When the biggest free agent to be shows up in your arena after he had requested a trade and blew up at his teammates after a loss, the question is inevitable
So Dwight, would you like to play for the 76ers?
This is a great team. Theyre playing great basketball right now. For myself, its a blessing to be wanted by a lot of teams and cities. I feel honored. Right now, the only thing I can control is what I do with my team, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard said diplomatically. The Sixers do look great. Theyve got some great fans behind them. But my job is to my team. And Im going to continue to lead my team no matter what.
Howard has not been able to lead the Magic into the win column much lately. Monday nights 74-69 loss to the Sixers was the Magics fourth in a row and fifth defeat in their last sixth games (see story.) During that stretch the Magic have averaged 77 points per game and posted a rousing 56 points in a loss to the Celtics on Jan. 23.
Through his teams skid, Howard has averaged 19.5 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, including 17 and 11 against the Sixers on Monday night. Needless to say, the big fellas stock hasnt dropped at all and the latest rumors have the Knicks, Nets, Bulls, Mavericks, Lakers and Clippers angling to swing a trade for Howard and then take their chances in signing him to an extension at the end of the season.
For teams taking a chance at making a run at the title this year, Howard might be worth taking a flier on for a couple months, regardless.
Still, it has not been an easy time for Howard and his teammates. First, his running mate and point guard Jameer Nelson is out for at least another week after suffering a concussion last Friday. Without his main man to feed him the ball, Howard has been a bit of a late-game liability for Stan Van Gundys offense. Shooting just 46.4 percent from the free throw line, Howard will get hacked at the first chance if he gets the ball in a tight game. In fact, earlier this season Golden State sent Howard to the line 39 times in a game, which broke a 50-year old record set by Wilt Chamberlain.
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When the Magic rallied with 18 points in the final 2:40 of Mondays game, Howard was on the bench.
We just tried to keep a body in front of him, Elton Brand said. The guys did a great job, trying to dig and help, get some deflections and limit his easy shots. Thats the best you can do when you have such a talented an athletic player like that. Theres not much you can do but team defense.
Or foul him. Monday night, Howard went 5 for 13 from the line and shot 6 for 17 from the floor, marking just the fourth time of his career that he took 17 or more shots and made six or fewer.
In the meantime, Howard says the trade request, the pending free agency, the losses and the lack of scoring punch hasnt bothered his teammates or him. Its hard to believe, but thats the story hes going with.
These guys understand the whole situation, but none of that stuff matters when you get out on the floor. Were all basketball players. Nothing matters when we step on the floor, Howard said. It doesnt matter if people are talking about trades or whatever. The only thing that matters when you step onto the floor is basketball. Its all about winning and you have to take pride with yourself when you step on the court.
It hasnt affected me. Im still playing hard every night.
When asked if the incident where he called out his teammates for their recent shoddy play could have created a rift in the locker room, Howard just shrugged it off. That stuff happens all the time, he said.
Its not the first time Ive called them out and as a leader you have to do things that people dont like, Howard explained. People hate what they dont understand and my teammates understand why I said what I said. They all agree. Its not like theyre saying, Aw, Dwights wrong about what he said. But thats with anything. But my job is to challenge my teammates and challenge myself to go out and play every night. Im included in everything I say to my teammates.
But how long will they continue to be his teammates? It certainly seems as if something has to give with the Magicdo they let go of Van Gundy, trade Howard or what? Either way, the difference between Howards demeanor this season and the last time he came through Philadelphia was as different as night and day. Last time, he was jovial, boisterous and cracking jokes with everyone who walked into the Magics dressing room.
This time he was all business, or better yet, trying to keep his mind off business.
None of that stuff matters, Howard said. When you step on the floor you have to play. This is basketball. We love this gamewere blessed. Were doing something that we love so that should not affect you when you get on the floor. These guys know how I feel about each and every one of them. These are my brothers regardless of what happens and Im going to give them 100 percent every night because I owe it to them, I owe it to the city and I owe it to the team. Thats my job, thats what I do, and I owe it to myself to because I want to win.
And then, to end his postgame session with the media, Howard conjured up that carefree guy we saw last year.
My job is to smile and keep playing so thats what Im going to do, Howard said.
Lately, that part has been as difficult as shooting a foul shot for Howard.
E-mail John R. Finger at jfinger@comcastsportsnet.com.