The Magic seem intent on holding on to Howard for the entire season despite the fact that he will become a free agent at the end of the year.

Howard would light to play under the bright lights of Los Angeles, especially now that he would have point guard Chris Paul to get him the ball.

Interestingly enough, the news immediately touched off speculation about a Blake Griffin for Howard trade.

It’s doubtful that the Clippers would ever make such a deal given Griffin’s unlimited potential, but Howard is by far the best big man in the league.

Howard seems to change his mind about what he wants to do and where he wants to go more often than the wind blows.

The Los Angeles Lakers would love to acquire Howard, but it remains to be seen if they have the pieces to make it work.

Howard came away from a recent meeting with Magic management and was upbeat about the direction of the team and the chance to win a title.

However, the fact that he still wants a trade makes it unlikely that he really meant what he said, and it’s only going to cause distactions for Orlando this season.

Van Gundy was upset with Stern over a one-game suspension handed down from the NBA to center Dwight Howard.

The head coach is known to say whatever is on his mind, and it has been known to get him into trouble.

He said that Stern and his brass have the guys they like and don’t like and treat them accordingly.

Stern said he won’t fine Van Gundy for his latest remarks but guesses he won’t say anything else the rest of the year.

He said he should not be compared to LeBron James or Carmelo Anthony because his name is Dwight Howard.

Howard said he is simply annoyed by all of the speculation and wants to stay focused on winning a championship.

His current contract runs through the 2012-2013 season, but he could use an early out clause and become a free agent after next year.

Either way, he said he can’t sign any contract for a couple of years, so he doesn’t understand why there is so much talk about it.

It’s an interesting move from the Magic, a team that has been lauded for its chemistry in recent seasons.

While Lewis isn’t a star player, he provided excellent outside shooting and opened things up for Dwight Howard.

They are taking a big change on Arenas, a player who was once at the top of the NBA but has fallen on hard times.

Maybe Arenas just needs a change of scenery, but he looks nothing like an All-Star these days.

That means that Redick will be re-signing with the Magic for $19 million over three years.

It’s a nice payday for Redick, who at one time was near the point of being cut or traded away.

The shooting guard logged a lot of time during the NBA playoffs, playing well on both ends of the floor.

He has gotten significantly quicker and become a much better defensive player, increasing his value to NBA teams.

Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Richardson spent the past season with the Miami Heat, averaging just under nine points and five rebounds per game.

Once a promising player, Richardson has bounced around throughout his NBA career and struggled to find a home.

The Magic are hopeful that Richardson’s outside shooting can replace the loss of guard J.J. Redick should he leave Orlando.

Redick is currently mulling over a strong offer from the Chicago Bulls.

Duhon’s agent said that the Magic have been interested in his client even before he landed in New York.

Duhon, who started much of the time in New York, is likely to come off of the bench with the Magic.

Orlando already has Jameer Nelson running the point, so Duhon will become a top-flight backup.

Duhon’s agent said that the point guard is happy with the stability provided by the contract and a chance to play for an NBA championship.

Just a year ago, the Magic were coming off of a surprise trip to the NBA Finals but made significant changes.

They let Hedo Turgolu walk in free agency and elected to bring in the inconsistent but talented Vince Carter.

This time around, the Magic came up short of their goal but seem intent to bring the same group back next year.

There are a number of big-time free agents available this summer, but the Magic don’t have much cap space to work with.

There was a sense of urgency and an intensity from the Orlando Magic rarely seen so far in the series.

The Magic did an excellent job of using Jameer Nelson and Dwight Howard in the pick-and-roll game and then finding open shooters.

Orlando also wasn’t afraid to bang around the Celtics, who looked like a bunch of tired veterans.

The team’s second straight win sends the series back to Boston for Game 6. Game 7 would be played in Orlando should the Magic win again.