May 22
Howard may be pursued by the Mavs, who are expected to attempt to save cap space by trading the 13th pick, ESPN reports.
Recommendation: Howard is set to become a free agent on July 1. The Mavs are expected to pursue either Howard or the Clippers' Chris Paul. If Howard stays with the the Lakers, he could sign a five-year deal worth $118 million. However, if he leaves for another team, the new collective-bargaining agreement makes it to so that he cannot make more than $87.6 million in four years. Dirk Nowitzki, the Mavs' star player, noted that he would accept a large pay reduction so that the team would be able to keep him and acquire another star player.
