ATLANTA – An hour prior to Friday’s Game 3, Orlando’s Dwight Howard playfully confronted an ESPN reporter about the validity of his claims that the superstar center would be traded from the Magic this summer.
Howard wondered aloud to ESPN’s Ric Bucher about his reports in weekly chats that he would be traded by a Magic franchise fearful of losing him in free agency after the 2011-12 season with no compensation in return. Howard can become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
``If I’m getting traded, tell me where I’m going?’’ Howard said. ``Let me call my agent and tell him where I’m going.’’
Bucher said on Friday in an ESPN chat that ``I'm not reporting that Dwight will be traded this summer. I believe he will be based on what I’m hearing. … Anyone saying he categorically doesn’t want to leave Orlando, I have one question for you: Why hasn’t he signed his extension? It makes absolutely no fiscal sense not to with the looming lockout. I don’t care what he says; I care what he does. And what he’s doing is leaving his options open.’’
As he was balking at Bucher’s suggestions that he was following Shaquille O’Neal’s path from Orlando to Los Angeles and questioning the suggestions that he would be open to playing in a big media market such as L.A., New York or Chicago, Howard then shed some light on his thinking about his pending free agency.
``The biggest market of all is outside of the United States,’’ Howard said. ``In today’s NBA you can get anything you want (in terms of endorsements) and you don’t have to play in a big market.’’
``DWIGHT OUT:’’ The Hawks promoted Friday’s Game 3 as a ``White Out’’ as they handed out white T-shirts to all of the fans in Philips Arena. That prompted some television and radio stations in the Atlanta area to playfully call it a ``Dwight Out,’’ referring to Howard, who grew up in Atlanta and starred at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy.
Howard laughed at the promotion and thought it would an honor to have his first name splattered across the front of 20,000 T-shirts in one building. Howard said he’s learned through the years to take the attention as a compliment.
``What did Wilt (Chamberlain) say: `Everybody hates Goliath?’’’ Howard said. ``I remember that year in Toronto where they were chanting, `Howwwwwwww-ard.’ It was a loud as I’ve ever heard it. I had to find a way to turn that into a positive because they were so loud.’’
The Hawks also continue to show a video featuring clips from the Superman movies from the 1980s. They show Superman in various compromising positions and getting whipped by villains. The Hawks debuted the video during the playoffs last season and continued to show it during the regular season and again on Friday.
``I was glad they showed it last year because I was mad about fouls and it was funny and it made me laugh,’’ Howard said. ``But at the end of the (Superman) movies, who won out? Superman, that’s right.’’
Howard wondered aloud to ESPN’s Ric Bucher about his reports in weekly chats that he would be traded by a Magic franchise fearful of losing him in free agency after the 2011-12 season with no compensation in return. Howard can become an unrestricted free agent after next season.
``If I’m getting traded, tell me where I’m going?’’ Howard said. ``Let me call my agent and tell him where I’m going.’’
Bucher said on Friday in an ESPN chat that ``I'm not reporting that Dwight will be traded this summer. I believe he will be based on what I’m hearing. … Anyone saying he categorically doesn’t want to leave Orlando, I have one question for you: Why hasn’t he signed his extension? It makes absolutely no fiscal sense not to with the looming lockout. I don’t care what he says; I care what he does. And what he’s doing is leaving his options open.’’
As he was balking at Bucher’s suggestions that he was following Shaquille O’Neal’s path from Orlando to Los Angeles and questioning the suggestions that he would be open to playing in a big media market such as L.A., New York or Chicago, Howard then shed some light on his thinking about his pending free agency.
``The biggest market of all is outside of the United States,’’ Howard said. ``In today’s NBA you can get anything you want (in terms of endorsements) and you don’t have to play in a big market.’’
``DWIGHT OUT:’’ The Hawks promoted Friday’s Game 3 as a ``White Out’’ as they handed out white T-shirts to all of the fans in Philips Arena. That prompted some television and radio stations in the Atlanta area to playfully call it a ``Dwight Out,’’ referring to Howard, who grew up in Atlanta and starred at Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy.
Howard laughed at the promotion and thought it would an honor to have his first name splattered across the front of 20,000 T-shirts in one building. Howard said he’s learned through the years to take the attention as a compliment.
``What did Wilt (Chamberlain) say: `Everybody hates Goliath?’’’ Howard said. ``I remember that year in Toronto where they were chanting, `Howwwwwwww-ard.’ It was a loud as I’ve ever heard it. I had to find a way to turn that into a positive because they were so loud.’’
The Hawks also continue to show a video featuring clips from the Superman movies from the 1980s. They show Superman in various compromising positions and getting whipped by villains. The Hawks debuted the video during the playoffs last season and continued to show it during the regular season and again on Friday.
``I was glad they showed it last year because I was mad about fouls and it was funny and it made me laugh,’’ Howard said. ``But at the end of the (Superman) movies, who won out? Superman, that’s right.’’
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMa...radeId=3vo3ukr
Toronto's 2011 and 2013 first round draft picks to ORL.
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