NBA Trade Rumors and Updates: Dirk Nowitzki Reaches Out To Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers Still Optimistic

Multiple reports suggested on Thursday that Dwight Howard will unlikely re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers, prompting speculations that he is considering signing with the Dallas Mavericks or the Houston Rockets.

Aware of the drama surrounding the superstar center, Mavericks star Dirk Nowitzki is making his own pitch to convince Howard to bring his talents to Dallas.

According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas, the German superstar said that he is not aggressively recruiting Howard, but he admitted that he has been in touch with the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.

"I reached out to him and told him we'd love to have him. That's really about it. It's not like we call each other every day," Nowitzki said. "I haven't written him a letter. We've just had a little phone contact, and that's about it."

And when asked about the things Howard told him about the big decision he will be making this summer, Nowitzki said that none of those information are newsworthy.

"He's just weighing out his options. I'm sure he has a couple of meetings set up for whenever that might be in early July. Hopefully the Mavs are one of those teams, and we'll go from there," Nowitzki added.

Aside from Nowitzki, Houston Rockets superstar James Harden and teammate Chandler Parsons previously admitted that they are talking to Howard, trying to convince him that signing with the Rockets will be the best decision for him.

But despite the uncertainty surrounding Howard, Dave McMenamin of ESPN Los Angeles reported that Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak remains optimistic that Howard will eventually return to play for their team next season.

"I think I'm optimistic. I understand that there's a possibility Howard won't re-sign, and I probably don't have any more information than anybody in this room does. I'm aware of a lot of the stuff that's flying back and forth, a lot of the rumors, so there's a realistic possibility that he won't be back. But I'm optimistic that he will," Kupchak said.

Kupchak is aware that the 27-year-old center is planning to talk with the Mavericks and the Rockets, and possibly the Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors, but he reiterated that it is just a part of the normal free-agency process. He cited that even Kobe Bryant visited other teams before, particularly after the Lakers parted ways with Shaquille O'Neal.

The Lakers can offer the Howard a five-year deal worth $118 million, while other teams are only capable of putting a four-year deal on the table worth $88 million.