Howard Will Not Sign Extension

(Derick E. Hingle/US Presswire)

And so the Dwight Howard Saga continues.  Dwight Howard's agent has stated that Howard did not decide to sign a contract extension if traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.

"Dwight's position has remained unchanged since the end of this past season.  He fully intends to explore free agency at the end of the next season, regardless of what team trades for him, including Brooklyn." -Dan Fegan, Howard's Agent

With this being the last year in Howard's contract the longest extension he would be able to sign is two years if he remains with the Orlando Magic and three years if he is traded to another team.  If Howard waits until his current deal expires he will be able to sign a five year deal for as much as $116.9 million.

According to Magic General Manager Rob Hennigan Howard told the Magic he would like to be traded to the Nets above any other team.  But when trade between the Nets and the Magic fell through for Dwight Howard Lakers arose as the top team in pursuit of Howard trying to include the Houston Rockets and Cleveland Cavaliers as potential third parties in the trade.

With Dwight Howard not signing an extension the trade for him is going to get interesting.  The Magic are going to try to get rid of him that way if he decides to leave in free agency next off season they will have at least got something in return for him, but no team is really going to want to trade for him if they're not 100% sure that he's not going to stay another year.  Hmmm this may go down to the wire and with Dan Fegan, Howard's agent, openly stating that Howard has no intention of signing an extension it wouldn't surprise me if teams back off in trying to trade for him and just wait to pursue him in the free agency.  Stay tuned as the Howard Saga continues.