The Dwight Howard offseason is almost set to begin as the All-Star center is prepared to meet with at least 5 teams including the Houston Rockets, Dallas Mavericks, and of course the Los Angeles Lakers. It is no secret that the Lakers are doing everything in their power to keep Howard in Los Angeles.
The Lakers have hung banners outside of the Staples Center, placed a giant painting of the back of his Lakers jersey on the Beverly Hills Hotel, and are in the process of getting their pitch team together to talk to Dwight which will include Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash.
Despite these things, it is still believed that Howard could be leaning more towards leaving the Lakers this offseason, but the Lakers seem to have something else in their favor, and that something has eleven rings and all of Dwight Howard’s respect.
According to Hoopsworld, sources close to Howard say that Jackson’s role with the organization makes the Lakers more attractive and Howard believes Jackson ‘could help resolve some of the problems of last year’ which include the lack of touches in the paint for he and Pau Gasol. However Howard wants Jackson to be in a ‘defined, long-term role’ with the Lakers rather than just an unofficial consultant.
For his part, Jackson did send a tweet to Dwight Howard imploring him to ‘get on board’ with the Lakers. Jackson, unfortunately, will not be a part of the contingency to meet with Howard later this week.
The Lakers will have to make a strong pitch to keep Howard in town as the Houston Rockets are said to be bringing Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler along with young stars James Harden and Chandler Parsons to sway Howard to come to Texas.
Between the Rockets massive push and the city of Dallas offering chicken fingers for life, the Lakers have quite a fight to keep Howard, but I have learned never to put anything past Mitch Kupchak.
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