[caption id="attachment_2066" align="alignright" width="324" caption="Dwight Howard has become the most coveted free agent since LeBron James"]
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The day is here. It's Dwight Day for the Lakers. D-Day, if you will. After weeks months of campaigning and tweeting and billboards and whatnot, the Lakers will make their formal presentation to Dwight Howard today as to why he should re-sign with the team he apparently hates.
[RELATED: Dwight Howard free agency is underway (updating)]
Los Angeles is supposedly sending a contingent that includes general manager Mitch Kupchak, coach Mike D'Antoni, Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, SVP of Business (and marketing) Tim Harris, team EVP of Player Personel Jim Buss, as well as executives from Time Warner Cable, the TV rights holder for the Lakers, and AEG, owner of the Staples Center
Notably absent is much of the Lakers storied past. Magic Johnson is away on vacation, as is Phil Jackson. But there are still plenty of other icons the Lakers could have called upon, as the Rockets did in bringing Hakeem Olajuwon to their sales pitch on Sunday. However, according to Lakers beat writer Mike Bresnahan, Los Angeles chose to go in a different direction.
"The Lakers considered adding some of their legendary names to the meeting but decided against it, looking toward the future instead of the past," wrote Bresnahan in the L.A. Times.
The future, such as next offseason, expected to be one of the biggest in recent memory. More Bresnahan:
They will sell themselves as the 16-time NBA champions — how could they not? — and they also subtly will remind him Steve Nash is the only player currently under contract after next season.
As in, there's a massive shopping spree on the way in a year.
Jeanie Buss is not expected to be there, but like Magic and Phil still had a message for Howard:
@DwightHoward Lakers offer 1) best opportunities for your playing & post-playing career 2) have BEST fans 3) I'm here for you #STAYD12
— Jeanie Buss (@JeanieBuss) July 2, 2013
Los Angeles' usual trump card - the fact that they are the Lakers and no one else is - won't work this time around. Howard does not enjoy the pressure felt in Los Angeles from both media and fans, and Houston would be a welcome respite on an equally competitive team. The Lakers can offer him one year and some $30 million more than any other team, but per year it only breaks down to about $1.5 million extra ("only"). What L.A. will have to sell this that they truly are the best fit for Howard's basketball future.
The Lakers, per their own request, are presenting last out of the five teams who are in the final running for Howard's services. The Houston Rockets, widely thought to be the frontrunners, went first on Sunday evening, but not before Lakers general manger Mitch Kupchak got in a quick "hello and good luck" meeting of his own.
The Atlanta Hawks and Golden State Warriors went Monday, but neither are considered realistic options for Howard. The Hawks got consideration as Howard's hometown team, and the Warriors because of a potentially lucrative sign-and-trade they could offer the Lakers, despite Los Angeles saying repeatedly that they are not interested.
The Dallas Mavericks are meeting with Howard Tuesday afternoon, and the Lakers followed in the evening. Afterwards, members of the Lakers delegation said they were pleased with the meeting.
Kupchak: "We told [Howard] how important he is to the Lakers...and why we feel this is the best place for him to continue his career."
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 2, 2013
Nash on meeting with Howard: “I think the Lakers did a great job and it was a really good meeting. I feel really positive about it.”
— Mike Bresnahan (@Mike_Bresnahan) July 2, 2013
Howard does not want the process to drag on, and is expected to sign on July 10, the first day he can per NBA rules.
Keep it locked right here for the latest Dwight Howard free agency rumors and breaking news.