NEW YORK -- Shaquille O'Neal said Tuesday it would be a "travesty" if Dwight Howard leaves the Orlando Magic.

O'Neal also said Howard's situation is not like his was when he left for the Lakers in 1996, because he said he wanted to stay with the Magic but had a better option.

That's no longer possible, because the collective bargaining agreement allows the home team to offer the largest contract. So O'Neal believes there may be an "underlying problem" that makes Howard reluctant to sign a contract extension there.

"I think they have to be a little bit worried that he hasn't committed to signing, so there may be an underlying problem of what's really going on," O'Neal said.

"I don't know if he doesn't like the organization, I don't know if he wants to go to a bigger city where he can get more endorsement deals, he can do movies. No one really knows the problem."

Howard has told the Magic he wants to be traded, and the team has given his agent permission to discuss deals with the Nets, Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.