Los Angeles Lakers Start To Fear They’ll Lose Dwight Howard
By Mike Dyce
According to a report from ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers are becoming increasingly less confident in Dwight Howard’s return to the Staples Center. Sources say that the Lakers are “bracing for the worst” and while previously not considering a sign and trade, they’re beginning to rethink sign and trade options.
"Sources close to the situation stressed that the famously fickle Howard — deliberating at a hideaway in Aspen, Colo. — still was undecided about choosing between the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and incumbent Lakers. Yet, there were indications late Thursday that Lakers officials, already bracing for the worst, had begun to rethink their long-held position of ruling out sign-and-trade options in the event Howard decides to bolt to one of L.A.’s rivals.One source briefed on the Lakers’ thinking told ESPN.com that, if the extra fifth year and nearly $30 million they can offer Howard isn’t enough to hold off the competition, they would be forced to “look at everything.”"
That is good news for the teams in Texas, but with Golden State’s move to clear cap space recently, it could be a sign that they’re leading the Dwight Howard sweepstakes.
And the Warriors have trade partners available to make room for Dwight if need be.
"Hall of Fame writer Peter Vecsey, in the wake of ESPN.com’s story about the Warriors’ feverish attempts to create cap space, reported via his Twitter feed Thursday night that Golden State officials do believe that they have found trade destinations for Bogut, Jefferson and Biedrins should Howard choose Golden State and the Lakers refuse to engage them in sign-and-trade talks."