By Fitzgerald Cecilio

Orlando, FL

Orlando Magic star center Dwight Howard maintained that he wants to be traded only to the one team on his preferred list, reportedly the Brooklyn Nets.

"There's only one team on my list and if I don't get traded there, I'll play the season out and explore my free agency after that," Howard told Yahoo! Sports.

Brooklyn vigorously tried to work out a trade involving Howard last season but the deal fell through as the Nets lacked the players to interest the Magic.

Last season, Howard asked to be traded but reconsidered his request and then exercised his option for 2012-13. Drafted 1st overall by the Magic in 2004, Howard will be a free agent after the upcoming season.

Howard has confirmed that he revived his request to be traded during his meeting with new Magic general manager Rob Hennigan on Friday in Los Angeles, saying he was merely repeating a position he had made clear in March.

"This was not the first time that I asked for trade," Howard said. "I communicated this to Magic president Alex [Martins and former general manager Otis Smith way before Friday that I wanted to be traded - months before this meeting with Rob Hennigan."

Howard emphasized that his request was before Stan Van Gundy got fired as head coach.

After the meeting, Hennigan said the Magic have no intention of immediately giving in to Howard's request, saying the process needs some time before it could be done.

Aside from the Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets are making trade offers for Howard, currently rehabilitating from back surgery.

Howard underwent surgery to repair a herniated disk and remove sizable fragments of bone April 20. His problematic back limited Howard to 54 games last season, averaging 20.6 points and 14.5 rebounds.

Howard said he was hurt by suggestions inside and outside the organization that he was just faking his injury to bail out on the team.

"I'd never fake a back injury to not play for my team. I played a lot of games in a lot of pain, and there were times that I was crying in the locker room afterward because I was so seriously hurt. But I kept fighting. I've played with a cracked sternum in the past, and played with a lot of different injuries," he said.

 

Hear the latest in the Dwight Howard saga from Orlando's GM.

 

 

Dwight Howard Only Wants Trade to Brooklyn Nets