All the news lately has surrounded the lockout and the cancellation of NBA games. All of this has almost caused us all to forget that the NBA is actually a basketball league. Before the league went into lockout there were rumors swirling that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard might want out of Orlando.
In a recent interview with Esquire, Howard told Scott Raab that he feels it may be time to move on from Orlando.
SR: Do you think that the drive to represent, on an iconic level, will be a factor in your free agency? Do you see yourself in a much larger market?
DH: There’s more you can do in a bigger place. I’m stuck in a tough position because I feel like right now, where I’m at, I’ve done so much. And I just don’t know what else I can do. I can’t live for everybody else. I don’t know what decision I’m gonna make as of right now. It’s been crazy. Everybody wants me to come here, come play here, come to our team, do this. It’s a great feeling, though, to be wanted.
SR: You’re gone. I can feel it.
DH: The toughest part for me is the city – the people. They’ve got burgers named after me in Orlando, they’ve got a Web site saying, “Please stay.” I love the people in the city. I’ve literally sat on the bench with a towel on my head crying, because I feel the passion in the stands. I just think about what’s going to be best for what I want to accomplish in my life. And I don’t want that door to close on me, wherever that door is. I don’t want it to close.
This is certain to leave all fans in larger markets, particularly Lakers fans in Los Angeles, licking their chops. If the Lakers could work out a trade to bring Howard to L.A. they would set themselves up for the post-Kobe Bryant era, which may be closer than fans want to admit.