Report: Dwight Howard considering return to Orlando Magic

Ric Bucher of Bleacher/Report reports Dwight Howard is considering his options for free agency and has reached out through back channels to see if the Orlando Magic would be interested in reuniting with their once franchise center.

Bucher says the market for Howard is not looking particularly good as the big man has struggled with injuries and fitting with his teammates in the Houston Rockets’ disappointing season this year. Howard is certainly not the same player he once was.

But Howard still believes he is capable of getting a max contract and his options to do so appear limited if he intends to opt out of the final year of his contract with the Rockets. His first choice is to stay in Houston, Bucher says.

The Magic and Orlando though could be a solid option B if the Magic are interested.

That is the part no one really knows much about. The Magic are not talking about their free agent plans.

It is certainly odd timing for this to come about. The Magic cleared enough cap room to sign one max player, possibly two, at the trade deadline in dealing Tobias Harris to the Detroit Pistons for Brandon Jennings and Ersan Ilyasova. With the salary cap also rising by an estimated $20 million, nearly every team will have the room to sign a max free agent. The Magic should have a little bit more than that.

It is also clear after the way this season has gone, the Magic are in desperate need of some star power and certainly some more help protecting the rim. Howard would seemingly transform the Magic’s entire defense.

Howard, though, is not the same player he was in his first 10 years in Orlando.

Howard is averaging 14.3 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. He is no longer the dominating presence he once was defensively either. He has a 1.6 defensive box plus-minus (meaning his team is 1.6 points per 100 possessions better than average with Howard on the floor) after peaking at 5.0 when Howard was in Orlando.

And Howard will still command a salary that will start somewhere near $28 million and could be upwards of $30 million in the first year of what can be up to a four-year deal. It would be a major investment.

And there would have to be a lot of bridges mended too after the tumultuous final year he spent in Orlando. Fans are still not quite over it although it seems they would be more welcoming of the idea as time has passed. Still trust would have to be rebuilt and Howard might have to accept a larger leadership role.

It is an interesting proposition for sure. One the Magic certainly will have to explore and do their due diligence on. It has to be part of their considerations and a potential plan for free agency this summer.

Whether it will actually happen? That still seems like a bit of a long shot.