Should Orlando Trade Dwight Howard?

Orlando Magic fans are biting their nails. Then again, so is the Orlando Magic organization this season. All-Star center and top draw Dwight Howard is in the final year of his current deal, meaning he will be a free agent in the offseason. The problem? As of press time, the Magic apparently have no idea what Howard's plans are.

Howard was the first overall pick in 2004 and over time revitalized a Magic team that had been left for dead after bad breaks, injuries, and the exit of NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal in 1996. The player fans have at times, called Superman, has lead the Magic to numerous playoff appearances, including two Eastern Conferences Finals berths and one NBA Finals appearance in 2009. The Magic have certainly tried to
accommodate Howard, trading for the likes of Gilbert Arenas and former teammate Hedo Turkoglu, only to lose in the first round of the playoffs last postseason.

Orlando fans and Magic executives saw what happened to their franchise in 1996 when Shaq left to join the Los Angeles Lakers. And if younger fans aren't old enough to remember that, they're certainly young enough to remember the LeBron James debacle that made the Cleveland Cavaliers go from top contender to Eastern Conference lottery team.

The question is, with offers from New Jersey, New York, LA, among other teams, do the Magic trade their greatest franchise player of the last 15 years or do they risk him walking in free agency without getting anything in return? As Denver Nuggets fans saw with Carmelo Anthony before he went to the Knicks last season, things could get ugly and complicated -- fast.

As hard as this situation is for Dwight Howard, maybe he should be upfront with Orlando about his intentions -- assuming he's already decided. After all, honesty is the best policy...right?