Orlando Turns to Billboard to Try to Persuade Dwight Howard to Stay With Magic

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Apr 17, 2011

Orlando Turns to Billboard to Try to Persuade Dwight Howard to Stay With Magic Nothing was more painful to Cleveland than when the city lost its beloved star, LeBron James. Orlando is trying to avoid the same devastating loss and has already begun advertising for All-Star Dwight Howard to stay.

According to terezowens.com, the city has a billboad that reads, "Dwight Howard, This is Your City." Under that, the sign says "StayDwight.com."

The website includes a page on why the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and five-time All-Star should stay in Orlando. It says, "Orlando has declared you the hero in this community. In an ego-driven sports world, it's easy to jump ship and try to seek new opportunities."

Howard will be a free agent in 2012, but he does not plan on handling the situation like James did last summer.

"I never said anything about leaving," Howard said, according to ESPN.com. "I never said anything about me not being happy here or me 'pulling a LeBron' like people say on Twitter. But I'm just really tired of it. I want to help this franchise win a championship."

Like James, Howard wants to win an NBA title, and his team is loaded with enough talent to do so. The Magic have All-Star point guard Jameer Nelson, and added Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas this season.

If Howard does not win the championship this year or the next, though, he could test free agency and pursue a title while wearing a different jersey. That's what Orlando already fears.

You can also watch Howard's top 10 plays of the 2010-2011 season below:

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