Howard Says He Had No Say In SVG Firing

Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard says that he ha nothing to do with the firing of former Magic coach, Stan Van Gundy. Throughout his time as a member of the Magic, Howard has looked to be 'taking offers' for when he becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer. As Howard was looking, the Magic were doing everything and anything that they could to keep him as a member of the team, bringing in players like Vince Carter, Hedu Turkoglu, Gilbert Arenas, and Glen Davis. But it seemed that everything they did, just didn't work. The players that they had brought in couldn't play as well with Howard. The management had been doing everything they could to keep Howard, so they probably thought, hey, maybe it's the coach. And maybe their right. SVG and Dwight have need trying to make it work since 2008-2009 when they made it to the NBA Finals, and lost to the LA Lakers. And they didn't start having any type of public conflicts, until this season. Over this season they had been repeatedly calling each other out. It looks to me like the Magic are ready to make one last attempt to keep their star center in town for a few more years.

Or it could be looked at as the Magic finally realizing that the Dwight Howard era in Orlando is finally over. That it is finally time to start rebuilding. They could have realized that Van Gundy just isn't their guy. And that it's time to rebuild. They're going to lose Howard to free agency, and they feel like they need to rebuild the team. They need a better offense. They could bring in a point guard like the Nets Deron Williams. They need a new group of guys that will be able to get it done. With unrestricted free agents like Williams, and Chris Paul, they have options.

So did Howard play a part in Van Gundys firing? Yes he was a factor, but I do not think he was the guy who made the final decision. The Magic management definitely thought that the firing of coach Van Gundy would make Orlando look like a more attractive spot for both Howard, and another possible free agent to come in. And, I agree with the Magic management. If I were a free agent superstar like Williams or Paul, I would look for a team that didn't have a coach that calls out his players. Or that just can't discipline his players enough to not call him out in an interview. And I especially wouldn't want a coach that let's the team get completely out of hand and let's the drama of the teams fighting be a distraction.

So yes, I do believe Howard when he says that he had no say in the firing of his former coach Van Gundy. But we all pretty much have to believe that he played a part in the Orlando management's decision to fire the coach.