The circus around Dwight Howard kicked into high gear Wednesday, the day before the NBA trade deadline.
↵Multiple national reporters had sources indicating that Howard told his teammates he would opt-in to his contract and stay in Orlando until at least the summer of 2013.
↵However, it took Howard less than a few hours to walk back his statement, telling the Magic's front office in a conference call that he would not waive his right to be a free agent this summer:
↵↵↵In conference call tonight w/Magic officials before game in S.A., Dwight Howard tells team he's NOT waiving his ETO: es.pn/zj5qAX
↵— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) March 15, 2012
Howard seems to be trapped in a situation where he doesn't want to stay in Orlando but doesn't want leave burned bridges the way LeBron did in Cleveland. But, at a certain point, he's going to have to choose.
↵This latest PR disaster has to have the Magic's front office worried, which isn't a good sign for the Mavericks, who need Howard to stay in Orlando and enter free agency this summer for Dallas' gamble to pay off.
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