Latest- Howard now tells Magic he won't commit to team through 2012-13

Childish and impulsive, but not a loathsome adding of insult to injury like LeBron's carefully calculated Decision.

 

Then why not do the documentation? You really want to stay another year, put your signature where your mouth is.

 

Very immature if nothing else. He should have just shut up in public and talked behind closed door.

 

"Some reports" confirm Howard told the Magic today (not just teammates) he was extending one year before changing his mind. That's a big mistake definitely worth being beat-up over. That's an "impulse" he should have resisted.

 

Uh he has to man up and tell everyone if he wants to be traded or not. I hate Melo but one thing I like is how he handled his FA, he said, "hey, I'm not staying, trade me to NYC". And the Nuggs traded him and everyone got what they wanted.

Howard right now is screwing the franchise which went against common knowledge and picked him up over Okafor, and who trained and nurtured his gifts and tried their best to surround him with good talent (unfortunately otis smith sucks). WHat he wants is to go to another team, but he doesn't want NJ to lose trade assets when he gets there, so he's playing along and telling ORL he MIGHT resign if they roll the dice on him. That's just wrong, and I hope everybody launches a smear campaign on DH that'll dwarf Lebron's (who unlike DH didn't mind getting traded and made no secret of the fact that he might leave and was weighing all his options, leading to the decision).

I thought one of the main goals of the CBA is to stop punk moves like these.

 

Lebron didn't say he'll stay one more year and then back out when Cleveland asked him for his signature. There was nothing wrong in LBJ leaving, if he hadn't gone to Miami I doubt there would have been any scandal at all.

 

Why should he tell anyone anything? Its his right to make the decision on his own whether he wants to stay or go. I don't like that others feel they're entitled to know definitively what he's planning on doing months in advance. Maybe his mind isn't set in stone, and he's still weighing his options.

 

It wasn't leaving Cleveland and going to Miami, it was being a total jerk about it. I don't blame him for leaving at all, but The Decision, the Celebration and several things he said during the summer (mostly about fans) is what turned me against him.

It's hard to believe now but LeBron was my 3rd favorite player in the NBA before The Decision. Seems like ages ago.

 

Yes exactly, people definitely don't respect he miami move but the blacklash he got wasn't so much about leaving or going to miami but the way he went about it. You do realize it is documented that he started MARKETING his free agency in 2008. So for 2 years under contract with teh cavs he was quoted teelling people to 'mark your calenders to july 1st, 2010 which si going to be a big day in nba history'. This is a time when he was given the privleges of choosing personell, trading, access to planes for his friends, wasn't allowed to be criticized(literally even in practices). They gave him the keys to the franchise and the city and he was marketing for 2 years about the free agency and where he will go. He negotiated the Decision while they were in the playoffs. He claims to have decided the morning of where he is going to go. The guy spit in the face of a city that loved him in the most embarrassing childish way. And he didn't want any of the blame for it. If he left quieter, didn't hype it up, the blacklast would not have been so big.

 

Then he should just STFU and not say anything at all.

 

What if he demands a trade next season?

 

This. He didn't go about his business in a classy, adult way. He could have just quietly signed with Miami but instead he had to stroke his own ego and disrespect a lot of people in the process.

 

shoulda drafted emeka okafor

 

For once, I thought what Stephen A. Smiths said earlier today was right on the mark. He said that Dwight doesn't want to be a pariah in Orlando like LeBron is in Cleveland (and all around the NBA). Making this decision puts off that off that tough decision for another year.

The funny thing is that I think making the decision that he did followed by another year of this game will make him just as much of a pariah in Orlando as leaving right now would have. Up until this point, Orlando fans wanted him back and would do anything to have him back. Now, I'm not so sure that they will all collectively say "good riddance" after having to deal with another year of this uncertainty.

 

that's what is great about rumors and trade deadline

 

I blame the agent Fegan for this mess. Fegan doesn't get paid if Howard stays with Orlando. He is pushing for Howard to leave for a new deal in which he orchestrates and gets his x%. If it was just up to Howard, I think he stays.

 

[rquoter]With the trade deadline a few hours away, nobody had any idea what Dwight Howard was planning to do. Much of that uncertainty was the result of Howard's ever-changing mind.

After informing the Magic he would opt-in and delay his free agency on Wednesday, Howard changed his mind before playing the Spurs and looked to be on his way out of Orlando.

Both the organization and fans were upset with Howard's actions as it seemed he was trying to manipulate his way to the New Jersey Nets. In the process, he appeared to have relinquished control of his future to agents and advisers that are believed to be pushing him to a larger market.

Howard, however, finally had enough and decided to set the record straight.

Howard confirmed to RealGM on Wednesday evening that he will waive his early termination option and stay in Orlando for at least the 12-13 season.

Howard also realizes the impact that his indecision has caused and wants to make things right in the city that has watched him grow both professionally and personally since he came into the NBA in 2004 as the first overall pick.

"Man, listen, you know my heart, my soul and everything I have is in Orlando," Howard told RealGM. "I just can't leave it behind."

Dealing with such a big decision was new territory for Howard.

To help with the process he sought advice from people he believed had his best interest in mind. All the while, his heart remained in Orlando. While he wanted to keep his options open, Howard's intentions were never to alienate his teammates, coaches or general manager.

The circumstances, however, spiraled out of control and turned into something he never wanted to happen. Howard was very remorseful for the situation that he created, but eager to turn it around and show everyone who has been hurt by his actions how much he appreciates them and how sorry he is for Wednesday’s events.

"I have gotten some bad advice," Howard said. "I apologize for this circus I have caused to the fans of our city. They didn't deserve none of this. I'm sorry from the bottom of my heart. I will do whatever I can to make this right and do what I was put in Orlando to do."

The situation has also been stressful for Howard and his family, but he isn't thinking of making any excuses or point any fingers. Howard only wants to get back to being the man Orlando grew to love and cheer for.

"This has been a very hard time," Howard said. "For me, my family and all of us. The fans deserve a better hero and I will make that happen. I love and appreciate my fans and this city."

Howard said that he plans on signing the ETO waiver first thing on Thursday morning. He also plans on making some internal changes to ensure this situation isn't repeated in the future.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/news#ixzz1pCrKSlkK
[/rquoter]

 

I agree. Everything that he has said over the last couple of days, especially the part about him getting some bad advice, makes it look more and more like his wish is to stay in Orlando.