Orlando Magic GM Says 6 to 8 Teams are Chasing Dwight Howard


Otis Smith claims that little has changed in the Dwight Howard saga, but he did provide a number when asked how many teams were in the hunt for the big man’s services. Reports the Orlando Sentinel: “Magic General Manager Otis Smith said the list of teams who are still calling about the possibility of acquiring or ‘renting’ Dwight Howard are down to ‘six to eight.’ ‘I’d say everybody in the league has called us. …but this late, it’s six to eight,’ Smith said before the Magic faced the Toronto Raptors on Monday night. Smith said there was ‘nothing new to report’ about Howard’s situation. With the trade deadline next Wednesday, Smith wouldn’t get into any specifics about Howard. ‘We still have a ways to go. It’s early,’ he said. ‘Usually nothing gets done until the 15th.’ Howard has been talking with Magic CEO Alex Martins, who remains hopeful that the franchise can convince their superstar center to stay.”