Dwight Howard: Listing the Odds Of Where He Will Land

Los Angeles Lakers

Apr 28, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) sits on the bench during the 3rd quarter with injured teammates Jody Meeks (left), Steve Nash and Steve Blake in game four of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs against San Antonio at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

The Lakers are the least likely team on this list for a couple of reasons.

First, even if they can sign Howard for more money per year because of their Bird Rights, the prep-to-pro center would likely not exercise his fifth year in hopes of pursuing another large deal, unless he gets injured. This means that it really comes down to whether he wants to play four years in Los Angeles or four years anywhere else.

Anywhere else starts to look really good when you factor in the age of the Lakers, Howard’s apparent incompatibility with head coach Mike D’Antoni and that he  would actually make more money in Houston or Dallas because of state tax laws.

The Lakers only functional advantage is the player option fifth year. If Howard was looking at his choices conservatively, the Lakers would seem as though the safe choice, as they are a storied franchise and offer him the most security.

But that is not what Howard will do. The 27-year-old will not be thinking about himself in four years, he will be thinking about himself next year, and whether or not he takes the court starting with Steve Blake and Pau Gasol, or James Harden, Dirk Nowitzki, Al Horford or Stephen Curry.

Probability: 10 percent