Dwight Howard (AP)
MIAMI — And in news from another part of Florida, superstar Dwight Howard reportedly is in contract-extension talks with Orlando amid strong statements he does not want to leave the Magic.
Howard is scheduled to be a free agent in 2012, when the Knicks could have maximum cap space. But they’ve always been considered a long shot for Howard, who has never given any indication he wanted to play in as big a market as New York and often has cited the city’s weather as a detriment.
An Orlando television station reported Howard has had talks on an extension. Meanwhile, he told the Orlando Sentinel he does not want to follow Shaquille O’Neal’s lead of leaving Disney City.
“I’m not trying to run behind nobody like Shaq or be behind somebody else,” Howard said.
“I want to start my own path, and I want people to follow my path and not just follow somebody else’s path,” Howard added. “I want to have my own path, and I want to start that here in Orlando.
“But I can’t do it alone. Not only do I need the right teammates, but I need the city behind me. That’s the only way it’s going to get done. We can change this small city that we have — this small market that we have — and we can make it a big market.”
Howard’s agent also told the paper Howard does not want to leave. With point guard Deron Williams seeming sincere about re-signing with the Nets, the Knicks, if they maintain their cap space after this offseason, will be putting all their eggs in one basket with New Orleans PG Chris Paul.
However, Carmelo Anthony said after the season he did not think going after a third superstar was the only way to go with their cap space. In fact, the Knicks could burn some of their future cap space by signing a center this summer to a long-term deal — with Sacramento’s Samuel Dalembert the most likely candidate to pry.
The Mavericks’ Tyson Chandler, the Grizzlies’ Marc Gasol and the Clippers’ Deandre Jordan all likely will re-sign with their teams.