While general manager Mitch Kupchak snuck in a meeting with Dwight Howard before the Houston Rockets did last night, the Lakers have their formal meeting with Howard tomorrow night.
Confirmed at the meeting tomorrow will be Lakers guards Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash along with Kupchak and head coach Mike D’Antoni.
However, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPNLA.com, there will be more guests at the table tomorrow night:
Besides Kobe, Nash, Kupchak and Jim Buss, reps from Time Warner will also be in the meeting with Howard Tuesday.
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) July 1, 2013
It’s not surprising that Buss would be present at the meeting, but it’s interesting that executives from Time Warner will be present. Just last year, the Lakers left Fox Sports for Time Warner in a deal that was for 20-years and $3 billion, as the network airs all home and road games while creating original programming.
Howard is interested in an acting career once his playing career is over and Arash Markazi of ESPNLA.com discusses how the Lakers are going to leverage their TV contract:
There had already been preliminary talks between Dwight Howard and Time Warner on a show if he returned to the Lakers.
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) July 1, 2013
With news that they might be trailing the Rockets for Howard’s services, it sounds like the Lakers are pulling out all the stops to keep him in LA for the foreseeable future.
Update from Dave McMeniman of ESPNLA.com:
League source: The NBA has no problem w/ TWC being part of the LAL’s pitch for Dwight, so long as no extra compensation is promised
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) July 1, 2013
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In case you missed it, be sure to check out what the Lakers said about the Dwight Howard billboards.
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