NBA Rumors: Orlando Magic End Dwight Howard Trade Discussions, According to Report

The Orlando Magic have decided to cease fielding trade offers for superstar center Dwight Howard, Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports reports, citing "league sources." Orlando, which has made clear its goal is to convince Howard to re-sign with it long term, will enter the season with Howard and, in all likelihood, only re-open trade discussions if Howard makes clear he wishes to continue his career elsewhere.

The Magic had granted Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, permission to seek a trade with the three other teams in which he's interested: the Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Lakers, and New Jersey Nets. It appears as though Howard prefers New Jersey to the other two teams, but its inability to put together an acceptable trade package--even after talking the Portland Trail Blazers into agreeing to send Gerald Wallace, a former All-Star, to the Magic--has ended its chances to acquire Howard via trade.

Perhaps the Magic are still open to dealing their franchise cornerstone, and that this news is only coming out in order to drive up Howard's trade value. It'd be naïve not to consider that possibility. However, I tend to believe Orlando's reluctance to trade Howard is genuine, insofar as it believes it can keep him for the rest of his career.

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