Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak is well aware that Dwight Howard will be in high demand the second free agency begins. Already, multiple teams have come forward saying they will try and pull Howard away from the Lakers. While Kupchak is hoping that Howard eventually re-signs with Los Angeles, he does not expect that to happen right away.
Kupchak expects Howard to take full advantage of the free agency period and visit every team that claims to have interest.
"It's my understanding that he'll be a free agent on July 1. He'll have opportunities that he'll look at and hopefully we'll be n the running or we'll be at the top in the very end," Kupchak said.
The Lakers are in a bit of an unintended rebuilding phase. After a four-game sweep by the San Antonio Spurs in the playoffs, the team will have to make a decision on several big-named players. Kobe Bryant finished the year injured. Steve Nash also struggled with injuries down the stretch. Pau Gasol is always rumored to be leaving. Kupchak is hoping that Howard gives him notice of what he is leaning towards doing so that the Lakers can then begin making moves to improve.
"I think that he understands that the sooner he makes a decision, the better it is for everybody. I don't know if that means a week, a month or seven weeks. It allows us to plan and it allows him to start putting down roots in the city. We're hoping that he chooses to stay in Los Angeles," Kupchak said.
A number of teams are in pursuit of Howard. Both the Houston Rockets and the Atlanta Hawks have put their name in the race. The biggest factors for Howard will obviously be the size of the contract and the remaining players that will be his supporting cast. Howard is ready to win a championship and will only consider a team that can make that happen for him.
As far as salary goes, the Lakers are prepared to offer him a five-year, $118 million contract. With his number of years in the league, the max contract a team can typically offer is four years and Howard could sign with the faith that he gets an extension. Kupchak is confident in what the Lakers can offer the center. He stresses that they will bring in the necessary pieces to build around Howard.
The Lakers finished the season ranked seventh in the Western Conference with a 45-3 record. Howard had a sour taste in his mouth when the season ended and if that has not improved, he will likely be finishing in Los Angeles.
