The one and only big-name that many thought was going to get traded on Thurs. March 15 before the NBA trade deadline at 3 p.m. EST was the Orlando Magic’s Dwight Howard. With trade speculation running rampant all season long and even during the offseason, Howard was almost a guarantee to get dealt before the NBA clock ticked to zero.

With the New Jersey Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers battling it out all season long with different trade proposals, the odds were that Dwight Howard would be setting up shop in the City of Angels or in Brooklyn, New York after this season. It had to happen!

The supposed trade request was given and three potential trade partners were also picked in the form of the two already mentioned (Lakers, Nets) and the defending NBA champion Dallas Mavericks. Despite all the hoopla and constant trade rumors, the trade never went down and Dwight Howard will remain with the team that drafted him number one overall back in 2004.

Coming down to the wire, Dwight Howard told the media and the Orlando Magic that the team had to “roll the dice” on him heading towards the NBA trade deadline on March 15. Even though this was somewhat promising for the Magic, this is still not what a team wants to hear with a star player that they could potentially lose to free agency in the summer.

Shortly after making the “roll the dice” statement and causing yet another stir in Orlando, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year decided that enough was enough and made the decision to stay and waive his opt-out clause this summer. Even though the opt-out clause is gone, Howard can still become a free agent after next season if he refuses to sign a contract extension.

Sounds like one more year of constant trade rumors and speculation for the Orlando Magic.

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