Lakers GM gets 1st shot at Dwight Howard as free agency begins

The Lakers got the first word with new free agent Dwight Howard on Sunday, craftily sneaking in a brief meeting after free agency began at 9:01 p.m.

As Houston Rockets executives and luminaries (Hakeem Olajuwon, Clyde Drexler) piled into a Mercedes-Benz van for dinner with Howard in Los Angeles, Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak went to see Howard for some face time with the NBA’s top free agent.

Point, Lakers.

They’ll also get the last word Tuesday, meeting with Howard in a final effort to pitch their importance to the player they employed last season … and hope to pay for five more years and $118 million.

The Lakers were told they’d be the final team to meet with him. Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash will be part of their delegation, along with Kupchak and Coach Mike D’Antoni.

Houston, Dallas, Golden State and Atlanta will also sit down with Howard in Los Angeles.

Howard can’t officially sign with anyone until July 10, but the speed with which he’s scheduling these meetings — five in under 48 hours — suggests he will decide before then.

ALSO:

Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash to assist in pursuit of Dwight Howard

Kobe Bryant wants Dwight Howard to return but won’t push him

Rockets create room for Dwight Howard, find Thomas Robinson taker