Elephant In the Room

It’s been two months since the Orlando Magic General Manager Otis Smith removed Dwight Howard off the trading block in hopes of keeping his All-Star center long term.

Since then it seems that every loss (even though the Magic have a winning record 12-7) the question reignites as to when and where Howard will go.

It’s been documented that Smith and Howard aren’t on the same page at times. Following the removal from the trading block, Dwight still suggested he wanted out, drawing a response from Smith, “he wants to play in a larger market, nothing I can do about that.”

If that’s the case, it seems to me the only logical thing to do is trade the three time defensive player of the year, rather then embracing this challenge and working together on making the Magic a championship team. Otis and Howard seem more interested in not being in the “wrong.”

The question has been raised as to whether or not “Superman” is the kind of leader that can carry a franchise to a title.  Shooting 40% from the foul line and coming up small in big moments shows his lack of mental toughness with his silly fourth courter technicals. It’s all proof in the pudding Dwight may not be that guy, YET.

For me, what’s baffling is you have a once in a decade center in an NBA where “true” centers are disappearing faster then LeBron’s hair line, yet Howard is the one demanding to go to Dallas, New Jersey or LA. Why aren’t the premiere point guards BEGGING at a chance to lob passes and play pick and roll 20 miles away from Disney World. What is it that they know we don’t?

Large market my behind. The scapegoat excuse that Dwight needs a large market is asinine and an insult to intelligent basketball fan. Dwight leads all NBA players with 754,737 All-Star votes and he is one of the highest marketing athletes in the league now, grossing $12 million in 2011.

Following Friday night’s embarrassing loss to a Hornets team that was on a 9-game skid, you could feel the frustration and lack of pride in the Magic locker room. With every miss, game blown and sub par Magic performance, the patience of Dwight will shorten.

“I told them at halftime, `If you don’t want to play, just stay in the locker room, because it don’t make sense for a team who we should beat to just demolish us,” Howard said post game.

I know I’m young and have only been around the game a little over a decade but I do my homework. Professional basketball and life are linked in more ways than people think. The game teaches you about life, team work and what it takes to succeed. However in a society now where kids want it NOW, everything has to be given instead of earned. That has translated into the NBA.

There was a time when Michael Jordan went through tough losses to the Pistons and Celtics. Took MJ 7 long years to win a championship. Bird and Magic carried two of the most storied franchises and almost killed each other for a chance to be the best. Guys like Reggie Miller and Charles Barkely never tasted a ring but didn’t run in their prime to join alliances in hopes to win one. But today, it’s about making it easy, joining forces so the journey may be a tad bit less bumpy.

I support Dwight in whatever he decides, but as a fan of the game I pray he stays in Orlando and accomplishes something Penny, Nick Anderson and the great Shaq couldn’t. Winning a championship for the 407.