McGrady to Dwight Howard: 'Why Nets? Look at their team'

One of the most dominant scorers in Orlando Magic history believes the team’s greatest rebounder should stick around.

“If I were him, I would stay," Tracy McGrady said of Magic center Dwight Howard. “Where’s he going to go? Why do you want to go to New Jersey, go to Brooklyn? Look at their team."

McGrady, who won scoring titles with the Magic in 2002-03 and 2003-04 and now plays for the Hawks, believes it doesn’t make sense for Howard, who can opt out of his contract and become a free agent this summer, to leave Orlando (25-15) any time soon.

“I think it’s up to him to recruit guys who can come to Orlando," said McGrady, speaking to FOX Sports Florida when the Hawks were in Miami for Wednesday’s 89-86 loss to the Heat. “It’s a great city. It’s great weather. You already have been there eight years. You’re established there. With him, he’s one of those guys that should try to stay with one team and try to make it better there. The grass isn’t always greener on the other side. So you already have something good there. Why try to go somewhere that you just never know?"

McGrady left Orlando himself after playing there from 2000-04.

“Well, I didn’t have the talent that he played with," said McGrady, who was dealt to Houston in June 2004 when he had the ability later that summer to leave as a free agent. “It wasn’t even close. So there’s a good reason why I left. But my decision was definitely different from what his decision is based on".