Dwight Howard happy Orlando Magic on their way back

Former Orlando Magic superstar center Dwight Howard told reporters before Wednesday’s game he is happy to see the Magic building themselves back up.

Dwight Howard remains a sore subject among Orlando Magic fans. There is no getting around the wound is still relatively raw feelings of Dwight Howard’s messy departure. Even in Year Four after he left, the Magic are still picking up the pieces.

There has been progress though. The team has shown encouraging signs early on this season despite its 1-4 record. Everyone around the league, no matter how frustrating the team’s losses have been (four losses by a combined 13 points), have seen positive things and the Magic are quickly becoming a League Pass darling.

Still the shadow is cast long from Howard. So as the Magic played last night in Houston, the media had to get Howard’s opinion of his former team.

Despite the seeming animosity that led to his exit, Howard is still fond of Orlando and appreciative of everything he and the team accomplished while he was there.

He wants to see the team do well and told John Denton of OrlandoMagic.com, he is happy to see the team preparing to turn a corner:

"“They’ve got a lot of young guys now who can really play the game and they’re only going to get better. I’m happy for them that they’re coming back. Young guys like Vucevic, (Victor) Oladipo, Fournier – they’ve got a lot of guys who can really basketball. It’s nice to see them coming back.”"

The Magic are not quite there, of course.

Orlando hung tough with Howard and Houston on Wednesday night, falling in overtime 119-114. Howard scored 23 points on a perfect 10-for-10 shooting, adding 14 rebounds as he took advantage of Nikola Vucevic‘s absence in the second half.

Howard has not been the same player since he left Orlando. Injuries have taken a toll on him and his production has slipped dramatically. Howard admitted to Denton that the banging and physical play he endured in Orlando, and his fire to play all 82 games each year, might be leading to his sudden wear and tear in recent years.

He noted his final game with Orlando — a 20-point, 20-rebound effort at Philadelphia where Howard was clearly struggling with the back injury that would knock him out for the remaining of that season and much of the next — was such a game where he put his desire to contribute to his team more than worry about his physical health.

He also noted how tough it was to see everything fall apart. He said he accepts the onus on the team’s quick deterioration and descent from the top of the NBA falls on his shoulders. He, along with Magic fans, may have taken success for granted and things turned quickly when they fell apart.

Both the Magic and Howard have quite clearly moved on.

Howard got the Rockets to the Western Conference Finals last year while fighting knee injuries. He delayed surgery again to support the Rockets on that run. He is still pacing himself to get back to complete health.

The Magic are a young team determined to turn the corner this year. They have looked good and come close to several big victories, but there is still a lot of work to do.

As much fun as it is to look back, both appear to be looking forward more. And both see good things coming for the Magic.