HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Sentinel reported Wednesday that “Howard’s camp is adamant that the All-NBA center wants to return for the postseason.” Pingalore reported several weeks ago that Howard has gone to management in an attempt to get the coach fired. Van Gundy confirmed that was the case, causing a local and national firestorm. Pingalore, in his most recent report, wrote that Howard is upset that Van Gundy said publicly he wanted him fired. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, Rich DeVos 

Magic center Dwight Howard has called team owner Rich DeVos to tell him that he won't play for coach Stan Van Gundy anymore, WKMG in Orlando reported. But multiple league sources directly affiliated with the Magic and Howard disputed the television report to ESPN.com's Michael Wallace. "It's a completely made-up, B.S. story," one of Howard's representatives told ESPN.com. Howard missed his sixth straight game with a back injury Wednesday against the Celtics, and Van Gundy already has said that he is preparing for his big man to miss the rest of the season and the playoffs. Howard is still upset that Van Gundy publicly said this month that Howard asked management to have him fired, sources told WKMG. ESPN.com

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, Rich DeVos 

Two sources told ESPN.com, though, that Howard did not reach out to DeVos in such a fashion. Howard's relationship with Van Gundy has been strained for months. Sources indicate that Howard will be re-evaluated next week by team doctors to determine his playoff availability. Howard's recovery from the injury, more so than any difficulties with Van Gundy, will factor into whether Howard is able to return to the court this season, sources told ESPN. ESPN.com

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, Rich DeVos 

“Whatever happens at the end of the season is not under my control. I am a player for the Magic,” he said. “I am not the GM. I am not [team owner] Rich DeVos. I am not [CEO] Alex Martins. So that’s not my job. So you guys should stop with every other week it’s trying to find something, because there’s nothing. There’s nothing. I haven’t said anything to anybody about anything. Our main concern is winning. So all the other stuff should stop.” Whatever, Van Gundy, by coming forward Thursday, made it impossible to believe there is “nothing.” He made it clear that if he were to be fired at some point that Howard had something to do with it. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy, Alex Martins, Rich DeVos 

David Baumann: Magic owner Rich DeVos told me envisions #dwighthoward in a Magic jersey for life. "We just need to perform... Then he'll be here forever." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard, Rich DeVos 

Stefan Bondy: Magic owner Rich DeVos comes into locker room, praises local journalists for their great stories Twitter

Orlando Magic, Rich DeVos 

Magic executives, including CEO Alex Martins, GM Otis Smith and owner Rich DeVos, were expecting Howard to lead off the conversation Wednesday night -- hours after Howard had informed a high-ranking team official that he wanted to sign the ETO waiver, commit to Orlando and not be traded. But when the Magic officials got on the call, the first voice they heard was Fegan's, according to a person who was briefed on the call. Fegan spoke for about 10 minutes, the person said, informing team officials that Howard was not willing to relinquish his ability to become a free agent after the season. When it was Howard's turn, all he could muster was a plea for DeVos and the Magic brass to "trust" that things would work out. "Then you're watching the game," a person familiar with the chronology of events said, "and you're thinking, 'Oh my God, this is his last game.' " CBSSports.com

Orlando Magic, Free Agency, Trade, Otis Smith, Alex Martins, Rich DeVos 

Chris Mannix: Rival executives say the biggest obstacle to dealing Howard will be convincing owner Rich DeVos to sign off, begin a rebuilding process. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rich DeVos 

Alex Kennedy: Source says Dwight Howard met with Magic CEO Alex Martins and owner Rich DeVos this afternoon, informing them that he'll opt-in next season. Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Alex Martins, Rich DeVos 

Alex Kennedy: Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos: "I don't think there will be any surprises (on Thursday), but we'll see." Twitter

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rich DeVos 

DeVos made a surprise appearance in the Magic locker room tonight before their game against the Miami Heat, and he came right out and said what I believed he was thinking: He does not want to trade the best center in the NBA. “I don’t want to trade him,” DeVos declared to reporters. “You never give up,” DeVos said of the negotiations. “We’ve got a great talent, a great young man. He’s got to look at his options (and) what’s best for him and I have to tell him what I think is best for him. I’m selfish.” SheridanHoops

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rich DeVos 

As Dwight Howard sat at his locker perhaps 10 yards away, DeVos acknowledged that he is trying to convince the superstar center to remain with the team for years to come. "We love him, and he respects us, so we talk," DeVos said. Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rich DeVos 

DeVos said he has tried to tell Howard that, if he goes to a new city, he might never match the bond with that team's fan base that he currently has with Magic fans. "Listen to the fans tonight, cheering," DeVos said. "He's respected. You have to move in life, but the loyalty you develop in a community is always remembered. But if you leave, you don't pick it up in the next town. It's not an add-on, you know, because you lose what you had. Maybe you gain some new [loyalty], but maybe you don't. Maybe the net gain isn't as good you think. We just talk about stuff." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rich DeVos 

DeVos also dispelled the notion that — if the team's front office determines it must trade Howard — he would veto a trade to the Los Angeles Lakers because the Lakers signed Shaquille O'Neal to a free-agent deal years ago. "I don't have any emotion on that," DeVos said. "I never talked about where he would go because I don't want him to go. I don't discuss where he might go." Orlando Sentinel

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Trade, Dwight Howard, Rich DeVos 

Orlando Magic owner Rich DeVos was wheeled into the entrance to the team locker room Tuesday night. The wheelchair stopped short and DeVos managed to get up, with the help of a cane and some friends, including Magic President Alex Martins. DeVos then walked in to give his boys a quick pep talk. "That's an example of what you can do the rest of the way," DeVos told them. "Hang tough." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Alex Martins, Rich DeVos 

The late bloomer, who clothed Dexter actress Julie Benz at last week's Emmy Awards and Angelina Jolie at an August Salt premiere, and her husband, Daniel DeVos, the son of Amway billionaire Rich DeVos, have purchased a $3 million apartment at the Chatham at East 65th Street, next door to the 1,700-square-foot apartment they already own in the building. Mr. DeVos, a Michigan-based investor and an owner of the NBA's Orlando Magic, and his wife will likely be combining the two seventh-floor apartments into a spacious, 3,700-square-foot four-bedroom large enough to accommodate the couple and their two daughters and son. The seller was cloaked in an entity called the Alexis Trust, with Roberto and Migdalia Bonita as co-trustees. New York Observer

Orlando Magic, Rich DeVos