Shaquille O’Neal feels it would be a “travesty” if Dwight Howard leaves the Orlando Magic.
“I’m sure they would probably like to move him so they don’t lose him,” O’Neal said. “You know hopefully he stays, because that arena there is one of the best arenas in the country. If he leaves, it’ll be a travesty.”
Howard has told the Magic he wants to be traded and the team has given his agent permission to discuss deals with the New Jersey Nets, Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
The Magic have to decide by 15 March, this season’s trade deadline, if they will trade Howard or risk losing him for nothing when he can become a free agent in July. O’Neal feels the Magic will try hard to keep Dwight ahead of the All-Star Game on 26 February in Orlando and save face.
O’Neal also said Howard’s situation is not like his was when he left for the Los Angeles Lakers in 1996, because he said he wanted to stay with the Magic but had a better option. O’Neal thinks there may be an “underlying problem” with Howard.
“I think they have to be a little bit worried that he hasn’t committed to signing, so there may be an underlying problem of what’s really going on.
“I don’t know if he doesn’t like the organization, I don’t know if he wants to go to a bigger city where he can get more endorsement deals, he can do movies. No one really knows the problem.”
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