HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Jeff Caplan: Dwight on confidence of the Lakers: "We have total confidence that we can come back and win this series." Twitter @Caplan_NBA

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

"We're not going to go down," Howard defiantly told USA TODAY Sports. "We're going to fight. There's no (mentality of) 'we're going to go down fighting.' We're going to fight. We're going to keep fighting. We've got a lot of bodies, some strong players, so we're just going to keep fighting. I want to win, you know what I'm saying? It seems like everything is not going our way, but I'm going to fight through it. I'm a fighter. I'm not going to quit on these guys. I'm going to show them that they can ride my back. It's not over. It's only two games. You've got to win four." USA Today Sports

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

A guy the Spurs had tried to go away from, came back. Matt Bonner, relegated to comedic relief this season, best known for indie groups and his Red Mamba nickname, found unfamiliar footing. He made shots Wednesday, which is what he does best. But he mostly made Dwight Howard work when he didn’t make him mad. Bonner called it, for those who would like to Google the phrase, “Chumbawamba defense.” San Antonio Express-News

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Dwight Howard, Matt Bonner 

In full disclosure, I had voted Oklahoma City forward Serge Ibaka for first place, Gasol for second and Howard for third. Miami forward LeBron James finished second, followed by Ibaka and Chicago forward Joakim Noah. The Clippers’ Chris Paul (11th) and Boston’s Avery Bradley (12th) also finished ahead of Howard. “Serge Ibaka with all the stuff he did this year, he should’ve been the guy to win it this year and last year,” said Howard, though the award went last season to New York’s Tyson Chandler. “With the stuff he’s done on the defensive end. I thought he was the clear cut winner. But people saw it otherwise.” Los Angeles Daily News

Oklahoma City Thunder, Dwight Howard, Serge Ibaka 

Dwain Price: "We don’t look at our Twitter during the game. If he wants to tweet, he can tweet. It's his Twitter -- Dwight Howard on Kobe Bryant tweeting Twitter @DwainPrice

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard 

A reporter just informed him that he finished 14th for the NBA’s defensive player of the year award, receiving one first-place vote and four third-place votes. Memphis forward Marc Gasol, a brother of Lakers forward Pau Gasol, won the award, the league announced Wednesday. “It’s just funny,” Howard said. “That’s okay. We got next year and I got a long time. This year’s funny.” Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Memphis Grizzlies, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard, Marc Gasol 

Dave McMenamin: Dwight says Serge Ibaka was the "clear cut" winner of DPOY in his mind Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dwight Howard, Serge Ibaka