At the conclusion of the Lakers rough season, Dwight Howard gave no inclination as to whether or not he would re-sign with the Lakers organization. He did make it clear that he would need time to make his decision and wanted to get away from basketball in order to clear his head. Howard has not since hinted at what he plans to do, but his teammate Steve Nash thinks Dwight will continue to keep his options open.
In an interview with Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio this morning, the Lakers point guard said he absolutely thinks Howard knows that he wants him back in purple and gold, but he isn’t so sure that he will return. Right now, Nash says it sounds to him like Dwight will continue to keep his options open.
“We all want him to come back, and hopefully he can come to a decision to come back as soon as possible but it seems as though he’s going to keep all his options open…I think he knows what I feel about him. I think he knows that I want him back and want to keep building and want to make up for what was a difficult year this year.”
Nash also said that he supports Dwight’s right to choose where he wants to go, but it would clearly be beneficial to the Lakers if he could make up his mind quickly. Unfortunately, Nash points to the Lakers disappointing season as something that will prolong the center’s decision.
“It’s a tricky time I think for the Lakers to try to figure out all these moving parts after a disappointing year…at the same time Dwight’s within his right to go out there and see where he wants to go. It would be great for the Lakers if he would kind of decide and get it out of the way, and on the other hand, I can’t fault him if he wants to go thru the recruiting process.”
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Mitch Kupchak has reiterated that Mike D’Antoni will be the Lakers head coach next year. Many have speculated that Howard’s hesitation to return is in large part due to Mike D’Antoni and his system. However, Nash said to Cowherd this morning that the Lakers actually never ran D’Antoni’s system this year.
“I don’t think we ever really truly played D’Antoni’s system.”
Whether or not Howard’s decision hinges on the Lakers commitment to D’Antoni’s system, one thing’s for certain. Each day the Lakers wait on Dwight’s decision could potentially hurt the rebuilding of this franchise.
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