This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this, but Lakers play-by-play voice John Ireland, in a report cited by Pro Basketball Talk, said that Dwight Howard’s agent, Dan Fegan, has told the organization that Howard will not sign a contract extension if he’s traded to L.A.
The reasons for Howard’s unwillingness to enter a new deal with the Lakers, however, are financial and should not be of particular concern to Lakers fans. Howard would not sign an extension upon being traded even he’s moved to the Mavericks or Nets, PBT notes.
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“An extension is a problem,” ESPN salary cap guru Larry Coon wrote in an email to the site. “An extend-and-trade only allows three years (including the current years on his contract) and 4.5 % raises, and any extension that occurs within six months of a trade is treated like an extend-and-trade. If he was traded to the Lakers and subsequently extended, he could add on only one new year, with a 4.5% raise. If he was traded on, say, March 15, he could lock-in the additional year (on his existing deal), then sign an extension after September 15 that allowed for three new years and 7.5% raises.”
So, while it’s risky for the Lakers to part with key assets in exchange for Howard, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s not worth it. As the Clippers did with Chris Paul, the Lakers could ask Howard to take his $19.5 million player option for next season and then try to convince him to stay.
Also, if they acquired Howard via trade, the Lakers would own his “Larry Bird” rights, meaning they could offer him a five-year max deal, instead of the four-year deal other teams could offer—and for $30 million more in total dollars.
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