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Reports: Dwight Howard staying with Magic

Print | Comments () Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 15, 2012 12:01 PM

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By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff

UPDATE, 12:01 p.m.: Dwight Howard has officially signed the paperwork waiving his right to opt out of his contract for next season, according to several reports.

If you've been following the Dwight Howard news in the last 24 hours, you're probably a little frustrated at the whole thing. He wants to stay, he doesn't want to stay, he wants to stay again.

The very latest is that the Orlando Magic are now "expecting" Howard to sign an opt-in agreement to remain in Orlando for the 2012-13 season, two sources have told NBA.com's David Aldridge. For the better part of a year, teams have been expecting Howard to opt out of his contract and become a free agent at season's end. That assumption -- as well as Howard's public proclamations -- have led the Magic to explore trades for Howard rather than lose him for nothing.

Howard, of course, has not signed the papers yet, according to any reports, and so a deal isn't done until it's done. If Howard remains in Orlando, about a dozen teams in the NBA will have to turn to plan B in their efforts to rebuild.