Rumor: Dwight Howard to stay in ORL?

[Mad Hatter]

hey, guys. just came across twitter and found a local Orlando news reporter sayin that Howard and the Magic spent this weekend working on a 2 year extension.

the reporter's twitter: http://twitter.com/pinglocal6

[barefacedmonk]

Magic center Dwight Howard spent the holiday weekend working on signing a two-year extension with the team, sources told Local 6 Sports Director David Pingalore late Monday.

Sources said the deal is all but signed by Howard. On Monday, Howard held an impromptu Memorial Day party for his Twitter followers and fans.

"I just got tired of everybody asking me 'Where am I gonna go? Are you going to stay? Everybody in Orlando is asking me'," Howard said. "So it was like, you know what? I want everybody to get their minds off something that is not gonna happen."

Link

[barefacedmonk]

Responding to speculation that he wants to jump to a bigger market when he can became a free agent next year, superstar center Dwight Howard indicated Monday that his strong preference is to remain with the Orlando Magic for the long term.

"I'm not trying to run behind nobody like Shaq or be behind somebody else," Howard said, referencing Shaquille O'Neal's decision to leave the Magic following the 1995-96 season and sign with the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I want to start my own path and I want people to follow my path and not just follow somebody else's path. I want to have my own path, and I want to start that here in Orlando. But I can't do it alone. Not only do I need the right teammates, but I need the city behind me. That's the only way it's going to get done. We can change this small city that we have — this small market that we have — and we can make it a big market."

"As of right now, I'm a part of the Orlando Magic and I plan to be here," Howard said.

"And I want the Magic to do whatever they can to make sure that we can get our city behind us. That's the only thing that I want to happen: just to have the city behind me and the support of our fans. I never said I was leaving. I never, ever thought about leaving. That's basically where my head is right now. I never said anything to them [the Magic] about what my plans were because that's not what I'm focused on right now."

Link

[PosImpos]

Well, at least he's no going to the Lakers.  And also, it means we don't have to keep seeing these ridiculous Howard to Celtics posts.

On the other hand -- really, really dumb move by Dwight Howard.

[Mad Hatter]

TP, barefacedmonk.

[Change]

Sign the extension then big boi..dot.dot.dot.. be a man & sign it lol. Dwight is posturing. he knows Orlando Magic future is bleak. Otis Smith is to blame.

[CelticsGuy34]

well what other free agents are there in 2012

[Mad Hatter]

well what other free agents are there in 2012

Chris Paul and Deron Williams are the other 2 big free agents, but i see D-Will stayin with the Nets, and CP3 either stayin in N.O. or goin to the Knicks....

[CelticsGuy34]

well what other free agents are there in 2012

Chris Paul and Deron Williams are the other 2 big free agents, but i see D-Will stayin with the Nets, and CP3 either stayin in N.O. or goin to the Knicks....

and we have rondo, no use for a pg

any good PFs or Centers

[Mad Hatter]

well what other free agents are there in 2012

Chris Paul and Deron Williams are the other 2 big free agents, but i see D-Will stayin with the Nets, and CP3 either stayin in N.O. or goin to the Knicks....

and we have rondo, no use for a pg

any good PFs or Centers

that.............i don't know

[LilRip]

i hope he doesn't sign that extension. that Magic team is in salary cap hell with unproductive players on bloated contracts.

[ianboyextreme]

If he does sign that extension, I have mad respect for him for staying loyal to the team that drafted him and carving his own path. Not bailing like Lebron or any other players who try a couple times and bail before they've even been to the finals twice.

[jr_3421]

Why would a team offer an extension when we don't know the rules of the new CBA?

[European NBA fan]

Why would a team offer an extension when we don't know the rules of the new CBA?

The Orlando owners don't mind spending. They want to keep their franchise player to fill up their new arena. And it's only for two years.

[Celtics18]

What a relief if this is true.