Chris O'meara / AP

Magic center Dwight Howard had nine points and 10 rebounds in the East's 152-149 loss to the West in the All-Star game in Orlando on Feb. 26.

Ira Winderman

Q: Dwight Howard played the All-Star game like he didn't care. Was that his way of blowing off Orlando?
— Dave, Winter Park, Fla.

A: It certainly was an odd approach, considering how hometown players generally tend to want to put on a show, contend for the game's MVP.

I think Howard is at a point where he is drained from all the trade speculation and needs a resolution.

Yet who created the trade issue in the first place? That would be Howard, with his preseason push for a deal and the agreement to allow his representation to pursue deals with teams of his choice.

No, he has not handled this well, particularly those All-Star Weekend interviews when he discussed how difficult the process has been. Howard, of course, created that process, something that could have been handled with far fewer distractions behind closed doors.

Video   Bold predictions Feb. 28, 2012: Will Dwight Howard be in a different uniform? Which team will make a run in the second half and be a threat in the playoffs?

During a typical season, there likely would be resolution by now, with the trade deadline generally four days after the All-Star break. But this is not a typical season, so the Magic have until the March 15 deadline to make a move.

If anything, what we witnessed during the All-Star game should make it easier for the Magic to make a deal, with Howard hardly embracing the home crowd.

While the thought process in Orlando is that Howard can't possibly walk away from the extra $30 million the Magic can offer in free agency compared to an outside team, you have to wonder about a player who seemed so disinterested in pleasing the home crowd during their highlight moment of the season.

This was ugly already. Sunday didn't help.

Q: When LeBron James passed up the final shot in the All-Star game, were you saying to yourself, "Here we go again?"
— Marty, Boynton Beach, Fla.

A: No, I was saying that it merely is an exhibition and anyone who reads anything into it is merely searching for storylines.

Beyond that, LeBron mentioned in his pregame interviews in Orlando how his nature is to facilitate, get others involved, play more like a Magic Johnson than a Michael Jordan. I think that's what made LeBron's pass (and turnover) so confounding to Kobe Bryant, who better exemplifies Jordan's killer instinct.

By now, in this Heat mix, the expectation should be that Dwyane Wade takes the final shot for the Heat, that Chris Bosh sets himself up as a relief option (and high-percentage scorer) and that LeBron tries to make it happen until that moment of truth.

It is time to move past what LeBron can't do and appreciate how someone of his skills found a way to make a lopsided All-Star game into a compelling event in the final minutes.

LeBron James will never be Michael Jordan and probably won't even be Kobe Bryant. He has said as much.

He might be Magic, though, if he can help his team win a few rings, which is entirely possible.

Q. What was D-Wade thinking Sunday when he went after Kobe's head? Shouldn't he be suspended for that? In an All-Star game, what an idiot. I don't think Metta will be so "World Peace" on Sunday?
— Ron, Norwalk, Calif.

A. It certainly is intriguing that a week after Wade busted Kobe's nose the two will square off Sunday on national television at Staples Center.

And, yes, it certainly would not be out of the question for Metta World Peace to inject himself into the equation.

But these are the moments that Kobe relishes, particularly against Wade, and particularly because the Lakers lost the teams' first meeting, when Wade was sidelined.

No, Wade should not have committed that foul. It was out of line for the setting. There is no no-layup rule in All-Star games. An apology was warranted.

It will be interesting to see who the NBA sends to officiate Sunday's game and the tone those officials set.

The silliness of this past Sunday likely will make this coming Sunday all the more compelling.

More news

Getty Images

Pacers punch ticket to Miami

PBT: Lance Stephenson led Indiana with 25 points in a win that eliminated his hometown team. Stephenson and the Pacers will face the Heat in the Eastern Conference finals.

PBT: Hill returns to Pacers' lineup in Game 6

Headlines

• Label

PBT: Kobe responds to Phil's praise of Mike

CSN: Curry says Warriors will win title next year

Ex-Serbian player seriously injured in bar fight

PBT: NBA releases summary of concussion policy

PBT: Bruised Chandler says he's 'fine' for Game 6

PBT: Frustrated Durant says year wasn't wasted

CSN: In the end, Warriors never had a shot vs. Spurs

PBT: Spurs top Warriors, move on  |  Jackson proud