LOS ANGELES As the Los Angeles Lakers finalized the pitch they will make to Dwight Howard Tuesday afternoon the free agent center met with his hometown team the Atlanta Hawks Monday afternoon and met with the Golden State Warriors Monday night sources told ESPNLosAngeles.com.
Hawks general manager Danny Ferry and new coach Mike Budenholzer met with Howard in Los Angeles. Ferry had no comment except to tell ESPN's Shelley Smith the meeting went well.
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The Warriors are considered a longshot in the Howard sweepstakes as they would need to do a sign and trade with the Lakers to be able to sign Howard to a maximum four year $88 million contract something sources have previously told ESPN the Lakers are not inclined to do.
Howard had a nearly three hour meeting with the Houston Rockets shortly after the NBA's free agent period opened at 12 01 a.m. ET on Monday morning Sunday night in Los Angeles but not before he had a quick meeting with Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak.
Kupchak's message to Howard Quick hello and good luck said a source with knowledge of the conversation.
Kupchak also met with Howard for a face to face meeting Saturday morning a source confirmed.
Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will be a part of the Lakers' pitch to Howard on Tuesday afternoon league sources told ESPN on Sunday. The Lakers are still finalizing the roster of people who will be a part of their pitch but the delegation will also include executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss and representatives from Time Warner Cable. The Lakers signed a record television contract that could be worth $5 billion over 25 years with the cable giant in 2012.
The NBA does not have a problem with Lakers broadcast partner Time Warner Cable SportsNet being part of the pitch for Howard according to a league source. If TWC was to offer further compensation that would be a violation of league rules. However simply being present for the sitdown is in no way a breach of league etiquette.
They could simply be presenting ideas about how they plan to cover Howard and the Lakers in the future said the source. That is allowed.
Nash tweeted he was flying from New York to Los Angeles on Monday morning.
DwightHoward we're coming for you Nash's tweet said. You're going to love the statue we build for you outside Staples in 20yrs
The Lakers won't be the only ones with a television element to their pitch. According to a source familiar with Houston's meeting with Howard part of the Rockets' presentation revolved around TV opportunities for Howard with Comcast SportsNet Houston. The Rockets own more than 30 percent of the network.
The Rockets contingent who met with Howard included players James Harden Chandler Parsons coach Kevin McHale general manager Daryl Morey owner Les Alexander and Hall of Famers Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler. Yao Ming talked with Howard via Skype from China and according to the Houston Chronicle Dikembe Mutombo recorded a video message for Howard.
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Yao told KRIV TV in Houston that when he was contacted by Rockets CEO Tad Brown and Morey to help with the team's pitch to Howard he told them he would love to help.
Yao who spoke to KRIV TV in a telephone interview from Beijing said he spoke to Howard via Skype and told him the Rockets have a young team a talented team that has ability to reach championship level with you.
Yao said he will be in Houston on July 11 and hopes to meet with Howard.
After a late night hotel dinner Morey tweeted that it was great meeting with Howard and obvious how he and Harden could be the next great big/wing combo.
Dwight is focused on winning championships Morey told KRIV TV. So are we.
The Rockets entered their dinner with Howard with the ability to offer him a four year $88 million contract after agreeing in principle to trade forward Thomas Robinson to Portland for two future second round picks and the rights to two European players a source confirmed to ESPN. Houston also waived veterans Aaron Brooks and Carlos Delfino earlier on Sunday to clear more salary cap space.
According to the Chronicle Houston planned to emphasize the marketing potential the Rockets continue to hold in China being Yao's former team. They also planned to appeal to the 27 year old Howard by touting the youth and togetherness their current roster has mixed with the appeal of a coach in McHale who is considered one of the greatest big men ever to play the game. The Lakers meanwhile can outbid the Rockets and any other potential suitor by offering a five year $118 million contract.
Part of what the Lakers intend to sell to Howard according to a source with knowledge of L.A.'s thinking is that they will be able to make the necessary personnel moves to surround Howard with shooters and allow the center to showcase his game down low with proper floor spacing.
To that point a large portion of the initial wave of free agents the Lakers made inquiries about fit that description.
But Howard is the big fish they're after with a Lakers source saying the team was feeling optimistic about its chances as of Sunday night and promising a few surprises for its meeting with Howard.
One person who will not be there is former coach Phil Jackson who left for his summer home in Montana on Sunday according to sources.
Jackson though delivered a message to Howard via Twitter before he hit the road.
While i'm there I expect to see you get on board Jackson tweeted to Howard. tis ur place.
Information from ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Jeff Goodman ESPNLosAngeles.com's Arash Markazi and ESPNNewYork.com's Jared Zwerling was used in this report.
Recommend0 Tweet0 Comments0Email Print Subscribe Dave McMenaminESPNLosAngeles.comFollowArchiveRamona ShelburneESPNLosAngeles.comFollowArchiveColumnist and writer for ESPNLosAngeles.comSpent seven years at the Los Angeles Daily News
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