Dwight Howard Confirms That He Will Test Free Agency

Howard continues to publicly make the increasingly hard-to-believe claim that he wants to remain in an Orlando Magic uniform, but what’s certain is that he will become a free agent next summer. NBA.com reports: “Speaking during a break at the adidas Eurocamp as part of a tour of the continent for the shoe company, Howard joked with reporters at a news conference and appeared in good spirits. In a one-on-one interview afterward, though, he made it clear he is not happy with the collective personality of Orlando’s roster and that changes need to be made. The same message, he said, was delivered to owner Rich DeVos and CEO Bob Vander Weide in a meeting last week that included Howard sharing thoughts on everything from personnel to fan involvement and arena atmosphere at home games. ‘I want to win a championship,’ the All-Star center said. ‘I think the owners have to really know that. That’s been my goal and my mission since I’ve been in the NBA — to win a championship. I don’t have side goals or agendas. My main goal is to win a championship. I want to have 14 other guys who feel the same way.’ Asked if the Magic have that now, he said, ‘It’s off and on. Sometimes guys are there whole-heartedly and then sometimes I’ve had teammates allow people getting in their ears and things like that effect the way that they play and approach the game.’ Howard said he did not tell DeVos and Vander Weide specific roster moves he wanted to see. ‘I just told them, ‘We’ve got to have guys who are going to play hard 48 minutes and who are going to battle the other team, who are going to fight night in and night out for a championship,’ he said.”