THE meeting. The Dwight and Lakers meeting. That meeting just ended. His last team meeting before making his decision on where to go as a free agent. It was reported that the meeting “went well.” Mitch Kupchak, Mike D’Antoni, Kobe Bryant, Jim Buss and Time Warner executives were all present at the meeting. Jeanie Buss did not attend, but tweeted Howard earlier in the day:
“@DwightHoward Lakers offer 1) best opportunities for your playing & post-playing career 2) have BEST fans 3) I’m here for you #STAYD12”
Phil Jackson also sent out a tweet to Howard over the weekend before heading back to Montana. The staff has really been pitching for the big man to remain in Los Angeles. Mike D’Antoni commented to media after the meeting saying “Dwight will make his decision; you keep your fingers crossed.” Steve Nash, who was at the meeting, also a had a few words to say:
“I thought it was a very productive meeting. We talked about last year and how it can be built on… I’d like to say I was persuasive, but it’s a tough decision for Dwight.”
Prior to meeting with the Lakers, Howard met with the Mavericks, Rockets, Hawks and Warriors as he hopes to make a decision by July 10, the first day free agents can officially sign with teams. The Rockets think they’re the “clear leader” for Dwight Howard, edging the Lakers at a 60-40 odds.
So what did Dwight have to say about all of this?
That was it. The Lakers big man didn’t give much of anything to fans or the media about where he would go next season after talking with teams. Right now, there will just be a lot of waiting.
Gabriel Lee of Lakers Nation wrote an open letter to Dwight Howard, and it catalogs some great points that have been coming from fans recently. Great read; check it out here.
The Lakers have had some characters over the years, but one of my personal favorites was Sasha Vujacic. He was a member of the Lakers after being drafted by Los Angeles with the 27th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft until he left to the Nets in the beginning of the 2010 season. Currently, Vujacic is playing in Turkey for the professional team Anadolu Efes. Rumors today surfaced that the guard is back in Los Angeles and speaking with the Lakers. After expressing interest to return to the NBA, Sasha might be coming back to the Purple and Gold.
Lakers Nation News
Lakers News: Steve Nash Doesn’t Know When Howard Will Make Decision
Lakers News: Lakers’ Dwight Howard Comments On All Five Meetings
Lakers News: Steve Nash Says Meeting With Dwight Was Productive
Lakers News: Mike D’Antoni Comments After Meeting With Dwight Howard
Lakers Rumors: Lakers Extend Chris Copeland Exploratory Offer
Lakers News: Jeanie Buss Will Not Attend Dwight Howard Meeting
Lakers Could Pursue Freshly Waived Carlos Delfino and Aaron Brooks
Kobe Finds A New Motivation To Continue Pursuit Of Sixth Ring
Lakers Nation Presents: A Fan’s Open Letter to Dwight Howard
Sasha Vujacic Interested in Return to Lakers?
Jeanie Buss Tweets Dwight Howard Ahead Of Meeting
Rockets Think They’re ‘Clear Leader’ for Dwight Howard
Lakers News
Dwight Free Agency: Lakers Meeting with Howard Now [Silver Screen and Roll]
Chris Copeland Receives ‘Exploratory Offer’ From Lakers [Silver Screen and Roll]
Kobe Bryant News: ‘Pretty Damn Confident’ He Can Play at ‘High Level’ 3 More Years [Silver Screen and Roll]
Jeanie Buss Reaches Out to Dwight , Not Expected at Meeting [Silver Screen and Roll]
Biggest Factors That Could Influence Dwight Howard’s Free-Agent Decision [Bleacher Report]
Time Warner Cable SportsNet to Televise Los Angeles Lakers Summer League Games Live [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE LOS ANGELES LAKERS]
Dwight Howard Meets with Atlanta Hawks as Los Angeles Lakers Finalize Pitch [ESPN Los Angeles]
While the Lakers Wait on Dwight Howard, They’re Pursuing Outside Shooters for Mike D’Antoni’s System [ProBasketballTalk]
Looking at the Lakers’ Free Agent Prospects [ESPN LA]
Did Dwight Howard Reveal his Free-Agent Plans in Mandarin? [Lakers Now]
Time Warner Cable in Talks with Dwight Howard on TV Show if He Re-Signs with Lakers [SI.com]
Actor Jack Nicholson Called Dwight Howard to Convince Him to Stay in LA [The NBA Lottery Pick]
Dwight Howard’s Big Issue [ESPN Insider]
Golden State Warriors Make Pitch to Dwight Howard [Mercury News]
NBA Free Agents 2013: Final Top 100 Big Board [LA Times]
Dwight Howard Wants Houston to Add Third Superstar [CBSSports.com]
Who Has the Most to Offer Howard? [5 on 5]
Dwight Howard, John Wall speak Chinese (VIDEO) [ProBasketballTalk]
Howard’s Potential Statistical Fits: Lakers [True Hoop]
How LA Lakers’ Draft Reshaped Their NBA Free-Agency Plans [Bleacher Report]
Howard and Lakers, at Last, Move Toward Resolution [ESPN]
Earl Clark to visit Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday [Lakers Now]
Lakers Reach Out To Byron Mullens [Real GM]
Kobe Bryant Reiterates That he May Play at Least Three More Years [LA Times]
Kobe Bryant Says He Wants to Play Another Three Years [ProBasketballTalk]
Oddsmaker says Houston Rockets the Favorite to Sign Dwight Howard [Lakers Now]
Scouting Report: Ryan Kelly [ESPN LA]
Breaking Down Why LA Lakers Won’t Sign-and-Trade Dwight Howard [LA Times]
NBA News
Three Team Trade Sends Redick to Clippers, Bledsoe to Suns, Picks to Bucks [ProBasketballTalk]
Bulls General Manager Downplays Friction with Thibodeau [CBSSports.com]
Chris Paul Accepts 5-year, $107M Extension with Los Angeles Clippers [ESPN Los Angeles]
Why are the Pistons Pursuing Josh Smith and Andre Iguodala Again? [CBSSports.com]
NBA Free-Agent Buzz: Rockets to Pursue Josh Smith if They Don’t Get Dwight Howard [Yahoo! Sports]
Chase Budinger Reaches Three-Year Deal to Return to Minnesota [ProBasketballTalk]
Danny Ainge Says Boston Celtics Not Trying to Trade Rajon Rondo [ESPN Boston]
Michael Jordan Knocks $8 million Off Asking Price for Chicago-Area Mansion, Now Just $21 Million [Ball Don’t Lie]
Dennis Rodman Says He Should be Considered for the Nobel Peace Prize [ProBasketballTalk]
Miami Heat, San Antonio Spurs Among Five Suitors for Greg Oden [ESPN]
Here’s What the New Orleans Pelicans’ Home Court is Going to Look Like [Ball Don’t Lie]
Pacers Make Offer to Hansbrough, Introduce Hill [Yahoo! Sports]
Pacers Yank Tyler Hansbrough’s Qualifying Offer [ProBasketballTalk]
Mavericks’ Larkin Wants to Play with Howard [NBA.com]
Pacers Name Nate McMillan Associate Head Coach [THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE INDIANA PACERS]
New Orleans Pelicans Make Offer to Tyreke Evans [ESPN]
