Here is what we know for sure: Magic officials planned to speak with Howard, either formally or informally, on or about March 1 to see if there is any chance he would remain long-term. Magic CEO Alex Martins has communicated with Howard for months now, ever since Martins took over for Bob Vander Weide and inherited a situation that had reached a crisis point.
It’s possible — if the Ellis rumor is accurate — that the Magic simply are going for a Hail Mary. Maybe they have not received any assurances from Howard, but they know that Howard publicly has said that he would love to play with Ellis (and with Stephen Jackson, Anthony Morrow, Chris Paul and Deron Williams). Having Ellis could help the Magic’s chances to re-sign Howard this summer.
Howard probably will continue to keep mum for at least the next couple of weeks.
He has been criticized over the last two months for saying the Magic did not follow his personnel suggestions. All you have to do is connect the dots. Since Howard was making personnel suggestions, he clearly was not satisfied with the composition of the roster and was, as General Manager Otis Smth has said, indirectly throwing at least one player “under the bus.”
All indications over the last few weeks were that Howard was hell-bent on testing free agency this upcoming summer and that he even would have been happy to agree with a new team to a four-year deal at 4.5 percent annual raises that included an opt-out after three seasons.
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people will honestly never be happy.... but, I somewhat understand bringing him in. he's an elite playmaker who's going to be a HoF. the thing that scares me is that he will probably sign with us for 2 more years and that's it. and, who knows how he'll do during his last 2 years.
