[Orlando, FL] It has been a turbulent year for superstar center Dwight Howard, currently playing for the Orlando Magic.

Yes, currently. With that March 15 deadline fast approaching, the most wanted man in America could be traded to another team any day now.

Of course, the Magic could hold onto Dwight through the end of the season and end up hoping that he stays (unlikely) and watch him and all of his trade value vanish to another city.

Well now there is another wrinkle, albeit an expected one – Howard was announced as the top vote-getter in the 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting by the NBA. The big guy got an astonishing 1,600,390 votes.

Two Miami Heat players – and also announced All-starters – forward LeBron James (1,360,680 votes) and guard Dwyane Wade (1,334,223 votes) weren’t far behind.

Dwight Howard‘s start in the 2012 NBA All-Star Game will be his fifth consecutive and his sixth appearance in the NBA All-Star Game overall.

Photo: NBA

Dwyane Wade will play alongside Dwight Howard

HOWARD THE DUNK

Of course, that feather in his professional basketball cap only increases Howard’s market value. Making this all even more interesting is that the All-Star game takes place in Orlando on Feb. 26 at the team’s brand new Amway Center – otherwise known as the House That Dwight Howard Built.

Now D-12 can tear that place down with a monstrous dunk and hoist a giant-sized middle finger to the Magic’s die-hard fans who have supported him throughout his entire NBA career.

Howard is upset with the team’s management and ownership, who has repeatedly dropped the ball in efforts to build a championship line-up around Howard’s freakishly unique talents.

Howard is not mad at the fans, it should be noted. But that hasn’t stopped the smattering of boos from reaching Howard’s ears during home games, especially when he misses free throws (which is quite often).

Cleveland Cavaliers fans went through the same thing when LeBron James jumped ship and headed for the Miami Heat in an over-publicized signing with South Florida’s squad. And of course, many Magic fans still remember the Shaquille O’Neal debacle that saw the original Big Fella bolt town for the Los Angeles Lakers, leaving the team in shambles and without hope.

That is until Dwight Howard came along. But now he is leaving too, possibly to the same Lakers that rode Shaq’s back to multiple championships.

Maybe the Orlando and Cleveland fans can start a support group.

BACK TO THE ALL-STAR GAME

The 2012 NBA All-Star Game will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT in the U.S. The game will be broadcast in more than 40 different languages and shown in more than 200 countries and territories.

Meet your starting line-ups (coaches have yet to be determined):

Eastern Conference: forwards Carmelo Anthony (New York) and LeBron James (Miami); center Dwight Howard (Orlando); guards Derrick Rose (Chicago) and Dwyane Wade (Miami).

Western Conference: forwards Blake Griffin (L.A. Clippers) and Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City); center Andrew Bynum (L.A. Lakers); guards Kobe Bryant (L.A. Lakers) and Chris Paul (L.A. Clippers).

As you can see, the two Los Angeles teams dominate the Western Conference starters.

2012 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING PRESENTED BY SPRINT FINAL VOTE COUNTS

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: LeBron James (Mia) 1,360,680; Carmelo Anthony (NYK) 1,041,290; Amar’e Stoudemire (NYK) 383,734; Kevin Garnett (Bos) 367,914; Chris Bosh (Mia) 324,605; Luol Deng (Chi) 276,205; Paul Pierce (Bos) 215,020; Carlos Boozer (Chi) 175,828; Andrea Bargnani (Tor) 152,362; Josh Smith (Atl) 119,638.

Guards: Derrick Rose (Chi) 1,514,723; Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,334,223; Rajon Rondo (Bos) 547,110; Ray Allen (Bos) 382,147; Deron Williams (NJN) 208,697; Jose Calderon (Tor) 132,167; Richard Hamilton (Chi) 111,368; John Wall (Was) 96,606; Kyrie Irving (Cle) 96,346; Joe Johnson (Atl) 66,145.

Centers: Dwight Howard (Orl) 1,600,390; Joakim Noah (Chi) 236,497; Tyson Chandler (NYK) 163,077; Joel Anthony (Mia) 101,307; JaVale McGee (Was) 63,765; Al Horford (Atl) 50,396.

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Forwards: Kevin Durant (OKC) 1,345,566; Blake Griffin (LAC) 876,451; Pau Gasol (LAL) 470,353; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 468,435; Kevin Love (Min) 373,880; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 279,500; Tim Duncan (SA) 185,069; Lamar Odom (Dal) 142,830; Danilo Gallinari (Den) 110,245; Rudy Gay (Mem) 95,228.

Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,555,479; Chris Paul (LAC) 1,138,743; Ricky Rubio (Min) 397,456; Steve Nash (Pho) 276,268; Russell Westbrook (OKC) 262,186; Kyle Lowry (Hou) 185,584; Monta Ellis (GS) 156,603; Chauncey Billups (LAC) 120,961; Jason Kidd (Dal) 114,924; Manu Ginobili (SA) 111,273.

Centers: Andrew Bynum (LAL) 1,051,945; DeAndre Jordan (LAC) 322,056; Marc Gasol (Mem) 285,525; Nenê (Den) 207,102; Marcin Gortat (Pho) 136,168; Kendrick Perkins (OKC) 99,811.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Lead photo: Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images

Dwight Howard

[Orlando, FL] On Dwight Howard and the surging Orlando Magic lost a squeaker to the visiting San Antonio Spurs in overtime Wednesday night 85-83.

Orlando Magic guard J.J. Redick shot a game-winning three after the buzzer sounded, giving the road-challenged Spurs their first victory away from home this season. The loss ended Orlando’s five-game winning streak and dropped them to second place in their division behind.

“On the defensive end, we allowed Tony Parker to get too deep, and he was able to score or kick it out for guys for threes,” said Dwight Howard after the game.

The superstar center poured in 24 points and grabbed an incredible 25 rebounds in the losing effort. Hedo Turkoglu (back spams) and Jason Richardson (bruised left knee) were unavailable due to injuries.

Dwight Howard Trade Rumor Update #769: After Tuesday night’s victory against the Charlotte Bobcats, Howard was asked directly about his future with the Orlando Magic.

“Right now, I’m with the Magic,” Howard said. “That’s the only thing that matters.”

Obviously having a little fun with all of the trade talk, Howard joked: “Sources say Dwight Howard is signing with the Harlem Globetrotters.”

One serious bit of info from the big fella, was that he simply flat out said “no” to whether there was any truth to the story that he had added the Los Angeles Clippers to his list of teams he wants to be traded to.

Orlando Magic GM Otis Smith backed up Howard by passing along the facts that Howard’s handlers hadn’t informed him of the Clippers addition to “the list” (which includes the Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets and Dallas Mavericks), nor has the team granted any permission to said handlers to officially speak with the Clips.

One former Orlando Magic player and friend of Dwight’s isn’t surprised that Howard is hell bent on a trade: D-12 is still upset that the team that made the NBA Finals in 2009 was broken up by Smith.

“I’m not surprised (Dwight requested a trade),” said Courtney Lee, a former Magic man now playing for the Houston Rockets. ”When they broke up the team in 2009, you could just see the frustration in Dwight’s face. We talked about it a couple of times and you could tell he was upset about it.”

Orlando Magic assistant coach and Howard mentor Patrick Ewing – himself a superstar center back in the day – has tried to persuade Dwight to stay in Orlando.

“Everybody always thinks the grass is always greener,” Ewing told the Orlando Sentinel a few days back. “But it’s a great opportunity for him to stay in a [single] place. I wish I had stayed and finished my career here in New York. But it’s his decision.”

Meanwhile, Dwight Howard continues to lead all vote-getters with 1,161,797 votes after the second round of returns of the 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Orlando Magic

Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic

[Portland, OR] Suddenly, the Orlando Magic look like they have a winning formula as they downed the Portland Trail Blazers on their home court, 107-104.

Of course, it took a four game-winning threes by sharpshooter J.J. Redick in the final 16.5 seconds to seal the deal on Wednesday night at the Rose Garden. It didn’t seem like Orlando was going to pull this one out as Portland – who is playing great ball at 7-3 – had whittled down the Magic’s 23-point lead to two points.

But there was eagle-eye Redick, who stormed off the bench to notch 17 points and win one for the good guys. While Dwight Howard‘s numbers were disappointing (13 points, 13 rebounds), the team played well … together, according to Orlando Magic head coach Stan Van Gundy.

“Our ball movement was the best it has been this year,” offered Stan post-game. “Our energy was outstanding. I was really happy with what we did in the first half.”

Hedo Turkoglu also deserves big credit for the win, as he bailed out the team during the free fall, scoring on back-to-back possessions. “We were dying, and we went to him twice and ended up with five points,” Van Gundy said. “Huge. Those were the game-winners right there.”

Of course, Redick may disagree with that assessment, but a win is a win, right? Especially on the road against a tough team like Portland, who suffered their first home loss of the season against Orlando.

Trail Blazer reserve Jamal Crawford did impress everyone in the building by scoring a season-high 24 points.

“When we show heart like that, there are good things in the team’s future,” said Crawford. “We didn’t throw in the towel. We continued to fight.”

Look for the Orlando Magic to dig deep tonight against the Golden State Warriors in Oakland. The Warriors just rang-up a much-needed win versus the Miami Heat, thanks to stellar play by the newly acquired fire starter Nate Robinson.

If the 7-3 Magic win tonight and the 8-3 Heat lose, Orlando will start to look like a potential playoff powerhouse (with Dwight Howard still on the team, of course). Unfortunately, the will-he/won’t-he trade status surrounding Howard leaves an air of uncertainty around the team and no doubt the locker room.

Oh, the drama.

Also in the news: Dwight Howard is currently the top vote getter in the 2012 NBA All-Star Balloting.

By: Mark Christopher/Sunshine Slate

Image: Orlando Magic

Orlando Magic