During an online chat, Ric Bucher reports he expects the Magic to trade Dwight Howard during the offseason.

Sources tell Bucher that Howard has a strong preference to move to the Lakers or Nets.

With Dwight Howard in the final year of his contract next season, Orlando Magic general manager Otis Smith is fully prepared to receive a host of offers for the All Star center.

"To say it hasn't happened before is crazy, so, yes, I expect it to happen," Smith said Friday.

"And the answer will be the same as it always is: No."

Smith expects clubs to come calling before the 2012 trade deadline, thinking the Magic would rather receive compensation instead of letting Howard walk as a free agent.

Smith has made it clear he is willing to take the risk of letting Howard walk without compensation.

He emphasized that teams dealing superstars never get fair value, but there's something more.

Smith believes that when all is said and done, Howard will stay in Orlando.