Dwight Howard's Decision 2.0

The Lakers center is headed for year two of the NBA's least favorite show

Originally Published: October 17, 2012
By Ric Bucher | ESPN The Magazine

LOS ANGELES SPORTS WRITERS, having seen Dwight Howard flash that 900-kilowatt smile as he told their Orlando brethren how much he loved that town, decided they would not fall for the same line. "Why should we believe you?" they asked in several ways at Howard's introductory news conference in August, following the four-team deal that brought Howard to the Lakers. As he was last season, after hemming and hawing about his future in Orlando before waiving the early-termination clause in his contract and later asking to be traded, Howard is headed toward free agency. And everyone wants to know, Where are you going to go, Dwight? "Whatever happens a year from now, we'll wait until that time, but right now it's all about the Lakers and me starting fresh," Howard told the media. "I'm excited about that."

Lakers executive Jim Buss, son of owner Jerry, sat next to his sister and Lakers executive VP of business operations, Jeanie Buss. Both listened intently as Howard fended off the barrage of questions about his future. After all, it was right before the presser when sources say Jim asked Jeanie, "So do you think Dwight will re-sign with us?"

Jeanie couldn't contain her shock. "You mean you haven't talked to him about that yet?"

Uh-oh. You can see why LA sports writers were so skeptical. While it remains to be seen whether Howard learned from last season's I'll-say-anything-so-you'll-love-me strategy, he isn't about to let Lakers suits in on his plans.


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Ric Bucher

NBA Reporter, ESPN The Magazine Senior Writer
  • Senior writer for ESPN The Magazine
  • Co-authored "Yao: A Life in Two Worlds"
  • Full-time beat writer/NBA analyst since 1992

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