It is looking more unlikely center Dwight Howard will stay with the Los Angeles Lakers, according to ESPN’s Chris Broussard citing sources familiar with the situation.
One source said Howard is looking to play in a system and for a coach that can properly use his abilities. The Lakers are allowed to offer Howard up to $118 million for five years while other teams are only allowed to offer him a four-year, $88 million contract.
According to one source Howard will sit down with the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks and Atlanta Hawks starting July 1 when teams are allowed to begin the free agent process.
Fortunately for Lakers fans, this news does not put anything in stone. Howard has been known to change his mind in the past. Before and during the 2011-2012 season Howard had been vocal about his desire to be traded from the Orlando Magic. Then, in the middle of the season, he decided to opt in for the final year of his contract.
A source explained Howard’s biggest problems—playing in Mike D’Antoni’s system and with Kobe Bryant. However, he could play with Bryant in a different system. Regardless, he’d prefer not to be the second scoring option to Bryant.
This news comes a day after the Lakers announced a huge ad campaign to try to keep Howard. Team spokesman John Black said there would be “six or seven” billboards with asking Howard to stay in addition to a full-page newspaper ad in the Los Angeles Times. A couple of the signs that are already in place include the hastag #STAYD12.
"We knew that there would be a wide range of opinions," Black said. "Our opinion, which we've made clear, is that our top priority is signing Dwight. We want to let him know how important he is to us out in the public. We're comfortable letting the public know how we feel."
While Howard may not want to play with Bryant, Bryant wants to keep the big man with the Lakers. Bryant said he wants the last chance to speak among those making pitches to Howard.
"You don't start the selling process right before he goes and does all this stuff," Bryant said in an interview with ESPNLosAngeles.com earlier this month. "You want to get the last word. You want to have the final word and the closing argument."