.



Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wireta...Option_Year_Of_12_13_With_Magic#ixzz1p821f6ZK

 

[ralaw]

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo!, Howard called a meeting with his teammates in San Antonio and told them he was "all in" for the remainder of the season. He also reports that Howard didn't explicitly tell his teammates that he was opting in for next season.

This part sounds more accurate.

No new is no news. They need to trade him.

 

[FedEx227]

They are going to make him sign something so they don't get Boozer'd like Cleveland.

 

[EmpireWF]

So Orlando will put the paperwork in front of him and ask him to sign it. If he does, no trade. If he doesn't, his ass is on the first flight out.

 

[jaxjaggywires]

So, turns out, like a woman, Dwight Howard can't make up his mind...

In a Wednesday night conference call with Orlando Magic officials before the team's game in San Antonio, Dwight Howard told the Magic he is not prepared to surrender the option to become a free agent at season's end.

Magic spokesman George Galante confirmed that Howard told the front office he won't waive the early termination clause in his contract. Although Howard says he wants to finish this season in Orlando, the Magic are looking for assurances their superstar wants to be around longer.

After numerous reports earlier Wednesday indicating Howard had agreed to waive his early termination option and lock himself into the final season of his contract with the Magic, Howard and agent Dan Fegan clarified their position in the conference call with Magic CEO Alex Martins, owner Rich De Vos and other members of the De Vos family.

"Dwight has chosen not to waive his ETO under pressure from the team that he might be traded," Fegan said in a statement. "However, Dwight expressed once again on a call today with the DeVos family and Alex Martins that he very much desires to pursue a championship this year with the Magic. Dwight also expressed that he had no intention of leaving the Magic high and dry at the end of the season."

During the call, sources said, Howard told the Magic that staying in Orlando is his first choice. But he also made it clear he was not prepared to relinquish the ETO in his contract that allows him to become a free agent.

"It's unheard of for a player of Dwight's caliber to do so," one source close to the situation told ESPN.com.

When asked why Howard told several teammates and members of the organization earlier in the day that he had, indeed, decided not to opt out of his contract, the source insisted Howard "didn't fully understand the ramifications" of surrendering his ETO and did so largely because Magic officials warned him that he would be traded by Thursday's 3 p.m. deadline if he did not take that step.

The Magic, meanwhile, continued throughout the day to field calls from teams interested in trading for Howard -- starting with the New Jersey Nets -- because the earlier verbal pledges from Howard to waive his ETO would not have become binding unless both he and Fegan formally signed a waiver.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

If I were an Orlando fan i'd be fed up with this bullshit.

Trade this malcontent and start over.

 

[Rudi]

I don't believe this shit one bit. Once its 3 PM tomorrow and he is still a member of the Magic, then I will. I have seriously read he's staying, then leaving, now staying, leaving again, now stayingALL DAY. im tired of this shit.

 

[EmpireWF]

Dwight told RealGM he's signing the papers in the morning and he's staying in Orlando.

All this shit for nothing :facepalm:

 

[BiggaAdams]

This whole ordeal has really made me lose a lot of respect for D12. I wish nothing but the worst for him.

 

[Realist]

As a Magic fan, I'm sick of this crap. Make a decision and stick with it.

 

[manchild24]

This part sounds more accurate.

No new is no news. They need to trade him.

just heard if he doesnt committ to past this season he will end up in Jersey.

Makes sense, he wants to go a winner and nothing saying winning in the NBA like the Nets.

So disappointed in Howard, I always thought he was one of the good guys in the NBA but when he is the locker room yelling at the players to get their shit together or dont come out and play. But he is telling reporters before and after the game what teams he would like to play for.

 

[ralaw]

I think Howard is still a good guy, which is his problem, because he's too concerned with how he'll be treated by fans and the media. He keeps saying he wants to play for a winner, and Orlando does win, but that is mostly because of him.....the minute him and Deron Williams team up they become a top team in the East. Much like LeBron, Howard just wants to play with another great player, which is why he wants to go to NJ. There really is not a right way to go about forcing your way out.

 

[ralaw]

Dwight told RealGM he's signing the papers in the morning and he's staying in Orlando.

All this shit for nothing :facepalm:

I really don't understand this dude anymore. Why would he opt in for another year? As constructed this team isn't going anywhere. It makes no sense. I don't get his flip-flopping.

If Howard waives his right to opt out early the Nets better trade Deron Williams.

 

[Mogriffjr]

Ric Bucher said the nets will NOT trade Deron and that he's all in to sign with the Nets long term and that they have deals to make this team better *did not allude to what names though*

I hope he's right because Nets have been getting fucked more than a prostitute down on the ave...

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

I have no problem with Howard changing his mind, I have a problem with the way he's handled it.

What ever happened to the days when these athletes would just stfu and handle this type of stuff behind closed doors, let everybody else speculate, and just go out and play the games? Emo NBA Player Syndrome has gotten out of control. No more public flip flopping, no more ripping teams in public for not trying hard enough to improve the roster, no more "The Decision" specials. Just go play ffs.

 

[FirstTimer]

Great, so now we get have another year of this shit.

 

[EmpireWF]

Howard has thrown his agent Fegan under the bus, essentially blaming him for bad advice.

I bet SVG is all: jesus christ can we start talking about fucking basketball again!

What ever happened to the days when these athletes would just stfu and handle this type of stuff behind closed doors, let everybody else speculate, and just go out and play the games? Emo NBA Player Syndrome has gotten out of control. No more public flip flopping, no more ripping teams in public for not trying hard enough to improve the roster, no more "The Decision" specials. Just go play ffs.

Get off my lawn!

 

[strahanfan92]

I have no problem with Howard changing his mind, I have a problem with the way he's handled it.

What ever happened to the days when these athletes would just stfu and handle this type of stuff behind closed doors, let everybody else speculate, and just go out and play the games? Emo NBA Player Syndrome has gotten out of control. No more public flip flopping, no more ripping teams in public for not trying hard enough to improve the roster, no more "The Decision" specials. Just go play ffs.

It happened last year, El Hombre.

 

[Palooza]

First Melo now Dwight? Christ, the Nets can't catch a break. As Mo said, Ric Bucher keeps saying that New Jersey has some deals in place that will keep DWill and bring in somebody else outside of Dwight. This drama is frustrating the shit out of me, someone come to BROOKLYN WITH US.