Reflecting on Juwan Howard's Tenure with the Orlando Magic

Juwan Howard, a former professional basketball player, had a notable stint with the Orlando Magic during his career. Born on February 7, 1973, in Chicago, Illinois, Howard played college basketball for the University of Michigan Wolverines before entering the NBA. The Washington Bullets selected Howard in the first round of the 1994 NBA Draft as the fifth overall pick. He spent his early years in the league with the Bullets/Wizards, where he showcased his skills and established himself as a reliable forward. However, it was his time with the Orlando Magic that truly made him stand out. After signing a seven-year, $105 million contract with the Magic in 2000, Juwan Howard became the highest-paid player in the history of the NBA at that time.

After signing a seven-year, $105 million contract with the Magic in 2000, Juwan Howard became the highest-paid player in the history of the NBA at that time. This move made headlines and sparked debate among basketball enthusiasts and analysts. Nonetheless, Howard brought his talent and leadership to the Magic, becoming an integral part of the team.

Juwan howard orlando magic

ORLANDO, Fla. -- The Orlando Magic signed forward Juwan Howard on Wednesday, hoping they have found a second scoring option behind Tracy McGrady.

Howard, a nine-year veteran, has averaged 17.9 points and 7.5 rebounds in 649 career games with Washington, Dallas and Denver. Last season, he led the Nuggets in scoring (18.4 points per game) and rebounding (7.6 rebounds per game).

Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the five-year contract has been reported to be worth between $28 million and $38 million.

Denver, Minnesota and Detroit were also interested in signing Howard.

Although the Nuggets offered more money, Howard said the Magic provided the best opportunity for postseason success. He has reached the playoffs twice -- a first-round sweep with Washington in 1997 and advancing to the second round with the Mavericks in 2001.

"I want to win,'' Howard said. "I've never had the opportunity to win, other than a short time in Dallas.''

The 6-foot-9, 260-pound Howard will play both forward positions and center for the Magic, Orlando coach Doc Rivers said.

Howard's inside presence is expected to relieve the burden on McGrady, the NBA's scoring champion last season, who had little help in the Magic's first-round playoff loss to Detroit.

"I needed a bona fide second scorer,'' Rivers said. "If you look at the Detroit series, if Tracy is not playing great, then we struggle because we didn't have a lot of other places to turn.

"And now we have another place to turn in Juwan.''

Howard said he didn't mind plans to shuttle him around the frontcourt.

"Only players who have a set position are those who are limited,'' he said.

The Magic are not yet through with signing free agents.

Orlando needs a starting point guard, with Tyronn Lue and Antonio Daniels considered top contenders. Although the Magic and Lue were close to a deal earlier this week, negotiations were knocked askew when the Cleveland Cavaliers offered Kevin Ollie $15 million over five years.

"Sometimes, a signing like that sets the tone beyond your expectations,'' Orlando general manager John Gabriel said. "I don't want to comment whether it's a good deal or not, but it set a pretty high bar for a guy that appeared to be a journeyman.''

Also, veteran center Andrew DeClercq is expected to re-sign with the Magic. DeClercq averaged 4.7 points and 4.4 rebounds for Orlando last season.

Meanwhile, the Magic are considering their options following the NBA's decision to deny the team salary cap relief for injured forward Grant Hill. The medical exemption would've been worth about $4.9 million -- approximately one-third of the $13.3 million due to Hill next season.

Orlando must wait at least 90 days to reapply to the league, Gabriel said.

Without the exemption, Orlando's options in signing more players or acquiring a high-priced player in a trade are limited. The $4.9 million middle-class cap exception, used to sign Howard, cannot be applied to trades.

Hill's bad left ankle has limited him to 47 games the past three seasons since signing a $93-million, seven year deal with Orlando in August 2000. He sustained a stress fracture to his left ankle during the 2000 playoffs while playing for Detroit.

More from ESPN. Report: Howard agrees to $28M deal with Magic
Juwan Howard hopes to have a .

Blame the stars, whose newfound habit of forcing trades has supplanted old-school free agency. And blame the NBA’s increasingly complex and constraining economic system, which has practically strangled free agency (especially for the highest tier of players) into submission. Whatever the culprit, it’s gotten to the point where I sometimes wonder: Are we seeing the death of free agency as we knew it? “I don’t think free agency is dying,” said Falk, whose client list in the 1990s included Jordan, Patrick Ewing, Alonzo Mourning, Juwan Howard and Dikembe Mutombo, among others. “I think that as the rules become more and more restrictive, it’s more and more difficult to be creative.”

During his seasons with the Magic, Howard contributed to the team's success and played alongside notable players like Tracy McGrady. His versatility as a power forward allowed him to make an impact on both ends of the court, excelling at scoring, rebounding, and defense. Howard's work ethic, professionalism, and team-first mentality earned him respect from both his teammates and coaches. Over the years, Howard's contributions as a player extended beyond the Magic, as he played for several other teams in the NBA. Despite moving on, his time with the Orlando Magic remains a significant chapter in his career. After retiring from playing basketball, Howard transitioned into a coaching role. He joined the Miami Heat coaching staff in 2013 and became an assistant coach under Erik Spoelstra. Howard's leadership skills and basketball knowledge proved valuable in his coaching career, helping him make a successful transition from player to coach. Juwan Howard's time with the Orlando Magic showcased his skills as a dynamic player and his ability to lead a team. His impact both on and off the court left a lasting legacy, making him one of the prominent figures in the history of the Orlando Magic franchise..

Reviews for "Juwan Howard's Return to Orlando Magic: A Homecoming Story"

1. John - 1 star

I was really disappointed with Juwan Howard's performance with the Orlando Magic. He lacked leadership on the court and his coaching decisions were questionable at best. The team seemed to lack direction and a clear game plan. I don't think Howard was the right fit for the team and I hope they make a change soon.

2. Sarah - 2 stars

As a long-time Orlando Magic fan, I had high hopes for Juwan Howard as the coach. However, he failed to deliver. His coaching style was ineffective and he seemed overwhelmed by the responsibilities of the role. The team's performance suffered under his leadership and I believe a change is necessary to turn things around.

3. Mike - 1 star

Juwan Howard's tenure as the coach of the Orlando Magic was a disaster. He seemed to have no control over the team and his game plans were often baffling. The players lacked discipline and there was a lack of accountability. I was extremely disappointed with his performance and I'm glad to see him leave.

4. Emily - 2 stars

I had high expectations for Juwan Howard as the coach of the Orlando Magic, but he failed to meet them. His lack of experience showed, as he struggled to make crucial in-game adjustments and failed to develop the team's young talent. It was clear that the players didn't respect him and that resulted in a lackluster performance on the court. Overall, I was not impressed with Howard's coaching abilities.

5. David - 1 star

Juwan Howard's time with the Orlando Magic was a complete disappointment. His coaching decisions were questionable and he seemed out of touch with the modern NBA style of play. The team's defensive struggles and lack of cohesion were evident under his leadership. I believe the Magic made a mistake in hiring Howard and I hope they make a change soon.

Juwan Howard's Contributions to the Orlando Magic's Playoff Runs