HoopsHype.com Rumors

Dave McMenamin: Has Dwight told his teammates his plan for next season? Duhon: "He needs to do whatever makes Dwight happy ... He can be happy here in L.A." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Chris Duhon, Dwight Howard 

Plenty of Lakers fans were unhappy with Dwight Howard’s third quarter ejection in the team’s season-ending Game 4 loss to the San Antonio Spurs Sunday, but perhaps none more than the team’s most famous alum. Magic Johnson took to Twitter late Sunday to criticize the soon-to-be free agent, who admitted he’s “got to do a better job of keeping my cool.” For The Win

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Magic Johnson 

Magic Johnson: LN: Dwight, I've been swept before but I never let my team down by getting kicked out of the game. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard, Magic Johnson 

There is no evidence that Bryant's arrival on the bench was anything more than an inspirational coincidence, but insiders say Bryant wasn't thrilled with Howard's behavior, and the perceived message was clear. Dwight may quit on Lakers fans, but Kobe never will. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Pau Gasol could be sent packing to make room for Howard's salary, yet he battled to the end Sunday, leaving the game only by order of his coach in the final minutes while the crowd jumped to its feet in a loud and belated appreciation. "I wish he didn't get ejected so ... he would have stuck all the way through with the team," said Gasol of Howard. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 

It would be easy to be disappointed in Howard for allowing himself to get frustrated to the point where he put himself in a position to where the referees could toss him. But Mike D’Antoni sympathized with his starting center, and said given the situation of both the game and the series, the frustration level was understandable. “I hate it for him,” D’Antoni said. “He gets banged up so much in there. I’m sure he didn’t mean to [get ejected], but he takes a pounding. And after a while it gets on his nerves or whatever. But obviously we were in a deep hole anyway, so I just felt bad for him.” NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

When asked if he thought Howard needed to be smarter with his emotions, D’Antoni essentially said that it’s easier said than done. “Understand it’s easy when you sit there like us and just watch, but when you’re playing you’ve got your line of adrenaline going,” D’Antoni said. “It’s a hard situation, and obviously it wouldn’t have happened if the series was a bit different.” NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

Dwight Howard: Im still upset about tonights game and the way this season ended. Im mad I lost my cool. Im sorry for letting my team and our fans down when they needed me the most. If there’s one thing I’ve learned this year its that I need to be more responsible for my actions and learn to Twitter @DwightHoward

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

Brian Schmitz: Expect considerable giggling at Magic headquarters today after the ejection of Dwight and Lakers from the playoffs. Twitter @MagicInsider

Los Angeles Lakers, Orlando Magic, Dwight Howard 

The Howard the Lakers saw in the second half of the season is the one they signed up for, and the one they’d like to sign to a max contract once Howard hits free agency this summer. There a lot of reasons Howard will likely return to Los Angeles, financial and otherwise. But he’s going to pursue all of his options before making that long-term commitment to the Lakers. “I’m going to step away from everything for a couple of weeks and clear my head before I deal with or talk about anything as far as next season,” Howard said. “I think I deserve that.” NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

When Howard was asked to sum up his first year in Los Angeles afterward, his response was hard to dispute. “It was like a nightmare,” Howard said. “It was like a bad dream, and we couldn’t wake up out of it. That’s what it felt like. It seemed like nothing could go right from the start — injuries and all that stuff. But we’ll get an opportunity to get some rest for guys who are injured or coming off of injuries, get a chance to rehab, and think about what we can all do to better ourselves.” NBCSports.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Janis Carr: Dwight on Kobe: "People twisted things -- fake fights, arguments. We maintained pretty good relationship. I'm going to be here for him." Twitter @janiscarr

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

Serena Winters: Dwight said he didn't remember anything after the technical foul, including any exchange with Mitch Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

Mike Bresnahan: Hate to cramp everyone's Laker tweets but...Dwight wasn't mad at Kupchak while leaving court. Mad at refs, hard fouls by Spurs. Proceed! Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

Pau Gasol downplayed on whether his Lakers future hinges on whether Dwight returns or not. "I don't know if that's 100 percent accurate," Gasol said. "I think they will try to get Dwight and extend him. That's why they brought him here. That's the team's base for the future. I don't think everything is set in stone in the sense that if he stays, I'm definitely gone or if he goes, I'm definitely here. Ownership has to answer that." Sulia

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard 

The most pressing question is will Howard re-sign? He could for five years and $117.9 million instead of a four-year, $87.6 million deal with another team. "I haven't thought about it," Howard said. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Even though the Lakers eventually rebounded to record the league's fifth-best record during the second half of the season at 28-12, and even though General Manager Mitch Kupchak has given him a vote of confidence, it still feels as if he's not the right coach. Dwight Howard seems to agree with that, and if the Lakers re-sign Howard, D'Antoni soon could be gone. Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Mitch Kupchak, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Dwight Howard 

According to several sources familiar with Howard's thinking, Howard will likely explore free agency before reaching his final decision. In today's media landscape, that means there will be a circus in July while Howard hears pitches from the likes of the Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers. Even if it is merely Howard doing his due diligence before making a major life decision, the frenzy it is sure to create will give Howard a taste of the backlash he could face if he ultimately decides to uproot from L.A. just one year removed from the "Dwightmare" that surrounded his exit from Orlando. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

While Howard has been tight lipped when it comes to answers about his future plans all season long, maybe his true intention has been on his Twitter profile all this time. Howard's avatar shows him in a gold Lakers uniform staring down at a basketball that he holds in both of his big hands. Behind him hang the uniforms of legendary Lakers big men: George Mikan's No. 99, Wilt Chamberlain's No. 13, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's No. 33 and Shaquille O'Neal's No. 34. His Twitter bio is three words: "After the ring!" ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Dwight Howard 

Mike Bresnahan: Pau Gasol slightly more open than Dwight Howard to discuss his Lakers future: "What happens next is totally up to the team and management." Twitter @Mike_Bresnahan

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard