ORLANDO, Fla. -- Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard signed a contract extension in 2007 hoping he would be in town as long as the city's famous mouse.

For at least another season that remains a possibility.

Howard signed papers Thursday agreeing to waive the early termination option in his contract, guaranteeing he will be with the Magic at the beginning of the 2012-13 season. His decision ends the season-long drama on whether he would be dealt prior to the trade deadline and before the Magic risked losing him in free agency.

The Magic center had the option of ending his five-year deal in July and entering the open market.

"I'm glad this is finally over," Howard said at a news conference to announce the new pact with the Magic. "... It's not as easy as some people think. It's been very hard. We're talking a career-changing event. Most people don't see that.

"I'm very loyal and I've always put loyalty above anything."

Howard requested a trade in the preseason and maintained that stance all regular season until changing his mind this week and expressing a desire to remain in Orlando this season.

The move ends what can only be characterized as a tense saga for the Magic. Howard had requested to be traded and gave team officials a list of three teams -- the New Jersey Nets, Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks -- that he wanted his agent to be allowed to talk to.

At the time Howard expressed frustration with the Magic's management and what he felt was an unwillingness to include him in personnel decisions and to improve the roster pieces around him. He went as far as to praise the relationship he felt All-Star Dirk Nowitzki has with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.