Lakers management has been preparing for this weekend since they were eliminated from the playoffs as their number one priority is to re-sign impending free agent Dwight Howard.
Howard has kept a low profile for most of the off-season, but this week, news broke that he was unlikely to re-sign with the team and is looking to move to Texas.
However, the Lakers have started an all out marketing campaign that started with a billboard hanging from the side of Staples Center and Hollywood Blvd.
It’s an unusual decision for the Lakers as its been seen as an act of desperation and we asked Lakers Nation what they thought of the billboard campaign:
Not surprisingly, 87 percent don’t like the campaign as its the first time the Lakers have needed to court a player to stay with them. However, it sounds like this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of trying to convince Howard to stay as Lakers management will use their Hollywood connections to make another pitch to him.
If Howard doesn’t return, the Lakers will have cap space and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of contingency plan they have in place to make them a competitive team next season.
Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak said he remains optimistic that Howard will re-sign, but the billboards stink of desperation as management must know something.
It’s likely that more billboards will go up and the Lakers will use other marketing techniques as they try and convince Howard that he would be the face of the franchise in the coming years.
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