The Dwight Howard saga continues in Los Angeles. His heavily-documented up and down season with the Lakers had many believing the team would try and trade Howard either by the deadline or at the end of the season. However, Lakers' general manager Mitch Kupchak says the team is not dumping off their All-Star center any time soon. In an interview with ESPN's Colin Cowherd, Kupchak said Howard was the future of the team.
"Dwight is out future. Kobe Bryant has one more year on his deal. That's all I can bank on or this organization can bank on. I have no idea if he wants to continue to play beyond next year. As of now,we're looking at a two-year window, plays to the urgency of the situation and ho we build the team," Kupchak said.
Kupchak officially took Howard off the trade market in the interview. He continued to reiterate the Lakers' commitment to Howard saying over and over that he will not be traded and their is nothing that any other team could offer that would change his mind. Kupchak believes Howard is the best center in the league at this time and thinks that it can be hard to acquire a talent like his.
"It's hard to get talent in this league and to have a talent like Dwight Howard, we have no intention of trading Dwight Howard. He belongs to have his name on the wall and a statue in front of Staples at some point and time," Kupchak said.
Howard has been criticized often this season for his lack of ability to play through injury and his playful demeanor off the court. Kupchak does not believe any of that has hurt his effectiveness on the court. Howard's season has been a struggle as he attempts to recover from back surgery and a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He is averaging a career-low of 16.3 points per game and 11.8 rebounds, also a career-low.
Kupchak recognizes that Howard's relationship with star Bryant is an evolving one that will take time. He says that most people will not be staisfied until the team wins another championship. He also stated that both Pau Gasol and head coach Mike D'Antoni will remain with the team, despite rumors that both could be departing due to the Lakers' rocky season.
"Mike D'Antoni is going to be the coach here going forward. We're very happy with Mike D'Antoni. This is a very tough situation to walk into with no training camp, new players, a lot of injuries. There are no excuses there, whatsoever, because that's what all teams in this league deal with, especially the injury part, but he's brought energy, he understands the game, he's been great and we're very happy with him going forward," Kupchak said.
Kupchak believes the entire team is a work in progress when it comes to chemistry and learning how to play together. He said the team struggles are due in large part to four All-Stars only having played half a season with each other. Along with Bryant, Howard and Gasol, Steve Nash is trying to work himself into the team's overall plan. Kupchak referenced teams like the Miami Heat, saying it will just take a little bit more time for everyone to mesh together, but he believes the Lakers can make it happen either this season or the next and that is with the current roster in place.