Lakers make their pitch to Dwight Howard; GM says team is hopeful he decides to stay

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Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard dunks during the first half of their NBA basketball game against the Utah Jazz, in Los Angeles on Jan. 25, 2013. Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and other representatives of the team met Tuesday for about two hours with free agent centre Dwight Howard to make their pitch for keeping him in Los Angeles. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP - Mark J. Terrill

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and other representatives of the team met Tuesday for two hours with free agent centre Dwight Howard to make their pitch for keeping him in Los Angeles.

Kupchak says in a statement that at the meeting, “we told him how important he is to the Lakers team, franchise, fans and community.”

Howard’s free agency had been prominent in the Lakers’ minds since their season ended in a first-round playoff sweep.

Howard, a seven-time All-Star, has vowed to make his decision in his own best interests, giving no indication he favoured the Lakers over any other team.

The Lakers can offer a maximum of $118 million over five seasons, and other teams can offer $88 million over four years.

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