Report: Kobe Bryant Spoke to Dwight Howard About Playing for the Lakers

According to the LA Times, the Lakers’ front-office has cooled on the Dwight Howard trade talks, but Kobe Bryant reportedly has the Orlando Magic big man on speed-dial: “The Lakers and Orlando haven’t had trade talks in ‘a while,’ according to a person familiar with the teams’ thinking, putting a damper on proponents of a [Andrew] Bynum-for-Howard deal. Howard, 26, can opt out of his contract at the end of the season and become a free agent. Orlando is hoping for the best, thinking a strong season by the Magic might persuade Howard to stay another year, if not longer. The trade deadline isn’t until March 15, but for now there’s no momentum on a deal between the Lakers and Magic. However, one person in the Lakers’ organization has been talking to Howard. Kobe Bryant has had at least one in-depth phone conversation with Howard recently, even discussing how Howard might fit in with the Lakers’ scheme. One person with knowledge of the conversation said Howard came away feeling as if he wouldn’t be the Lakers’ top option, for obvious reasons. It’s Bryant’s team.”