With the end to their turbulent season near, the future of Dwight Howard with the Los Angeles Lakers remains to be filled with uncertainty.
After a year of speculation on whether or not the All-Star center will re-sign with the team, Dave McMenamin of ESPNLA is reporting that Howard will likely test free agency during the offseason and plans to speak to multiple teams besides the Lakers, according to sources familiar with Howard's thinking.
Howard made his seventh All-Star appearance this season, but his 17.1 points per game were his lowest average since his second season in the league, his 12.4 rebounds were his lowest since his third season, and his 49.2 percent mark from the foul line represented the second straight season he's shot less than 50 percent from the charity stripe.
Once he becomes a free agent this offseason, Howard can sign a five-year, $118 million contract to stay with the Lakers, or a four-year, $87.6 million deal with another team.
This news will only add to more speculation that Howard will eventually join the Brooklyn Nets, which was his desired location all along.
It was reported last week that Nets owner Mikhail Prokohorov says he believes that his team needs one more slight upgrade before they can truly be considered as an elite team in the NBA.
"One more good player," he said during an interview in Moscow last week before traveling to Brooklyn to catch his team's playoff series. "And we need time to make a really strong team."
Prokhorov hasn't wavered from the promise he made a few years ago when he proclaimed that the Nets will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy by the time the 2015 season concludes.
"If we have a great team spirit, great passion, we can beat anyone in the league," he said. "We are not underdogs, that's for sure."
Nets coach P.J. Carlesimo is certainly on board with Prokhorov's way of thinking because when asked Monday night if he agreed with the owner's assessment, he made sure not to say anything against the boss all while adding a little humor to it.
"You think I would disagree with Mr. Prokhorov?" Carlesimo said, producing laughter from the media.
"That is an astute statement . . . Having said that, I love the 15 players that we have now. The league is expanding to 16 [roster spots] next year, so it won't affect any of the guys currently on the roster. So Mikhail is right . . . "
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