Dwight Howard Has Ruined Something Great in Orlando

Photo: Getty Images

- Troy Ballard

We thought LeBron James was bad.

Ok, LBJ isn't going to lose the title of Villain any time soon, but what is going on in Orlando with Dwight Howard is flirting with becoming two of the same.

What I've deducted from this entire ordeal is that Howard is, metaphorically speaking, like that one smoking-hot girl at a party. She flirts aggressively and actually nods at the idea of going home with you. She even would go as far as to go home with you, and the moment that the deal is about to be sealed — she drops the infamous, maybe another time.

Howard has become that girl.

If you've read this far and are still amused and following me, I applaud you.

But here's the real situation with the Magic and Howard:

At one point last season, it almost seemed like a sure-fire thing that DH12 was going to bail in free agency. There were talks that he would be the most pursued free agent in the history of the NBA, and that almost every team in the league would make a power-play for him.

The idea of leaving Orlando was only reinforced by a poor relationship with Stan Van Gundy and an underwhelming GM. Forget the fact that the rest of the Magic roster had jerseys with DISAPPOINTMENT stamped on the back in bold letters. 

Howard was on his own.

But as simple as a decision as it should have been was clouded and made more difficult than he could have ever imagined. His head was screaming for him to leave and find another team, but his heart was stuck in Orlando with the Magic.

He loved the fan base. He loved the area. He loved that his Madre loved to live in Orlando. He loved the idea of loving that the Magic would do anything to keep him. But most of all, he loved that he was loved there.

And after a two-week span of jumping back and forth, Howard signed a one-year extension to his deal to keep him with the Magic. While Mark Cuban was slamming his head against the nearest wall, the entire city and fan base in Orlando rejoiced.

But even with the massive positive reaction, Howard was still obviously unhappy. He began to regret his choice to stay, and with that, his relationship with Van Gundy and the team's front-office totally deteriorated.

Fast-forward to now (and skipping past enough drama to start a reality TV show), and Howard has basically demanded a trade to the Brooklyn Nets. He has no interest in staying with the Magic, and the feeling is almost mutual from Orlando.

Dwight has become his own Villain.

There's no one for Howard to blame this situation on other than himself. He did the damage. He ruined his once God Among Men relationship with Orlando by jumping back and forth and stabbing the fan base in the back repeatedly.

I can't be the only one that misses that gawky 18-year-old kid that wore braces and flat-out balled as a rookie. He was harmless, kind-hearted and very fun to watch. It's such a radical transition, it's hard to believe that Howard was ever that young guy that never stopped smiling.

Things have gone from bad to worse, and chances are that unless a trade gets pushed through before the start of training camp — things aren't going to improve. Howard ruined what could have been a win-win relationship with the Magic, but more important the fan base in Orlando.

Welcome to the Villain club, Dwight. LeBron can tell you all about it.

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