As far as we know, ESPN is not creating a television show specifically for Dwight Howard to inform people of where he is signing in free agency. LeBron James taught everyone a valuable lesson with the disaster that was “The Decision,” so I doubt a player will ever do something like that again. In fact, Howard reportedly is not planning to drag out the process of free agency any more than he has to.
According to ESPNLosAngeles.com (via SI.com), Howard will be ready to sign with a team — whether it’s with the Los Angeles Lakers or a new team — on July 10. Per NBA rules, Howard can re-sign with the Lakers as soon as July 1 but would have to wait until the 10th to sign with another team. Is that another indication that he and Kobe Bryant will not be teammates next year?
[Related: Kobe Bryant says Lakers have to lock up Dwight Howard]
Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak believes Howard will make his decision rather quickly.
“It’s in everybody’s best interest, I think, to proceed in a timely fashion,” Kupchak said. “I don’t think it’s Dwight’s goal to drag it out. Whether he’s with us or with another team, everybody this time of year has business to take care of. If he’s here, he wants us to know that so we can build around him in this period of free agency, when it moves very quickly, and if he’s with somebody else, that team is going to want the same thing.”
On Thursday, ESPN Chris Broussard reported that the Lakers have “little chance” of bringing Howard back. Since Dwight seems to love attention, he’ll probably wait until July 10 whether he returns to LA or not. The Houston Rockets are believed to be serious contenders in the Howard sweepstakes, and it is starting to seem like he has no interest in playing for Mike D’Antoni. Then again, that could be exactly what Howard wants us to think. The man knows how to do drama.
