Mike Bianchi’s
Open Mike
Don’t forget, you can click on OrlandoSentinel.com and read the wildly popular Open Mike blog and interactive extravaganza to get my freshest takes on what’s happening in the world of sports. Here’s a blog post about the Magic’s old Dwightmare reportedly dreaming of a triumphant return to Orlando:
Much has been said and written about
Dwight Howard reportedly being interested in returning to the Orlando Magic when he becomes a free agent after this season.
As I wrote in a column a couple of days ago, “If Dwight Howard wants to come home — if he honestly and genuinely wants to come home to the Orlando Magic — then Magic management should do everything in its power to make it happen.”
Let me now put an addendum on that original column:
If Dwight wants to come home — if he honestly and genuinely wants to come home to the Orlando Magic — then he should give the Magic a hometown discount.
It’s the least he can do for the franchise he wrecked and the fan faith he destroyed.
That’s right, if Dwight really wants to salvage his reputation and change his image from selfish superstar back to the benevolent and beloved hometown hero, he’ll come back to Orlando and take less money so the Magic can perhaps pursue another star free agent to pair with him.
Let’s face it, Dwight isn’t what he once was and there are those who wonder if he is worth the max contract he will most certainly be seeking. Don’t get me wrong, he will garner a great deal of interest in free agency, especially with the NBA moving into a season where there will be more available cap space than at any time in league history. Some speculate that a max player will be paid upward of $30 million a season for five seasons.
Is a 30-year-old Dwight Howard worth $150 million (hmmm, maybe the Sentinel should do a poll)?
Back to my point: Even if another team is willing to give him such an obscene contract, Howard should do something he’s never, ever done before: Do the right thing, not the Dwight thing. Do something for his long-term legacy, not something for his short-term indulgence.
If Dwight Howard really wants to return to Orlando, he’ll return with a lot more graciousness and take a little less money.