To no one’s surprise, Dwight Howard isn’t happy.
Superman is often found smirking and joking around, but he’s not genuinely happy. Not with the Los Angeles Lakers, specifically Mike D’Antoni.
According to Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com, Howard’s exit interview with general manager Mitch Kupchak comprised of him expressing extreme dissatisfaction with D’Antoni and all he stood for:
Howard was one of several Lakers — Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol being the most noteworthy — to have an extended separate meeting with the GM after his exit interview with both Kupchak and D’Antoni, multiple sources confirmed to ESPNLosAngeles.com.
According to sources with knowledge of the situation, part of the discussion between Howard and Kupchak centered around Howard’s frustration with D’Antoni — particularly how the center felt marginalized as the coach looked to Bryant and Steve Nash for leadership and suggestions and discounted Howard’s voice.
Raise your hand if you’re shocked? What, no one? Yeah, I didn’t think so.
Of course Howard has a problem with D’Antoni. Magic Mike is an offensive-minded coach who has developed a reputation as someone who is averse to preaching defense and who is also liable to neglect his big men altogether. Why wouldn’t Dwight have a problem with that?
Some would urge Howard to suck it up. D’Antoni is the coach. Deal with it. He just got there. You don’t have the type of control in Los Angeles that you did in Orlando. But the latter is simply not true.
Howard is an unrestricted free agent and a bona fide flight risk. Just ask the Orlando Magic. If he doesn’t like the direction the Lakers are headed, in any way, shape or form, he can leave. Just like that. He could spurn the Lakers, leaving them down a superstar and without the means to acquire another one until next summer.
To that end, if Howard is truly unhappy with D’Antoni, Kupchak and friends have to consider canning him. Personally, I don’t like it. I’ve been one of D’Antoni’s biggest supporters and still stand behind him. Should he fail miserably after getting a full training camp to rally his troops, then I’ll have no defense. Right now, he deserves a legitimate opportunity to prove himself. But only if Howard says so.
We can’t be deluded when it comes to what the Lakers are facing. They can’t afford to approach Howard with the cavalier attitude they normally take. They’re not in a position of too much power here.
Los Angeles always seems to land on its feet. And even if Dwight left, most would believe the Lakers strike free-agency gold next summer. There’s no guarantee they can lure LeBron James or any others to Tinseltown, though. Kobe will be one year closer to retirement (or actually retiring), Pau Gasol (a free agent) and Steve Nash will be one year older and the Lakers would then have to sell prospective targets on being the first to join what they hope is a multi-star movement.
With Howard in the fold, the Lakers have a better selling point. A “Hey, look at us. We have Dwight Howard. Come sign here,” if you will. Not to mention that Howard gives them the best chance of doing anything meaningful next season. The Black Mamba, Pau and Nash will only be able to carry the Lakers so far. They need Dwight.
And so, should the difference between keeping Howard and losing him be D’Antoni, I’d expect the Lakers to at least consider parting ways with the mustached wonder.
I’d then expect D’Antoni to become the collateral damage of a greater vision. One that Dwight currently has complete and utter control over.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com. Follow @danfavale on Twitter for his latest posts and all things NBA.
