(Photo: Mark Medina)
The Los Angeles Lakers hung a massive banner on the outside wall of Staples Center today with the message: STAY. and the hashtag #stayD12. This is the first of likely many moves that the Lakers will take in enticing Dwight Howard to resign with the Los Angeles Lakers this off-season.
Is it a sign of desperation on the Los Angeles Lakers’ part as Mentality Magazine suggests in their tweet above or just a smart move to help in their attempts to bring Dwight Howard back to the team?
I certainly understand those that take the position that the Lakers, with their long and illustrious history, should never beg for a player to sign with the franchise and instead. However, the Lakers are dealing with reportedly a very sensitive individual in Howard. Over the top and public overtures by the Lakers, such as the banner, might be exactly what is needed to satisfy Howard’s need to feel wanted back in purple and gold and what it will take for him to resign.
The Lakers, along with any other NBA team, will get their first chance to begin contract negotiations on July 1st but free agents won’t be able to officially sign a contract until July 10th. As we can see by the banner, the wooing has already begun.
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