But this is an important time for the Magic and DeVos' quest to win an NBA championship. Keeping superstar center Dwight Howard is integral to the family-run franchise.
In a spontaneous chat with a few reporters before Wednesday's 102-89 victory against the Miami Heat, DeVos made clear he doesn't want to trade Howard. He said he has had conversations with Howard, in his eighth season in Orlando, regarding a long-term commitment to the franchise.
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But DeVos acknowledged it might not happen.
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"He's got to look at his options, what's best for him," DeVos said, "and I have to tell him what's best for him. I'm selfish."
Howard, 26, is averaging 21 points, 15.4 rebounds and 2.2 blocks. He had 25 points and 24 rebounds in the Magic's win against the Heat ? including a double-double of 11 points and 10 rebounds in the first quarter.
An All-Star for the sixth time ? the game is Orlando ? he can opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent this summer.
Just before the season started he privately requested a trade, and the Magic granted granted permission for his agent, Dan Fegan, to speak with the Dallas Mavericks, New Jersey Nets and Los Angeles Lakers. The Magic and Nets engaged in talks, but the Mavs don't have the players or necessary draft picks to make the trade and talks with the Lakers never gained momentum.
"The respect for people is fundamental," DeVos said. "They have their interest where they want to go, and they may or may not coincide with mine. Life goes on."
However, Orlando's front office soon will be faced with a tough decision. The trade deadline is March 15. If Howard does not commit, it is likely the Magic will trade him rather than letting him leave in free agency without getting much, if anything, in return.
Howard has not backed off his trade request.
DeVos dearly wants to keep Howard a part of the family business. DeVos' son-in-law, Bob Vander Weide, was vice chairman and CEO until his resignation before the season, One son, Dan, is the chairman, and two others, Dick and Doug, are vice chairmen. DeVos' daughter, Cheri, is executive vice chairman.
CEO Alex Martins is working closely with Dan DeVos and general manager Otis Smith to convince Howard to stay.
"We have (16) grandchildren," DeVos said. "They all rally around the team. I have four children. We have a lot of family connection" to the team.
DeVos, who bought the franchise in 1991, has had more success than most owners of expansion teams. The Miami Heat won the championship in 2006 and reached the Finals last season. But Orlando has won five division championships, reached the Finals twice (1995, 2009) and made the playoffs 13 times.
They drafted center Shaquille O'Neal in 1992 and built a strong team around him with Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson and Horace Grant. Orlando drafted Howard with the No. 1 pick in 2004 and have made the playoffs five consecutive years, including four under current coach Stan Van Gundy.
The only thing that's missing from DeVos' tenure? A championship. A key to achieving that goal is keeping Howard.
"We love him, he respects us, so we talk," DeVos said. "When you've lived as long as I've lived, you see things through a bigger lens and you try to share that with the young guys coming up, including patience."
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