Kobe Bryant Wants Dwight Howard To Stay With Lakers

Kobe Bryant is calling for the Los Angeles Lakers to keep Dwight Howard. The Lakers center is set to hit the open market in July and has several options on where he can take his career.

While there are plenty of rumors saying Howard could join the Houston Rockets, he could also help Chris Paul and the Atlanta Hawks become a powerhouse team.

But neither of those options is good for Kobe Bryant, who hopes the Lakers will re-sign Howard. In an interview with 710 ESPN Los Angeles, the Lakers star said the team has “to be able to keep [Howard].” Bryant added:

“Those guys are hard to find, they don’t grow on trees. When you have someone like that with his talent level, you have to be able to keep him and lock him in with this franchise.”

But it isn’t clear if the Lakers will bet again on Dwight Howard, despite Kobe Bryant’s input. The NBA center was frustrating for a lot of fans, especially for those who look to the team for great centers. But this season the Lakers almost won the playoffs and didn’t even win a game during the first round of the playoffs.

Bryant added that he wants to have a “final word” with Dwight Howard before the Lakers center makes a decision on his future NBA team. He explained:

“I know he’s got a big decision to make and I’m sure he’ll take the visits and talk to the players on the teams he’s considering. We’ll touch base a lot more.”

But only time will tell if Kobe Bryant’s talks will have an effect on Howard and the Lakers. The team does have an advantage if it chooses to negotiate to keep Howard.

Los Angeles can offer Howard more money to stay in Los Angeles. The NBA’s collective bargaining agreement says that the Lakers can sign Howard for a five-year, $118 million contract. If he signs with another team, he can be under a four-year, $87.6 million contract.

Do you think the Lakers should re-sign Dwight Howard, like Kobe Bryant wants?

[Image via Scott Mecum]