HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Kevin Ding: Dwight: "If we want it, we've got to go take it. That's what we've got to do the next game. I believe that the guys are going to do it." Twitter @KevinDing

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

John Denton: Steve Nash on the Hannah Storm ESPN show on former #Magic C Dwight Howard: "In some ways I think the Orlando experience is still with him." Twitter @JohnDenton555

Los Angeles Lakers, Steve Nash, Dwight Howard 

Dave McMenamin: Dwight Howard on the team dinner Friday: "What we said is going to stay between us. We had a good talk though, good time." Twitter @mcten

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

Jeff McDonald: How many times should we expect Dwight on the foul line this series? Tony Parker: "I don’t know, you should ask Pop. But a lot." Twitter @JMcDonald_SAEN

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Dwight Howard 

Arash Markazi: Dwight's not touching the possibility of D'Antoni coming back. Sticking to his "I'm just focused on the playoffs" mantra. Twitter @ArashMarkazi

Los Angeles Lakers, Dwight Howard 

Mitch Kupchak continues to be confident that Dwight Howard will re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, when the center becomes a free agent. “I expect it,” Kupchak said Tuesday. Howard had 26 points and 17 rebounds in Sunday's win over the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers' first game without Kobe Bryant. “For the last six or seven weeks, we’ve been seen him playing like he played in Orlando,” Kupchak said of Howard. RealGM

Los Angeles Lakers, Free Agency, Mitch Kupchak, Dwight Howard 

The Orlando Magic are one of the youngest franchises in the NBA, which is a little hard to believe. They've made the NBA Finals twice, and featured some of the best and most iconic players of the past three decades: Shaquille O'Neal, Penny Hardaway, Grant Hill, Tracy McGrady, and Dwight Howard. And yet, the team is only coming up on its 25th anniversary next season. With that in mind, the Magic have unveiled a new logo to commemorate a quarter century of basketball. "This new look provides us an opportunity to reflect on where we've been and look forward to where we are headed," team CEO Alex Martins said in a press release. "Our silver season logo signifies the history we are creating each day—every game, every play, every moment really is history in the making." USA Today Sports

Orlando Magic, Shaquille O'Neal, Dwight Howard, Tracy McGrady, Penny Hardaway, Alex Martins, Grant Hill 

Dwight Howard had been there. To the operating table, to the dark place a career-threatening injury can plunge a superstar into, and down the long, frustrating road that comes next. He'd been there, and so he is determined to be there for Kobe Bryant as he goes through the same experience now, trying to come back from a completely torn Achilles tendon. Saturday afternoon Howard visited Bryant at the hospital before and after he'd had surgery. And it won't be the last time. "I know how he feels," Howard told ESPNLosAngeles.com. "It hurts. I just wanted to be there." ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, Injuries