Orlando Magic Owner Wants Dwight Howard To Stay In Florida

It’s no secret that Orlando Magic star Dwight Howard wants to leave the team after his contract expires at the end of this season but he could stay in place if Magic owner Richard Devos has anything to say about it.

The 85-year-old wheel-chair bound Devos made an unexpected visit to the teams dressing room on Wednesday where in no specific terms he said:

“I don’t want to trade him.”

He continued by revealing that talks with Dwight’s reps have been progressing:

“We like to think we’re making headway. But I don’t know. He probably won’t know until the end and I won’t either.”

While his sentiments may be true he didn’t receive a warm reception from Howard who virtually ignored the owner’s presence in the locker room while players Jason Richardson and Daniel Orton both headed over to greet their boss when he entered the room.

When asked if he would be willing to give a percentage to the chance that Howard will stay with the Magic he said “I don’t gamble on that, I just plan on him staying.”

In the meantime it’s the owners younger son Richard Devos Jr. who is in charge of negotiations with Howard and he says of current talks:

“You never give up. We’ve got a great talent, a great young man. He’s got to look at his options (and) what’s best for him and I have to tell him what I think is best for him. I’m selfish.”

At just 26-years-old Howard still has a good amount of basketball ahead of him and with an average of 20.9 points per game with 15.1 rebounds it would be a shame for the Orlando Magic to lose him.

Do you think Dwight Howard will stay in Orlando or leave for another team at the end of the current season?