The Magic front office held a conference call Wednesday evening with Dwight Howard and Dan Fegan shortly before playing the Spurs and hours after Howard had said he would be willing to sign an early termination option waiver.

Fegan spoke for about 10 minutes, the person said, informing team officials that Howard was not willing to relinquish his ability to become a free agent after the season. When it was Howard's turn, he said very little except offer a plea for Rich DeVos and the Magic brass to "trust" that things would work out.

"Then you're watching the game," a person familiar with the chronology of events said, "and you're thinking, 'Oh my God, this is his last game.'"

From the time Howard boarded the team plane after the game and landing in Orlando, Howard had changed his mind and Otis Smith was informed of it via text message. Smith greeted the plane at the airport at approximately 3:00 AM EST and allowed Howard to sleep on his decision before making it final.