If this is true, it will reveal a whole lot about Dwight Howard's character, and perhaps what really happened in the discussions between Howard and Magic GM Otis Smith on Monday. It could explain some of Smith's posturing during the Vander Weide press conference, particularly with regard to not placating to Howard's desires.

I also can't help but think about how Smith and new Magic CEO Alex Martins both emphasized that Howard's potential departure would be entirely "on him", rather than the Magic's decision.

Looking back, could they have known what was coming? Could all the press about Howard wanting to stay, wanting to finish his career in Orlando and just wanting help, could it all have been an effort to manipulate him in the press? To make him look like an even bigger traitor than Lebron in 2010?

Coming on the heels of Vander Weide's alleged "drunk dial" and subsequent retirement, perhaps the pieces are falling into place at last. Bob probably didn't have the energy to stare down the barrel of a rebuilding decade. But Martins may have to.

This is all conjecture, sure, but Broussard is right more often than I think most Magic fans want to admit. He was the first to report that Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would be teaming up in Miami.

Granted, as out-of-control as this NBA pre-season has been, even if Broussard is correct it doesn't necessarily mean Howard will be traded to New Jersey.

But I'm nonetheless concerned. If Dwight Howard does in fact request a trade, it will mean either he has misrepresented himself to the Orlando Magic front office, or that the Orlando Magic front office has misrepresented itself to the fans, or both.

Coming literally hours after the Chris Paul to LA Lakers trade fell through, the implications are staggering. It would likely mean that Howard had every intention of joining Paul in LA and, in lieu of this, will opt to join Williams in New Jersey. Either way, he would have had no intention of staying in Orlando.

According to Broussard, the Nets are also pursuing Nene "in case the Howard deals fall through." But if anything this only reinforces the argument that Howard is in fact looking to leave Orlando, despite what we've all been told.

Hopefully there is no fire, but the smoke is certainly beginning to rise.