Despite the fact that Los Angeles Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak publicly shut down the notion that All-Star center Dwight Howard could be traded before Thursday's deadline, a Tuesday report may indicate otherwise.
According to FOX Sports Ohio, not only has Kupchak taken several calls centered on a Howard trade, but sources also indicate that Kobe Bryant wouldn't be opposed to it either.
FS-OH claims that if Kupchack were to change his mind about dealing the big man out of Los Angeles, he would "have Bryant's full support," their sources say.
There are also plenty of indications that Bryant isn't the only player in Purple and Gold that doubts Howard's commitment to this team.
It is reported that Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and several others are also very skeptical about how serious D12 is about the game, this team, and weather he "wants it" enough to help them overcome the pickle they finds themselves in.
The Lakers come out of the 2013 All-Star break with an underachieving 25-29 record, sitting 3½ games outside of the eight and final playoff spot in the Western Conference, and with more questions than answers.
Coming up, Bryant & Co. will embark on a 29-game stretch that will determine whether this team will pull off one of the most improbable comebacks in NBA history, or go down as one of, if not the biggest, catastrophes ever.
For what it's worth, if it's true that the "Black Mamba" and so many Lakers don't believe Howard has the "right approach, mental toughness and overall willingness to help the Lakers flourish in what has become their most important stretch," a trade could be imminent.
Brooklyn and Dallas are said to be among the teams with which Howard could agree to a contract extension this summer, which would also facilitate the move.
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