As the one team that has been constantly surrounded in trade speculation this season heading up to the NBA trade deadline on March 15, the Orlando Magic have been talked about more than any team in the league. With the consensus that Dwight Howard wanted out and would almost certainly be traded before the deadline, the Magic seemed to be doomed with no way to get equal value in return and a possibility for an extensive rebuilding process after the trade went through.

Fortunately, the blockbuster deal to send Howard to the New Jersey Nets or the Los Angeles Lakers never happened with the three-time Defensive Player of the Year agreeing to waive his opt-out clause and stay in Orlando for at least one more season. Even though the same kind of fiasco could occur next season before the trade deadline, the fact remains that Howard will be in a Magic uniform for at least a little bit longer.

Now that Dwight Howard has shown a bit of ego and a LeBron James-like persona with all this trade talk and speculation, the hits keep coming in Orlando with the superstar center apparently asking the team to fire head coach Stan Van Gundy. With the two never really seeing eye-to-eye, it seems that a keep component to keep Howard in Orlando after next season is to get rid of Van Gundy.

The outspoken head coach made it known recently that Dwight Howard asked the Magic front office to fire him. Howard immediately denied these reports, but Van Gundy is not one to make up stories. This leads many to believe that Howard did in fact ask for the firing of the head coach and as a result things have gotten that much more interesting in Orlando moving forward.

Related News

• Orlando Magic owner doesn’t want to trade Dwight Howard
• Will Dwight Howard get traded by the Orlando Magic this summer?
• Dwight Howard opts to stay with the Orlando Magic
• Would Dwight Howard be a good fit with the Chicago Bulls?
• Dwight Howard has added the Los Angeles Clippers to list of desired teams