Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel, like his boss Rob Pelinka, is hopeful that their squad will have reserve center Dwight Howard along with them, who has been an instrumental reason for the team’s success off the Lakers bench, while also being trusted to finish games throughout the season. But while they are hopeful, they are understanding in the sense that Howard has still not yet committed all the way to play due to some very difficult circumstances in his family life. But given how important he is, they aren’t going to try and have a replacement for him if he does elect not to play so he can care for his six-year-old son, David, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin.
“We’ve been in communication with Dwight the whole way with supportive phone calls and text messages,” Vogel said. “We don’t know what the level of participation is going to be yet. He wants to play. We’re hopeful that he’s able to join us.”
Howard has been instrumental in the Lakers success this season but tragedy struck his family back in March, with the unfortunate passing of his son David’s mother, Melissa Rios, of an epileptic seizure.
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