At midnight today, Dwight Howard officially became the hottest man on the market. The bidding war started for Howard who entered into free agency, with the Houston Rockers being the first team to officially meet with him. Howard is scheduled to see the Mavericks, Warriors and Hawks before his last meeting is scheduled with the Lakers late Tuesday. But that didn’t stop Mitch Kupchak from saying a few words to the big man this morning prior to his meeting with the Rockets. The Lakers’ GM is really working hard to make the big man stay and build a franchise around him.
Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, and some other Lakers legends will be a part of the Dwight free-agency process. Jack Nicholson even got in on the action, reportedly reaching out to Howard today. Not only, it seems executives from Time Warner Cable will also be present. Last year, the Lakers left Fox Sports for Time Warner in a deal that was for 20-years and $3 billion. Time Warner Cable will probably be pitching the L.A. exposure and media market as a way to entice Howard to stay. Remaining in Los Angeles would also give the big man the ability to make movies, which he has expressed as an interest in interviews before.
It seems the as though the Warriors have offered the Lakers a sign-and-trade for Dwight Howard. The Warriors are prepared to offer center Andrew Bogut and either shooting guard Klay Thompson or small forward Harrison Barnes for Howard. However, Ken Berger tweets that the Lakers have no interest in a deal for Howard. Although the reports are conflicting, you never know what could be happening behind the scenes. Although the Lakers have expressed they will not partake in a sign and trade, the front office could take the bait if necessary.
In other news, the Lakers have also expressed interest in Chase Budinger and former Laker Jordan Farmar.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers News: Team Not Interested in Sign and Trade With Warriors
PHOTO: Dwight Howard in 5 Different NBA Uniforms
Lakers News: Actor Jack Nicholson Reached Out To Dwight Howard
Lakers News: Steve Nash Sends Recruitment Tweet to Dwight Howard
Lakers Rumors: Time Warner Executives To Be At Dwight Howard Meeting
Kobe Bryant Tweets ‘There Is Only One Lakers’ As Free Agency Begins
Lakers Nation, Steve Nash Soccer ‘Showdown’ Exclusive Package Giveaway
Dwight Howard Needs Lakers As Much As Lakers Need Dwight Howard
Lakers Rumors: Team Reached Out To Bobcats Forward Byron Mullens
Lakers Rumors: Warriors to Offer Sign-And-Trade For Dwight Howard
Lakers News: Lakers Rejected Warriors Overtures For Pau Gasol Trade
Lakers News
Disassembling the Myth of the 2014 NBA Free Agent Class [Silver Screen and Roll]
Houston Can Offer Dwight Howard More Money than Los Angeles [Silver Screen and Roll]
Boston Celtics Contacted Howard for Sign-and-Trade [Silver Screen and Roll]
Warriors Willing to Trade Andrew Bogut and Harrison Barnes or Klay Thompson for Howard [Silver Screen and Roll]
Rockets Say Meeting with Dwight Howard Went Well [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe on the Achilles [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Kobe Bryant Will Reportedly Be Part of Lakers Free-Agent Pitch to Dwight Howard [Bleacher Report]
Free Agency’s First Night Has Lakers Chasing Shooters [Forum Blue and Gold]
Lakers Putting Out Free-Agency Feelers, Waiting on Dwight Howard [Lakers Now]
Kobe on Dwight Howard [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
This…. Tweet…..? [Lakers Twitter]
Dwight Howard Seeks Rings [ESPN]
It’s Midnight, Let the Dwight Howard Madness Begin [ProBasketballTalk]
Lakers GM Gets 1st Shot at Dwight Howard as Free Agency Begins [Lakers Now]
Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash Part of Los Angeles Lakers’ Pitch to Dwight Howard [ESPN Los Angeles]
Kobe Up Close [AXS.com]
Kobe Bryant is the Ideal Amnesty Candidate [Sheridan Hoops]
Breaking Down the 25 Biggest Potential Moves of the Offseason [Bleacher Report]
Lakers Interested in Byron Mullens [ProBasketballTalk]
Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash to Assist in Pursuit of Dwight Howard [LA Times]
Thoughts on Dwight Howard and the Lakers On Free Agency’s Eve [Forum Blue and Gold]
It’s No Secret Lakers Want Howard Back [NYTimes.com]
Source: Lakers Got Jump on Rockets [ESPN]
Dwight Howard Asked Rockets About Adding Another Max Player [ProBasketballTalk]
Steve Nash, Magic Johnson help Lakers court Dwight Howard on Twitter [Lakers Now]
Which Team on Dwight Howard’s Free-Agent Tour Gives Him Best Title Shot? [Bleacher Report]
NBA News
Kevin Durant — Jay-Z Switch Not Sign of Oklahoma City Thunder Exit [ESPN]
CourtVision: The Andrea Bargnani Deal Book [Grantland]
Mavericks Allow Darren Collison to Become Uunrestricted Free Agent [ProBasketballTalk]
With Pierce and Garnett, Nets Get Upgrade in Scoring and Snarling [NYTimes]
Miami Heat Doubter Won’t Ever Bet Against Them Again [Bleacher Report]
Free-Agent Roundup: July 1 [Hang Time Blog]
Candace Parker Knows What She Wants [Grantland]
Here’s Why The Jrue Holiday Trade Was A Move The Sixers Had To Make [Dime Magazine]
Kirilenko Opts Out of Final Year of Wolves Deal [Yahoo! Sports]
Disassembling the Myth of the 2014 NBA Free Agent Class [Silver Screen and Roll]
Michael Jordan Drops Price on Superbly Sweet $21 Million Mansion [Bleacher Report]
Raising Cane’s Offer to Dwight Howard (free chicken fingers for life) could cost $530,621 [Dallas Mavericks Blog]
Andrew Bynum Won’t Work Out for Teams as a Free Agent [ProBasketballTalk]
Andrew Bynum vs Greg Oden: Which Injury-Prone Big Is Better Free-Agent Gamble? [Court Vision]
Mavericks, Celtics Reportedly Discussing Rajon Rondo Trade [SI Wire]
Josh Smith, Detroit Pistons Meet [ESPN]
Chris Paul Announces Decision to Sign Contract Extension with LA Clippers [Bleacher Report]
Eric Bledsoe Trade Rumors Include Redick, Mayo [ProBasketballTalk]
Rockets Ready To Fill Howard’s Plate [NBA.com]
