The Magic have become more brazen in their belief they should roll the dice, allowing Dwight Howard to become a free agent this summer, where he can choose to leave -- at a very significant reduction in guaranteed money.

"He can still walk," Magic general manager Otis Smith said Friday afternoon. "But with a $30 million haircut."

To stay in Orlando, under terms of the new collective bargaining agreement, Howard can sign a five-year deal worth $110 million. To play anywhere else – unless he is traded there first – it will be four years and $80.5 million.