Dwight Howard Willing to Stay if Orlando Magic Make Changes?


Dwight Howard demanded a trade from the Magic, publicized his beef with GM Otis Smith, and now he’s talking about wanting to still play for the team. But there’s a catch: Orlando needs to make changes, whatever that means. From ESPN: “On Monday at the team’s media day, Howard softened his stance and hinted that he would consider staying with the franchise if there were changes made. ‘If it is meant for me to stay here, I’ll stay,’ Howard said. ‘I love this city. There is no place I’d rather be but Orlando. I just want to make sure we have the right things here so we can win a championship. I’m all about change. If you’re willing to change and you’re willing to do what it takes to win then, you know, you got me.’ Alex Martins, who took over as team CEO last week when Bob Vander Weide surprisingly stepped down, met with Howard when he arrived at the Amway Center on Monday. Smith was not a part of the meeting. Martins said that despite Howard twice telling the team he wanted to be traded and asking for permission to speak with the New Jersey Nets, Dallas Mavericks or Los Angeles Lakers, that the team still believes it can convince him to stay and extend his contract. ‘I’m an optimist,’ Martins said. ‘I am confident that we can work with Dwight and convince him to stay here long-term.'”