HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Nets’ interest in Howard is well-documented and unchanged, according to sources close to the situation. This time around, it will be much harder for Brooklyn to land Howard, but they’ll give it their best effort. In order to acquire Howard, the Lakers will have to agree with a sign-and-trade. HoopsWorld

Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

David Baumann: Stan Van Gundy on Dwight Howard via @TheSchwartzNBC:"Would he want to play for me, I don't know... It's a question he would have to answer." Twitter @DavidBaumann33

Los Angeles Lakers, Coaching, Dwight Howard, Stan Van Gundy 

On Dwight Howard and Chris Paul. Dirk Nowitzki: We'd love to get one of those two. We'd love to get a player in here who can create his own shot and be a superstar-type player. It's still a long way to go until July. Those guys need to clear their minds a little bit and get away and then start thinking what they want to do with their futures. Hopefully, that's where we come in and put a great pitch out there and see what happens. Dallas Morning News

Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Chris Paul, Dirk Nowitzki, Dwight Howard 

During the interview, Michael Cooper and Lisa Leslie questioned World Peace on myriad topics that included, but weren’t limited to, his thoughts on Dwight Howard, his own contract situation this off season and Mike D’Antoni. Here are some of the highlights from the World Peace interview: Ron on whether Dwight’s joking nature bothered him: “At first it did. When I first met Dwight in our first practices together and our first games in the regular season I was like, ‘he’s joking a little bit too much.’ But then I decided not to judge people and I decided to work with my teammates — so as I got into more games with Dwight — I did see him working really hard, blocking shots, playing with a back injury, but he was still playing hard. So then I said, ‘you know what, we just have to work with what we have.’ But at first, it was a little bit frustrating.” Lakers Nation

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Metta World Peace 

Van Gundy had a rocky relationship with center Dwight Howard during their tenure in Orlando. The Hawks will pursue the unrestricted free agent this summer with more than $33 million in salary cap space. The Hawks were interested in obtaining Howard before he was traded to the Lakers in August. The Magic did not want to deal Howard, from metro-Atlanta, to a divisional opponent. Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Coaching, Dwight Howard 

With the Rockets expected to make a run in free agency at Lakers center Dwight Howard, Rockets center Omer Asik said he has not given a thought to how Howard might impact his position with the team or if they could play together. “It’s all things that happen out of my control,” Asik said. “I really don’t know and I really don’t care. Whether it happens, we’ll see. I’m just looking forward to rest and getting better for the next season.” Houston Chronicle

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Omer Asik, Dwight Howard 

Marc Stein: Asked specifically about joining Rockets' well-chronicled plans to chase Dwight Howard, Harden cracked a smile and said: "Maybe. Possibly" Twitter @ESPNSteinLine

Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard, James Harden 

Kevin Ding: Great news for @Dwight Howard (and maybe Lakers): Doctor today says surgery not needed on torn labrum in Dwight's right shoulder. Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Injuries 

After Dwight Howard was ejected during the Game 4 loss to the Spurs, he walked past Mitch Kupchak and, upon receiving a pat on the butt from his General Manager, turned around and yelled in his direction. Predictably, this created a stir as fans and media wondered if Howard was chewing out Kupchak, and if so, the trouble this might signal. As expected, Kupchak was asked about this during Tuesday’s exit interview media session. “You know something,” mused Kupchak. ”I went home that night and I watched “Rocky V,” with Rocky fighting the Russian. (Editor’s note: I immediately informed Kupchak that the movie in question was “Rocky IV,” because this is the knowledge I bring to the table at an exit interview.) And my phone rang, and somebody said ‘What did Dwight say to you?’ “I said, ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ “They said, ‘Well, look on the TV.’ “So when there was a commercial, I went to the sports channel and I saw what they were talking about. I never heard a word he said when he walked past me. So until Sunday evening, around 9:30 or 10 o’clock at night, I didn’t know a thing about it.” Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

Mitch was later asked if he asked Dwight about the yelling. “I did," said Kupchak. "He said he forgets completely what he said, but he was frustrated with the officials and turned around and apparently barked something back at the court.” Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

The busiest man on the Lakers' payroll this off-season will be, as usual, General Manager Mitch Kupchak. And the most pressing question will be Dwight Howard. Will he or won't he sign with the Lakers when free agency begins July 1 -- if not sooner? Kupchak initially said Tuesday it was "hard for me to say" whether Howard would return. Later, though, he expressed confidence in re-signing Howard and "selling the Los Angeles Lakers" to him. "I think he has complete faith in the organization. I think he does like living here. I think it's all good, which leads me to why I'm optimistic," Kupchak said. "But if there's something here that we're lacking, I don't know what it is." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Howard can't visit other teams until July, with Dallas, Houston and Atlanta among other leading possibilities. But if he signs with the Lakers before then, it helps them for numerous reasons. "I think he understands that the sooner he makes a decision, the better it is for everybody," Kupchak said. "I don't know if that means a week, a month or seven weeks. It allows us to plan and it allows him to start putting down roots in the city. People can no longer say, 'I wonder what he's going to do. Is he going to be gone?' We're hoping that he chooses to stay in Los Angeles." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Ken Berger: Dwight on his free-agent future: "I'm focused on me and making the best decision for me, and that's not going to be today." Twitter @KBergCBS

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Dave McMenamin: Dwight said "don't read too much into" his tweet saying he would like to make it up to L.A. Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Dave McMenamin: Dwight Howard said he came back 5-6 months earlier than he was supposed to from his back surgery Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Injuries 

Dave McMenamin: Dwight's torn labrum in his right shoulder will be examined Wednesday: "Hopefully I don't need surgery" Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Injuries 

Dave McMenamin: Kobe on Dwight re-signing: "I hope he does ... I think Los Angeles is the perfect spot for him to assert himself." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Kevin Ding: Kobe on Dwight visiting him: "I respect that and my love for him grew a lot that day." Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Steve Nash made his pitch for Dwight Howard's return Monday during his exit interview: "I'm very hopeful that Dwight will be back. I think this is the place for him. He's in the prime of his career, he's got his best years ahead of him, he can play for one of the greatest franchises in sports in an amazing city. So this has got to be the place for him. I'm hopeful that he sees it that way, and hopefully as teammates we can be here to support him through this, and find him back here with us July 1st," he said. Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard 

Mike Trudell: Nash: "I'm very hopeful that Dwight will be back. I think this is the place for him. I'm hopeful he sees it that way." Twitter @LakersReporter

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard