The Los Angeles Lakers have moved right up to the top of the list for NBA Finals contenders in the Western Conference. With the acquisition of Steve Nash, Antwan Jamison, Jodie Meeks and Dwight Howard the Lakers are looking like early favorites to come out the west.
However, the Lakers still have many concerns to deal with before the start of the upcoming season, several dealing with Howard.
Howard is coming off of back surgery and is expected to miss Lakers training camp that is scheduled to begin in a few weeks. Though his recovery is going well, there's still uncertainty on whether the new Laker big man will be ready for the season opener against the Dallas Mavericks.
With that on the mind of Laker fans, now there appears there is something new that they'll have to think about.
Next summer, Howard will be an unrestricted free agent, and he claims that he still doesn't know what the future holds in terms of signing a long-term contract extension.
"I think the best thing to do is talk about it at the end of the year," Howard said. "We just went through that last season, basically, and I don't want to go through it again or see anyone have to go through it.
"This is going to be my decision, and I'm going to wait till the end of the year. But I'm happy to be in L.A. This is a great place. I love the coaching staff and I love the organization for everything they've done for me since I got traded here.
"Hopefully I'll have a long career here in L.A."
Howard's comments indicate that the "Dwightmare" is not over, at least in my opinion.
Though he says he wants to wait until the end of the season to make a decision, he ends it off by saying "hopefully I'll have a long career here in L.A."
What is that supposed to mean?
I mean I get it he doesn't want to put the fans through all he did again, but with comments like those that give off mixed messages it seems like he's setting them up again.
Just think about what he said.
He's happy to be with the Lakers and he hopes to have a long career with the team, but wants to wait until the end of the season to decide whether or not he'll commit with the team long term.
Maybe I'm speaking prematurely, but hopefully we won't have to go through this again with Howard.
I'm tired of the "Dwightmare".
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