Throughout the early part of the off-season, Lakers management has maintained that they want the final word when it comes to meeting with impending free agent Dwight Howard.
Free agency kicks off tomorrow night at 9 p.m. PST and it looks like the Houston Rockets will be the first of five teams to meet with Howard in LA.
Sam Amick of USA Today first reported Howard’s schedule for meeting with the five teams:
Schedule being set for Dwight Howard free agency visits in LA – Golden State, Atlanta expected Monday, Dallas, Lakers Tuesday.
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 29, 2013
As has been reported, being told Houston visit with Dwight Howard is 9 pm Pacific tomorrow in LA at start of free agency (July 1 EST)
— Sam Amick (@sam_amick) June 30, 2013
It was reported this week that the Rockets are the favorite to land Howard as he’s unlikely to return to the Lakers due to his distaste for head coach Mike D’Antoni’s system.
The Rockets group that will try and persuade Howard to leave LA will include Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler, Chandler Parsons and James Harden.
Mavericks owner Mark Cuban will head the Mavs group and Dirk Nowitzki will be along while the Warriors will get a sit down meeting with Howard after it was reported they wouldn’t.
Kobe Bryant has maintained the whole time that he’ll speak to Howard early in the process, but also wants to get the last word before he makes his decision. The Lakers will get the last meeting with Howard on Tuesday and it remains to be seen if they can convince him to stay in LA for the foreseeable future.
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