Lakers Rumors: Dwight Howard Smart to Keep Options Open After Season

With the Dwight Howard saga in Orlando finally over, the Los Angeles Lakers can exhaust all their energy towards winning an NBA championship after acquiring the superstar center in a four-team deal. 

But for Howard, the drama will not end until he signs a long-term contract. According to Marc Stein of ESPN, no deal will be agreed to now, and there is a sleeping giant just waiting for a chance to get its hands on Howard. 

"

If L.A. does not work out for Dwight, says source briefed on his thinking, he knows "Dallas will be there for him." Mavs will have cap space

— Marc Stein (@ESPNSteinLine) August 10, 2012"

As much as everyone hates talking about the Howard drama, this is a brilliant decision on his part. Plus, there are so many layers that he can play it if he wants to when negotiating a contract with the Lakers, or anyone else he might want to play with.

On the one hand, if Los Angeles works out and Howard enjoys the spotlight that Hollywood provides him, he will have a huge contract offer waiting for him whenever he wants to sign it. They don't have another option after trading Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia. 

On the other hand, if Howard finds that he doesn't like Los Angeles for whatever reason, he will be able to use his free agency to figure out where the best place for him to play the rest of his career will be. 

If that place happens to be Dallas, where he can walk into a situation where Dirk Nowitzki won't be around too much longer, and Mark Cuban will give him total autonomy to do whatever he wants as the face of the franchise, Howard will be more than happy to walk away from Los Angeles. 

Howard needs to do what is in his best long-term interest. It might drive fans and analysts nuts to have to deal with another summer of drama, but the system is designed to give players the right to do what they want. 

As things stand right now, Howard has already gotten what he wants by getting out of Orlando. We will have to wait until next June to see if the move to Los Angeles is really what he wanted or if there is something else that awaits. 

With Howard, you never know what is going to happen next. It is maddening but also part of the fun in following him wherever he goes. 

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