Golden State Warriors guard Monta Ellis is well-respected by Dwight Howard (Michael Hickey, US Presswire)

Let’s assume for a moment that the Orlando Magic indeed have reached out to the Golden State Warriors in recent days to try and acquire Monta Ellis, as has been reported.

What does that mean for the Magic’s chances for retaining Howard long-term?

It could mean everything. It could mean nothing.

Here is what we know for sure: Magic officials planned to speak with Howard, either formally or informally, on or about March 1 to see if there is any chance he would remain long-term. Magic CEO Alex Martins has communicated with Howard for months now, ever since Martins took over for Bob Vander Weide and inherited a situation that had reached a crisis point.

It would be a great achievement for the Magic — akin to a comeback from 25 points down in the fourth quarter — if Howard has told Martins that he will stay long-term if the team acquires certain players. It also would be a big comeback if Howard has told Martins that he will not opt out of his contract this summer and remain for at least the 2012-13 season if the team acquires certain players.

Howard did indicate publicly during All-Star weekend that he had not made up his mind about his future.

Right now, we just don’t know what, if anything, Howard has told the team.

It’s possible — if the Ellis rumor is accurate — that the Magic simply are going for a Hail Mary. Maybe they have not received any assurances from Howard, but they know that Howard publicly has said that he would love to play with Ellis (and with Stephen Jackson, Anthony Morrow, Chris Paul and Deron Williams). Having Ellis could help the Magic’s chances to re-sign Howard this summer.

The same goes for the Steve Nash rumors. If the Magic make a serious play for Nash, the team simply could be going all-in to win a title now for 85-year-old owner Rich DeVos and then hope a nice playoff run makes Howard consider not opting out this offseason.

Indeed, it will be difficult for the Magic to acquire either Ellis or Nash. The Magic might not have the assets the Warriors need. And Nash has said he will not ask for a trade.

Howard probably will continue to keep mum for at least the next couple of weeks.

He has been criticized over the last two months for saying the Magic did not follow his personnel suggestions. All you have to do is connect the dots. Since Howard was making personnel suggestions, he clearly was not satisfied with the composition of the roster and was, as General Manager Otis Smth has said, indirectly throwing at least one player “under the bus.”

All indications over the last few weeks were that Howard was hell-bent on testing free agency this upcoming summer and that he even would have been happy to agree with a new team to a four-year deal at 4.5 percent annual raises that included an opt-out after three seasons.

Right now, I would advise Magic fans not to jump to any conclusions just yet.

Follow Josh Robbins on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.

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Howard is averaging 21 points, 15 rebounds and two blocks per game after 35 games for the Magic. (Reuters/Jessica Rinaldi).

However, Howard hasn’t yet formally rescinded his trade request, which means the possibility remains the three-time Defensive Player of the Year can walk away come July, leaving the Magic with no compensation.

The logical move would then be to trade Howard and get valuable pieces in return that can help the team stay afloat this season and rebuild for the future. But, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Magic CEO Alex Martins insisted Sunday night that the team hasn’t made a decision yet about whether they will trade Howard, which implies hope of holding onto him until the end of the season and getting him to sign an extension afterwards.

If the Magic start losing again, then that fateful decision to trade Howard could be made sooner than later. And that’s why Steve Nash has to come aboard before that decision is made-to prevent that decision from being made-whether the Magic are losing or winning up to that point.   

If the Magic start losing more games than they win, then bringing Nash on board can convince Howard that the team can still turn the rest of the season around and potentially make a strong playoff push. On the other hand, if the Magic start winning more games than they lose, then bringing Nash on board would only make them better than they already are and generate an even stronger, more confidence-laden playoff push.

Nash is 38 years old and in the final year of his contract, but statistically speaking, he would seemingly present an upgrade over the Magic’s current starting point guard Jameer Nelson. Nash currently leads the NBA in assists per game (10.9) while adding 13.9 points on 54.2 percent shooting and 40 percent shooting from three-point range. Nelson, though, has struggled for much of the season, averaging only 9.3 points and 5.3 assists and shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 30.1 percent on three-pointers.

If the rumor does hold up and a trade for Nash was to take place, one would have to assume that Nelson would be the key piece on the Magic’s end. After Nelson, the Magic don’t have many tradeable assets that could help them improve their roster, so whoever else they decide to include in a deal would need some careful consideration and time.

The only advantage the Magic have in not getting Nash and letting Howard play through the season is being able to offer the big man a fifth year on a new contract worth about $28 million if he were to try to depart via free agency, according to Yahoo Sports. At the same time, the Magic wouldn’t have the financial flexibility to make a big run at a major free agent acquisition during the summer to make up for Howard’s loss, despite having waived Gilbert Arenas’ big contract via the amnesty clause.

The bottom line is that Howard perhaps must be mightily convinced to stay on board for both this season and any number of seasons to come. Magic owner Richard DeVos Sr. has said that he wants Howard to stay in Orlando.

But the question still remains that no one truly knows the answer to: is Orlando truly where Howard’s heart lies?

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The Orlando Magic front-office was in the business of shooting down rumors about Dwight Howard trade possibilities during All-Star Weekend: “The scuttlebutt is that the Magic would send Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Jameer Nelson to the Lakers and the Magic would receive Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol. A third team, the Toronto Raptors, could be part of the deal or in a separate trade with the Magic, sending point guard José Calderon to Orlando. Magic CEO Alex Martins told the Sentinel the rumor is wrong. The Magic have said all along that they will speak to Howard at some point before or on March 1 to see what he plans to do when he can become a free agent this summer. The Magic then would assess their situation from there. Team officials want to retain Howard long-term, but they have not ruled out a trade if they deem it necessary.”

OAKLAND, Calif. — This was supposed to be the season that Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard improved his free-throw shooting.

But Howard actually is doing worse from the free-throw line than he ever has. Howard entered Thursday’s game against the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena shooting just 42.6 percent from the line.

He struggled terribly when the Magic beat the Portland Trail Blazers 107-104 at the Rose Garden on Wednesday, missing nine of his 12 foul shots. Some of those attempts were way off, hitting the left edge of the rim. And the Trail Blazers’ decision to foul Howard, especially late in the game, essentially served as Magic turnovers because Howard could not convert at the line.

“I think sometimes I just want to make ‘em so bad that I’m thinking too much,” Howard said. “So I’ve just got to keep shooting — and they’re gonna start falling — and not get frustrated with it. It’s tough not to, but [I have to] just try not to get frustrated and just understand that it’s a process. Sooner or later, they’re gonna start falling.”

During the offseason, Howard hired personal shooting coach Ed Palubinskas, who had helped Shaquille O’Neal improve his notoriously bad free-throw shooting for a time during O’Neal’s career.

Howard and Palubinskas also have worked together this season.

Back home

Magic coach Stan Van Gundy spent part of his childhood in Martinez, Calif., a city in Contra Costa County about 35 miles away from Oracle Arena.

It was a homecoming of sorts for him, even though his family left the summer after he graduated from high school. He still has friends in the area, and some of them planned to attend Thursday’s game.

Van Gundy grew up rooting for Golden State and would attend five or six games each season.

The 1974-75 Warriors team that featured Rick Barry, Jamaal Wilkes and coach Al Attles won the NBA title.

“[I was] a huge Warriors fan,” Van Gundy said. “That ’75 team that won the championship is still my favorite. The ball boys out there can tell you: I went crazy twice out there. We played there on Nate Thurmond Bobblehead Night, and I had to get that bobblehead. And then I had to get the Al Attles bobblehead.”

Although Van Gundy preferred the San Francisco Giants in baseball, he and his brother, Jeff, often attended Oakland A’s games in the stadium that sits next to Oracle Arena.

Teammate reunion

Patrick Ewing was the Magic assistant coach who was responsible for doing the prep work for Thursday’s game against the Warriors.

It turns out that Ewing knows the Warriors’ first-year head coach, Mark Jackson, very well.

Ewing and Jackson, a former ESPN analyst, were teammates with the New York Knicks from 1987-88 through 1991-92.

“I thought he was going to be broadcasting [the rest of his career],” Ewing said. “I always told him he had the ‘gift for gab.’ He’s got that New York tongue. I’m happy that he was able to get the job. They’re doing fairly well. I wish him the best. Like I tell him, I wish him the best except for when we come to town or when they come to our place.”

Because of the compressed schedule, the Warriors will not play the Magic at Amway Center this season.

Layups

• The Warriors were thin at center. Golden State officials announced Thursday that Kwame Brown has a torn right pectoral muscle and will undergo surgery.

• Magic wing Quentin Richardson, who is still suffering from irritation on his left foot from trying to self-treat an ankle sprain, was on the team’s inactive list Thursday. It was Richardson’s fourth consecutive missed game. Van Gundy has said Richardson could return for Monday’s game in New York against the Knicks.

jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.

Monta Ellis could be traded this summer.

The Orlando Magic are one of a handful of teams who’ve spoken to the Golden State Warriors about acquiring Monta Ellis, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Based on comments from new team consultant Jerry West last week, it appears the Warriors are looking to split up the guard duo of Ellis and Stephen Curry, who aren’t a very good complement because they’re both undersized and both like the ball in their hands.

That puts Ellis, a 25-year-old who averaged 24.1 points last season, on the trading block, and he’s receiving plenty of interest. Rusty Simmons of the Chronicle, citing league sources, said the Warriors have discussed trades with Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Orlando and the Lakers. The league’s hottest rumor involves Ellis being traded to Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala straight up.

Ellis’ inefficiency and lack of defensive performance doesn’t make him a perfect fit in Orlando, but his ability to create shots is something the Magic sorely lack. As a pure scorer, he’s one of the ten best perimeter players in the NBA.

The Magic’s most valuable trading asset, Jameer Nelson, offers little value to the Warriors because of Curry, but the Warriors could potentially have interest in one of the Magic’s young role players. While the other teams linked to the Warriors could all offer more than the Magic, it’s unclear if they want to.

If the Ellis-for-Iguodala swap falls through, this will certainly be a situation to monitor.

zmccann@orlandosentinel.com

Monta Ellis could be traded this summer.

The Orlando Magic are one of a handful of teams who’ve spoken to the Golden State Warriors about acquiring Monta Ellis, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Based on comments from new team consultant Jerry West last week, it appears the Warriors are looking to split up the guard duo of Ellis and Stephen Curry, who aren’t a very good complement because they’re both undersized and both like the ball in their hands.

That puts Ellis, a 25-year-old who averaged 24.1 points last season, on the trading block, and he’s receiving plenty of interest. Rusty Simmons of the Chronicle, citing league sources, said the Warriors have discussed trades with Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Orlando and the Lakers. The league’s hottest rumor involves Ellis being traded to Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala straight up.

Ellis’ inefficiency and lack of defensive performance doesn’t make him a perfect fit in Orlando, but his ability to create shots is something the Magic sorely lack. As a pure scorer, he’s one of the ten best perimeter players in the NBA.

The Magic’s most valuable trading asset, Jameer Nelson, offers little value to the Warriors because of Curry, but the Warriors could potentially have interest in one of the Magic’s young role players. While the other teams linked to the Warriors could all offer more than the Magic, it’s unclear if they want to.

If the Ellis-for-Iguodala swap falls through, this will certainly be a situation to monitor.

zmccann@orlandosentinel.com

Monta Ellis could be traded this summer.

The Orlando Magic are one of a handful of teams who’ve spoken to the Golden State Warriors about acquiring Monta Ellis, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Based on comments from new team consultant Jerry West last week, it appears the Warriors are looking to split up the guard duo of Ellis and Stephen Curry, who aren’t a very good complement because they’re both undersized and both like the ball in their hands.

That puts Ellis, a 25-year-old who averaged 24.1 points last season, on the trading block, and he’s receiving plenty of interest. Rusty Simmons of the Chronicle, citing league sources, said the Warriors have discussed trades with Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Orlando and the Lakers. The league’s hottest rumor involves Ellis being traded to Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala straight up.

Ellis’ inefficiency and lack of defensive performance doesn’t make him a perfect fit in Orlando, but his ability to create shots is something the Magic sorely lack. As a pure scorer, he’s one of the ten best perimeter players in the NBA.

The Magic’s most valuable trading asset, Jameer Nelson, offers little value to the Warriors because of Curry, but the Warriors could potentially have interest in one of the Magic’s young role players. While the other teams linked to the Warriors could all offer more than the Magic, it’s unclear if they want to.

If the Ellis-for-Iguodala swap falls through, this will certainly be a situation to monitor.

zmccann@orlandosentinel.com

Monta Ellis could be traded this summer.

The Orlando Magic are one of a handful of teams who’ve spoken to the Golden State Warriors about acquiring Monta Ellis, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

Based on comments from new team consultant Jerry West last week, it appears the Warriors are looking to split up the guard duo of Ellis and Stephen Curry, who aren’t a very good complement because they’re both undersized and both like the ball in their hands.

That puts Ellis, a 25-year-old who averaged 24.1 points last season, on the trading block, and he’s receiving plenty of interest. Rusty Simmons of the Chronicle, citing league sources, said the Warriors have discussed trades with Atlanta, Chicago, Memphis, Orlando and the Lakers. The league’s hottest rumor involves Ellis being traded to Philadelphia for Andre Iguodala straight up.

Ellis’ inefficiency and lack of defensive performance doesn’t make him a perfect fit in Orlando, but his ability to create shots is something the Magic sorely lack. As a pure scorer, he’s one of the ten best perimeter players in the NBA.

The Magic’s most valuable trading asset, Jameer Nelson, offers little value to the Warriors because of Curry, but the Warriors could potentially have interest in one of the Magic’s young role players. While the other teams linked to the Warriors could all offer more than the Magic, it’s unclear if they want to.

If the Ellis-for-Iguodala swap falls through, this will certainly be a situation to monitor.

zmccann@orlandosentinel.com

Dwight Howard today shot down a report that he will sign a two-year contract extension with the Orlando Magic before the collective bargaining agreement ends on July 1.

Howard made spoke to reporters this morning as he appeared at a charity event in Birmingham, Ala., to help people affected by late April’s deadly tornados.

WKMG Sports Director David “Ping” Pingalore, citing anonymous NBA and Magic sources, reported Monday night that the extension was “all but signed by” Howard.

“There’s no truth to that,” Howard told reporters in Birmingham.

“The biggest thing right now is everybody understands I have one more year left. I’m keeping my options open, but there’s no other place I’d rather be than Orlando. I want them to understand that.

“But, at the same time, I do want to win, make sure everything is in line: our team, just everything from top to bottom, everybody is reaching for a championship. It can’t be me and a couple other guys. It’s gotta be the whole team — everybody on the staff. It’s the same goal: the championship attitude. As of right now, I don’t plan to be anywhere else besides Orlando.”

On Monday, Howard told the Orlando Sentinel in a one-on-one interview that his first preference is to remain with the Magic for the long haul, but he stopped short of saying he will definitely remain with the team for the long haul.

Pingalore tweeted Monday and reported on-air Tuesday that Howard would sign the extension — at least partly because signing an extension before July 1 would guarantee Howard maximum-salary money of about $44 million combined for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons.

But signing an extension now does not necessarily guarantee that the salaries written in that extension would be grandfathered into the new CBA.

The salaries in extensions and even existing contracts under the new CBA will be determined through negotiations between the league’s owners and the players’ union. Salary-cap and CBA expert Larry Coon has noted that members of the union might prefer an agreement that protects lower-wage players at the expense of higher-wage players.

In other words, no one knows for sure what the new CBA will look like.

And right now, Howard sounds content to be patient, wait for the new agreement and, perhaps even more importantly, see how the Magic match-up against their Eastern Conference competition a year from now.

Howard’s current contract runs through the 2012-13 season, but he can terminate the deal one year early and become a free agent during the summer of 2012.

“For me, it’s just talking to the owners personally,” Howard said in Birmingham today. “There’s no middle man. Just me and the owners . . . just telling those guys how I feel. They understand that I want to win a championship, I want to have a team to do that. I’m just directly talking to them about everything, not just contract extension — about basketball, about bettering myself and bettering the team.”

jbrobbins@tribune.com. Read his blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/magicblog. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus. Paulling, an Orlando Sentinel correspondent, reported from Birmingham, Ala. Robbins, an Orlando Sentinel staff writer, contributed from Orlando.

Dwight Howard attempted to ease fans’ concerns at his barbecue Monday (Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel)

As you may have heard by now, Dwight Howard held a barbecue at an Orlando park on Monday to show fans he appreciates them and to ease their concerns that he might leave the Orlando Magic.

And, in his strongest wording yet on the subject, he said that his first preference is to remain with the Magic for the long haul.

Here are some snippets of what he said. Please pay special attention to the words I’ve italicized.

• “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.

• “As of right now, I’m a part of the Orlando Magic and I plan to be here. And I want the Magic to do whatever they can to make sure that we can get our city behind us.“

It can be dangerous to parse every word of what a newsmaker says and then infer a broader meaning.

But I believe that his words are instructive in this case. I think that as Howard contemplates his future, he will strongly weigh how close the Magic are to contending for an NBA title.

Howard is no fool.

He saw how the Magic lost in the first round of the playoffs. He was the only person on the Orlando roster who played well on a consistent basis.

And Howard knows that dramatic trends that have reshaped the NBA’s balance of power. He sees how LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in Miami and have reached the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks, who have paired Amar’e Stoudemire with Carmelo Anthony, seem poised for a brighter future.

And until Howard sees that the Magic have upgraded their roster, I don’t believe he will sign an extension.

This is the primary reason why I regard the recent report from David “Ping” Pingalore, the sports director at WKMG, with skepticism.

Pingalore says that a two-year extension “is all but signed by Howard.”

So far, no one has corroborated that report.

Indeed, five hours before Ping sent out his report over Twitter, Howard told the Sentinel that he’s “not focused” on an extension or on other future considerations.

Please note the words I’ve italicized.

Howard said: “One of the reasons why I just wanted to have this little get-together with all the fans was just to try to ease their minds about all the trade rumors and all that stuff and let them know I care about my city, I want to be here in Orlando and stop worrying about me signing a new extension and all this stuff. I’m not focused on that. I still have another year left with the Magic.”

A few weeks ago, I detailed, from Howard’s perspective, the potential positives of signing an extension now. I also listed some of the potential positives if he waits and becomes a free agent.

Perhaps the biggest positive for Howard to sign an extension before July 1 is that he can sign for more money. 

The current CBA allows him to extend his deal for a maximum salary of $21,587,678 for the 2013-14 season and a maximum salary of $23,638,995 for the 2014-15 season.

That’s great money, to be sure. It’s almost certainly more than he could gain under the new CBA.

But as CBA and salary-cap expert Larry Coon has noted, even if Howard signs an extension now, those salaries might drop if the new CBA wipes out certain provisions in how maximum salaries are computed. It’s possible that the members of the union will be more inclined to ratify rules that protect lower-wage players at the expense of higher-wage players.

Plus, I think Howard wants to see whether the Magic have improved their roster before he makes a decision.

I believe that Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith has spoken to Howard about how the franchise will attempt to upgrade the supporting cast. I also believe Howard listened with great interest.

The new CBA might help the Magic if it allows teams to release a player and pay that player’s salary but still have that salary come off the books.

Then the Magic could try to make a few other deals to try to free-up cap room and make a run at Chris Paul or Deron Williams, who can become free agents during the summer of 2012.

If you’re Howard, you probably want to wait to see how things shake out before committing to a long-term future with Orlando.

Then again, I could be wrong.

If Ping is correct, I’ll be the first one to tell him, “Good work.”

Follow Josh Robbins on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.

Dwight Howard attempted to ease fans’ concerns at his barbecue Monday (Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel)

As you may have heard by now, Dwight Howard held a barbecue at an Orlando park on Monday to show fans he appreciates them and to ease their concerns that he might leave the Orlando Magic.

And, in his strongest wording yet on the subject, he said that his first preference is to remain with the Magic for the long haul.

Here are some snippets of what he said. Please pay special attention to the words I’ve italicized.

• “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.

• “As of right now, I’m a part of the Orlando Magic and I plan to be here. And I want the Magic to do whatever they can to make sure that we can get our city behind us.“

It can be dangerous to parse every word of what a newsmaker says and then infer a broader meaning.

But I believe that his words are instructive in this case. I think that as Howard contemplates his future, he will strongly weigh how close the Magic are to contending for an NBA title.

Howard is no fool.

He saw how the Magic lost in the first round of the playoffs. He was the only person on the Orlando roster who played well on a consistent basis.

And Howard knows that dramatic trends that have reshaped the NBA’s balance of power. He sees how LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in Miami and have reached the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks, who have paired Amar’e Stoudemire with Carmelo Anthony, seem poised for a brighter future.

And until Howard sees that the Magic have upgraded their roster, I don’t believe he will sign an extension.

This is the primary reason why I regard the recent report from David “Ping” Pingalore, the sports director at WKMG, with skepticism.

Pingalore says that a two-year extension “is all but signed by Howard.”

So far, no one has corroborated that report.

Indeed, five hours before Ping sent out his report over Twitter, Howard told the Sentinel that he’s “not focused” on an extension or on other future considerations.

Please note the words I’ve italicized.

Howard said: “One of the reasons why I just wanted to have this little get-together with all the fans was just to try to ease their minds about all the trade rumors and all that stuff and let them know I care about my city, I want to be here in Orlando and stop worrying about me signing a new extension and all this stuff. I’m not focused on that. I still have another year left with the Magic.”

A few weeks ago, I detailed, from Howard’s perspective, the potential positives of signing an extension now. I also listed some of the potential positives if he waits and becomes a free agent.

Perhaps the biggest positive for Howard to sign an extension before July 1 is that he can sign for more money. 

The current CBA allows him to extend his deal for a maximum salary of $21,587,678 for the 2013-14 season and a maximum salary of $23,638,995 for the 2014-15 season.

That’s great money, to be sure. It’s almost certainly more than he could gain under the new CBA.

But as CBA and salary-cap expert Larry Coon has noted, even if Howard signs an extension now, those salaries might drop if the new CBA wipes out certain provisions in how maximum salaries are computed. It’s possible that the members of the union will be more inclined to ratify rules that protect lower-wage players at the expense of higher-wage players.

Plus, I think Howard wants to see whether the Magic have improved their roster before he makes a decision.

I believe that Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith has spoken to Howard about how the franchise will attempt to upgrade the supporting cast. I also believe Howard listened with great interest.

The new CBA might help the Magic if it allows teams to release a player and pay that player’s salary but still have that salary come off the books.

Then the Magic could try to make a few other deals to try to free-up cap room and make a run at Chris Paul or Deron Williams, who can become free agents during the summer of 2012.

If you’re Howard, you probably want to wait to see how things shake out before committing to a long-term future with Orlando.

Then again, I could be wrong.

If Ping is correct, I’ll be the first one to tell him, “Good work.”

Follow Josh Robbins on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.

Dwight Howard attempted to ease fans’ concerns at his barbecue Monday (Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel)

As you may have heard by now, Dwight Howard held a barbecue at an Orlando park on Monday to show fans he appreciates them and to ease their concerns that he might leave the Orlando Magic.

And, in his strongest wording yet on the subject, he said that his first preference is to remain with the Magic for the long haul.

Here are some snippets of what he said. Please pay special attention to the words I’ve italicized.

• “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.

• “As of right now, I’m a part of the Orlando Magic and I plan to be here. And I want the Magic to do whatever they can to make sure that we can get our city behind us.“

It can be dangerous to parse every word of what a newsmaker says and then infer a broader meaning.

But I believe that his words are instructive in this case. I think that as Howard contemplates his future, he will strongly weigh how close the Magic are to contending for an NBA title.

Howard is no fool.

He saw how the Magic lost in the first round of the playoffs. He was the only person on the Orlando roster who played well on a consistent basis.

And Howard knows that dramatic trends that have reshaped the NBA’s balance of power. He sees how LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh joined forces in Miami and have reached the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks, who have paired Amar’e Stoudemire with Carmelo Anthony, seem poised for a brighter future.

And until Howard sees that the Magic have upgraded their roster, I don’t believe he will sign an extension.

This is the primary reason why I regard the recent report from David “Ping” Pingalore, the sports director at WKMG, with skepticism.

Pingalore says that a two-year extension “is all but signed by Howard.”

So far, no one has corroborated that report.

Indeed, five hours before Ping sent out his report over Twitter, Howard told the Sentinel that he’s “not focused” on an extension or on other future considerations.

Please note the words I’ve italicized.

Howard said: “One of the reasons why I just wanted to have this little get-together with all the fans was just to try to ease their minds about all the trade rumors and all that stuff and let them know I care about my city, I want to be here in Orlando and stop worrying about me signing a new extension and all this stuff. I’m not focused on that. I still have another year left with the Magic.”

A few weeks ago, I detailed, from Howard’s perspective, the potential positives of signing an extension now. I also listed some of the potential positives if he waits and becomes a free agent.

Perhaps the biggest positive for Howard to sign an extension before July 1 is that he can sign for more money. 

The current CBA allows him to extend his deal for a maximum salary of $21,587,678 for the 2013-14 season and a maximum salary of $23,638,995 for the 2014-15 season.

That’s great money, to be sure. It’s almost certainly more than he could gain under the new CBA.

But as CBA and salary-cap expert Larry Coon has noted, even if Howard signs an extension now, those salaries might drop if the new CBA wipes out certain provisions in how maximum salaries are computed. It’s possible that the members of the union will be more inclined to ratify rules that protect lower-wage players at the expense of higher-wage players.

Plus, I think Howard wants to see whether the Magic have improved their roster before he makes a decision.

I believe that Magic President of Basketball Operations Otis Smith has spoken to Howard about how the franchise will attempt to upgrade the supporting cast. I also believe Howard listened with great interest.

The new CBA might help the Magic if it allows teams to release a player and pay that player’s salary but still have that salary come off the books.

Then the Magic could try to make a few other deals to try to free-up cap room and make a run at Chris Paul or Deron Williams, who can become free agents during the summer of 2012.

If you’re Howard, you probably want to wait to see how things shake out before committing to a long-term future with Orlando.

Then again, I could be wrong.

If Ping is correct, I’ll be the first one to tell him, “Good work.”

Follow Josh Robbins on Twitter at @JoshuaBRobbins and e-mail him at jrobbins@orlandosentinel.com. Subscribe to our Orlando Magic newsletter at OrlandoSentinel.com/joinus.

Dwight Howard says his preference is Orlando.

Dwight Howard held a barbecue for fans on Monday in Orlando, and good times were reportedly had by all. While at the barbecue Howard expressed his desire to stay in Orlando. We have more on that and more in today’s links.

1. Dwight Howard says his preference is to stay with the Orlando Magic and ’start his own path’ Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: Howard threw an open-invite BBQ to the people of Central Florida and reiterated his love for the city.

2. NBA lockout makes arena schedulers scramble, Brian Schmitz, Orlando Sentinel

The Buzz: If the Magic lose games, Amway Center will book high-draw concerts instead.

3. Darrell Gets Another Chance, Philip Rossman-Reich, OrlandoMagicDaily.com

The Buzz: Armstrong, the former Magic fan favorite, is an assistant with the Mavericks.

4. Dwight Howard: Orlando is first choice, ESPN.com

The Buzz: Momentum is starting to shift toward Howard staying, but it’s very early.

5. Thunder’s Kendrick Perkins to work on silencing critics, Darnell Mayberry, The Oklahoman

The Buzz: Perkins intends to lose 20 pounds this summer. If he were on the Celtics and still worried about Dwight Howard, I’m not sure that would be the case.

6. The waking dreams of LeBron James, Brian Windhorst, ESPN.com

The Buzz: Windhorst gives an interesting look at James’ desire to win a title and the last year.

7. Miami Heat practice turns physical; Spoelstra cuts it short, Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel

The Buzz: The Heat got after it at practice Monday.

8. Mavericks guard J.J. Barea on if he can get by LeBron James: ‘Oh, no question’ Brandon George, Dallas Morning News

The Buzz: Barea is confident he’ll be able to create during the NBA Finals the same way he did against the Thunder.

9. Jason Terry’s tattoo temporary? Tim MacMahon, ESPNDallas.com

The Buzz: If the Mavericks lose, Terry will have his O’Brien Trophy tattoo removed by laser.

10. Mike Brown’s Offense & Kobe Bryant, Sebastian Pruiti, NBAPlaybook.com

The Buzz: And in a non-playoff link, Pruiti looks at the Cavaliers’ offense under Mike Brown and sees how Kobe Bryant will fit in.