The Orlando Magic have parted ways with head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Otis Smith, the team announced in a statement Monday afternoon.
Stan Van Gundy, Dwight Howard
The ouster of Van Gundy ends a tumultuous time for the Magic. In April, Van Gundy himself said that Howard had gone to Orlando management and said he would no longer play for the coach.
“I was told it was true by people in our management,” Van Gundy said in April. “So right from the top.”
Howard has denied he ever spoke to management on the subject or laid out an ultimatum that it was either he or Van Gundy.
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Dwight Howard
Magic CEO Alex Martins was asked if the franchise may trade Dwight Howard this offseason.
“We’ll cross that bridge when it comes to it,” said Martins. “The number one goal is to get him to sign an extension.” But Martins added that “necessary decisions will be made” if Howard does not sign an extension this offseason.
The franchise was in a similar situation with Howard ahead of the March trade deadline. Howard is eligible to become a free agent in 2013 if he doesn’t sign an extension.
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Dwight Howard
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard will undergo back surgery on Friday morning in Los Angeles to repair a herniated disk, effectively ending his season and eliminating him from participation in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Howard’s agent said on Thursday night.
“It hurts (emotionally),” Howard told ESPN the Magazine’s Chris Broussard.
“That’s the first thing — it hurts. And then with people saying and thinking I’m quitting on my team. This is a real issue. I tried to play through it and it just made my back worse.”
Howard has been complaining of back problems since early March, but it was not until Los Angeles-based spine surgeon Dr. Robert Watkins examined him last week that the herniated disk was discovered.
ESPN.com
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Dwight Howard
After consulting with a doctor in Los Angeles, sources say that Dwight Howard has been diagnosed with a herniated disc. Howard has been advised to cease all basketball-related activities for the next 10 to 15 days.
Howard would miss the remainder of the regular season if he follows that advice, but it has not been determined if he will attempt to play through the injury.
Superman first started experiencing pain during a March 30th game against the Mavericks.
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In the latest twist to the Dwight Howard saga, his relationship with Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy appears to have taken a major downturn and puts their ability to co-exist for the rest of this season in doubt.
Stan Van Gundy, Dwight Howard
After a report on Wednesday from a local TV station said Howard had asked Magic management to fire Van Gundy, the coach said after Thursday’s morning shootaround that he knows that to be true.
“I know he has,” Van Gundy told reporters. “That’s just the way it is. Again, I’ve been dealing with that all year. It’s not anything real bothersome. You go out and do your job.”
Howard walked up to Van Gundy and gave him a hug, not realizing the coach had just confirmed a report that Howard had previously denied.
“Why would I want Stan fired with 12 games to go?” said Howard, questioning the source of the information and not realizing it was Van Gundy.
USA Today
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Dwight Howard
Dwight Howard signed a waiver Thursday that keeps him under contract with the Orlando Magic through next season.
The waiver denies him the right to terminate his contract after this season. After going back and forth regarding his intentions, Howard said Wednesday that he would sign the waiver.
A source had told ESPN The Magazine’s Ric Bucher that the New Jersey Nets had been told earlier Thursday that Howard would not be available in trade.
ESPN.com
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The Magic would be willing to trade Dwight Howard to Chicago in exchange for Omer Asik, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer and a valuable first-round pick from Charlotte, according to a report.
Dwight Howard, Carlos Boozer
Chicago will not move forward with the trade scenario without assurances that Howard will sign a long-term deal with the Bulls, which he has given no indication he will do.
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Dwight Howard
The reportedly preference for Dwight Howard is to sign with the Nets in the offseason as a free agent, which would allow the franchise to retain the assets they do have.
Howard is enthused about teaming up with Deron Williams and he could likely receive a more lucrative adidas extension in Brooklyn.
The Magic have not given up on keeping Howard and are interested in a trade for either Steve Nash or Monta Ellis, but both possibilities are remote.
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According to sources with the Warriors, there is little to the trade rumors involving Monta Ellis going to the Nets for Brook Lopez.
Monta Ellis
Sources that spoke with Marcus Thompson said the Warriors would want more than Lopez in exchange for Ellis.
Golden State still believes they have a shot to acquire Dwight Howard.
Howard has made it clear that he is not interested in playing for the Warriors long-term.
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Deron Williams
Deron Williams does not want to address the subject of possibly playing in his hometown on a permanent basis during this trip to Dallas, but his coach acknowledged that the Mavericks are a major threat to sign the free agent-to-be.
New Jersey Nets coach Avery Johnson has a lot of respect for his former boss, Mavs owner Mark Cuban.
The billionaire has teamed with Dallas president basketball of operations Donnie Nelson to give the Mavs the financial flexibility this summer to attempt to sign Williams and/or Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.
ESPN.com
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