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Coach Frank Vogel confirmed the team's position
Wednesday while speaking on a conference call with media
members.
"We've been in communication with Dwight the whole way," Vogel
said. "We don't know what the level of participation is yet. He
wants to play. We're hopeful he's able to join us. We're hopeful
and optimistic that he'll be able to join us in Orlando.
"We don't have any intention of replacing Dwight's roster spot
when we believe he'll hopefully be able to join us."
The Lakers and 21 other NBA teams will head to the ESPN Wide
World of Sports Complex near Orlando next week ahead of the
restart of play July 30.
According to ESPN, Howard is currently home in Georgia, adhering
to the NBA's isolation and testing regulations. Other members of
the Lakers are gathering in Los Angeles this week ahead of their
relocation to central Florida next week.
Howard reportedly is dealing with several circumstances while
weighing his options.
ESPN reported that Howard currently has custody of his
6-year-old son, David, after David's mother died of an epileptic
seizure in March.
"He has an extenuating circumstance that he's working with the
league on in terms of what that is ultimately going to look
like," Vogel said.
In addition, Howard has been outspoken, along with Lakers
teammate Avery Bradley and Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving,
about NBA players' social responsibilities in the aftermath of
George Floyd's death.
Howard issued a statement to CNN last month that read,
"Basketball, or entertainment period, isn't needed at this
moment, and will only be a distraction. Sure, it might not
distract us the players, but we have resources at hand a
majority of our community don't have. And the smallest
distraction for them can start a trickle-down effect that may
never stop.
"Especially with the way the climate is now. I would love
nothing more than to win my very first NBA Championship. But the
unity of My People would be an even bigger Championship, that's
just too beautiful to pass up. What better time than now for us
to be focusing on our families?"
The Lakers did make a roster move Wednesday, deactivating
Bradley and signing free agent JR Smith. Bradley stated that he
won't play the rest of the season in order to remain with his
family.
Howard, 34, is averaging 7.5 points and 7.4 rebounds in 19.2
minutes per game for the Lakers this season. He had made two
starts in 62 appearances.
The eight-time All-Star is on his fifth NBA team in the past
five seasons.
--Field Level Media
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