Dwight Howard had made it clear that he wants out of Orlando. The owner of the team isn't eager to accommodate the Magic's superstar center.

"I don't want to trade him," Orlando owner Rich DeVos said before Wednesday's game.

Howard, who can become an unrestricted free agent after the season, has asked the team to trade him.

If the Magic do not make a deal by the March 15 trade deadline, they risk losing Howard for nothing -- much like the Cleveland Cavaliers did with LeBron James.

"You never give up," DeVos said. "We've got a great talent, a great young man. He's got to look at his options (and) what's best for him and I have to tell him what I think is best for him. I'm selfish."

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, Howard is averaging 20.9 points and a league-leading 15.1 rebounds per game.