After a tumultuous 24 hours of watching Dwight Howard repeatedly change his mind about his free-agent intentions, the Orlando Magic are moving quickly toward trading their franchise center, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.
Howard informed team officials in a conference call before the Magic's game against the San Antonio Spurs – possibly his last one with the team – that he does not plan to waive the early termination option in his contract, allowing him to become a free agent and leave the franchise after the season, sources said. The organization has become exasperated with Howard's waffling about his future and has engaged teams in trade talks for the All-Star, sources said.
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The New Jersey Nets, who have long been Howard's preferred destination, are expected to make Brook Lopez, first-round picks and other assets available to the Magic in a potential package. While the Nets could sign Howard as a free agent this summer, they don't want to risk losing him to other potential suitors or have him again change his mind and decide to stay in Orlando. The Houston Rockets also are trying to acquire Howard, even though he hasn't committed to signing a long-term extension with them, sources said.
The NBA's trade deadline is 3 p.m. ET Thursday.
After telling reporters Tuesday night that he hoped to remain with the Magic through the end of the season, Howard reiterated the same message to teammates at a meeting in San Antonio on Wednesday. Howard told teammates that he was "all in" for the rest of the season then proceeded to tell each player what he needed to do for the Magic to win the championship this season, three players told Y! Sports. Howard didn't commit in the meeting to staying beyond this season.
[ Related: Adrian Wojnarowski: Dwight Howard determined to leave the Magic for the Nets ]
Howard later had lunch with three teammates in which he told them he planned to opt into the final year of his contract and would remain with the team through next season, a league source said. Howard called Magic CEO Alex Martins from the table and also informed him of his intentions, the source said.
For Howard to eliminate the early termination option from his contract, both he and his agent, Dan Fegan, would need to sign waiver paperwork. Before the Spurs game, he told team officials he wouldn't be signing the forms.
Multiple league executives believe the Magic's decision is now cemented and they'll trade Dwight Howard before Thursday's deadline.
"Dwight doesn't want to be the bad guy," one source involved in the process said of Howard's past 24 hours. "He doesn't want to be unpopular. He flaked out."
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