Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchack Says Los Angeles Will Not Trade Dwight Howard

by NESN Staff on Wed, Feb 20, 2013 at 6:20PM

At least one thing about the Lakers has been consistent this season. Through all the trade rumors involving Dwight Howard, the team insists that the underachieving center will finish the season in Los Angeles.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak repeated that declaration Wednesday, when he said in a radio interview that Howard is the team’s future, even if the 27-year-old big man is not signed beyond this season.

“We’ve been very consistent,” Kupchack told ESPN Radio. “We’re not trading Dwight Howard.”

Most fans are familiar with Howard’s tired saga by now. Howard strung along the Orlando Magic for years before they finally traded him to the Lakers last summer in a four-team deal that also sent Andrew Bynum to Philadelphia. As the Lakers have struggled, falling 3.5 games out of the playoff race, Howard’s name has popped up in trade rumors such as last week’s report that the Celtics and Lakers were considering a trade that would sent Rajon Rondo to L.A.

Kupchak has persistently struck down those rumors, and he continued to do so Wednesday.