We are about six weeks out from the date when free agency actually becomes official (July 1), but that won’t stop the “Dwightmare” to gain traction and reemerge from its heyday in Orlando last year.
The biggest question not only in the Lakers’ off-season, but the entire NBA’s off-season as well is where Dwight Howard will chose to sign. The Lakers knew and understood that Dwight would become a free agent when they traded for him last summer but remained confident that he would decide to remain in a Laker uniform for the longterm.
—- See Dwight Howard through the years in photos! —-
However, the latest report from Sam Amick of USA Today explains that the Lakers have some company in Dwight’s mind.
Despite all signs pointing to his Lakers return late in the season, the star whose infamous indecisiveness led to his Orlando saga being dubbed “The Dwightmare” is – according to a person with knowledge of his situation – torn between the idea of Laker life or the notion of joining a Houston Rockets club that looks so much more appealing with James Harden & Co. in tow. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on the condition of anonymity because of the private nature of Howard’s process.
Houston was trying to make a play for Howard last summer by making the necessary room on their salary cap to do so, and they still seem to be in the same gear to do so. The Rockets also feature a young and exciting core of James Harden, Jeremy Lin and Chandler Parsons. The Rockets are also led by Kevin McHale, who it has been reported that Dwight is a fan of.
While the Rockets seem to be one star player away from making a huge splash among the elite teams in the Western Conference, the Lakers are a team that very, very few say no to. It doesn’t hurt that the Lakers are the only team that can offer an additional $30 million and an additional year in a contract to Dwight.
One thing is for sure; this six weeks is going to feel like forever for Lakers fans, and we are just getting started.
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