Alex Martins, the relatively new CEO of the Magic, remains hopeful that the franchise can retain Dwight Howard.
“I’ve been at this for 90 days – not seven years – and if I’m going to have an influence on the process, I need to utilize as much as time as we possibly can before we make a decision,” Martins says. “And I’ve built a good relationship with him. We’ve had good conversations with him and some of his people.
“That gives me hope.”
Sources say Martins has played a role in rejecting a deal Otis Smith would have completed with the Nets in January.
Howard has been hesitant on what he actually wants, which makes Orlando's situation more difficult.
“Don’t underestimate how much it means to Dwight to be a pillar in that community," said one source close to Howard. "Everyone else wants to pull him out of there, but I’m not so sure that’s where his heart is.”