Lakers Making Renewed Push for Dwight Howard
Fitzgerald Cecilio
Los Angeles, CA
The Los Angeles Lakers are talking with Orlando Magic officials in a renewed campaign to acquire All-Star center Dwight Howard.
Sources told espn.com, the Lakers and Magic are negotiating over Howard for the past week or so but nothing is imminent. Another source said dialogue between the two is "ongoing" but a trade would "very tough to pull off" right now.
The Lakers reportedly want a commitment from Howard that he will sign a contract extension before they agree to a trade with the Magic.
Earlier, Howard has said he would agree to sign an extension with only one team, and sources have said that team is the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets tried to work a trade with the Magic but the talks eventually broke down last week.
In a move to retain Howard, Magic general Rob Hennigan called him and asked if he would consider staying with the team but the center rebuffed the overtures.
The Houston Rockets are also trying very hard to land Howard, even expressing willingness to take on long-term salary commitments from Orlando just to land the center.
The Rockets and Lakers also discussed several trade scenarios with the Magic, including Houston being team that would land Howard in a direct trade between the clubs.
Houston is also willing to act as the third team that would participate in a trade that will bring Howard to the Lakers and All-Star center Andrew Bynum to the Rockets.
Sources close to the Magic said Hennigan might feel more comfortable acquiring a package of youngsters, recent draftees and future first-round draft picks while shedding some long-term salary than taking on Bynum as Howard's replacement.
Like Howard, Bynum is in the final season of his current contract with the Lakers and the Magic could find it hard to persuade him to commit to a long-term deal with the franchise.
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