Amid weeks of speculation and rumors in what could probably be dubbed "Dwight-mare, Part 2," L.A. Lakers center and All-Star Dwight Howard doesn't look like he's going anywhere before the trade deadline expires Thursday.
Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak said on Wednesday to ESPN's Colin Cowherd that the franchise had made an investment in Howard, a seven-time NBA All-Star, reigning rebounding champion and former Defensive Player of the Year.
"It's hard to get a talent in this league and to have a talent like Dwight Howard," said Kupchak, as the Los Angeles times reported." "He belongs to have his name on the wall and a statue in front of Staples [Center] at some point and time."
The statement comes as a sign that the Lakers are going all in regarding their hopes to sign the embattled superstar even after his first season as a Laker has been marred with injuries to his back and shoulder, a losing record for a struggling Los Angeles team, and reports of infighting between Howard and fellow All-Star Kobe Bryant.
If he stays, Howard can earn a max contract of five-years and $118 million. However, if he signs elsewhere, the maximum he is likely to get is a four-year, $87.6-million deal.
Howard becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer and will once again control his own destiny. While conventional wisdom expects him to stay with the Lakers, Howard has been noncommittal regarding his future.
When the L.A. Times asked Howard if he could see himself as the cornerstone piece of the Lakers franchise after Bryant retires--which is rumored to be around 2014 when his contract expires--he said he did, but stopped short of committing to returning to the Lakers after the season ends.
"The only thing that matters is right now. Nobody can control what happens this off-season," Howard said. "There's no need for me to make the decision right now to where I'm going to be in the future, but my goal hasn't changed. I want to win a championship and I want to win one here. I'm here right now."
Knicks Staying Put At Deadline
Despite a flurry of rumors surrounding the New York Knicks prior to the trade deadline, it doesn't appear as though the Knicks will be making any changes or trades before the deadline expires.
The latest report, from ESPN's Marc Stein on Twitter, indicated that the Knicks would at the front of the line to sign Phoenix Suns forward/center Jermaine O'Neal if Phoenix decides to buy out his contact to make space for the newly acquired Marcus Morris, whom the Suns received in a trade with the Rockets Wednesday.
Rumors have surrounded the Knicks in recent weeks that they would be looking to trade Knicks starting two-guard and defensive ace Iman Shumpert as well as Amar'e Stoudemire.
However, sources told the New York Post before the deadline that the Knicks aren't in position to make a move and likely were not going to make one.
"They're not even waiting on anything," a source told the Post . "It's pretty safe to say they're not making a deal."
New York could still have their eye on a few prospects such as free agent Kenyon Martin and possibly ex-Knick Timofey Mosgov if his contract is bought out.
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