Durant was skeptical of Bryant's words, and I would be, too, under the same circumstances, but not for the same reasons as Durant.
Durant's opinion was likely formed foremost as a competitor, and a Lakers team featuring Howard and Bryant would undoubtedly make his goal of dominating the Western Conference a little more difficult.
However, Durant's assessment of Bryant's claim failed to consider one of the points of potential conflict in a marriage between Howard and the Lakers.
According to Alex Kennedy of HoopsWorld, one of the major roadblocks between a deal with the Magic and Lakers was a phone conversation with Bryant and Howard in which Bryant offered his vision of Howard's role with the Lakers.
Howard had thoughts of forming a dominant one-two punch for the Lakers, but Bryant wanted Howard to accept a role as the team's third scoring option behind himself and Pau Gasol, and focus most of his energy on defense and rebounding.
And that was before Steve Nash came into the picture.
Needless to say, Howard was reportedly not fond of Bryant's opinion, and this phone call supposedly dropped the Lakers further down Howard's list of desired destinations.
Well, apparently the decision was taken out of Bryant and Howard's hands, and now that Howard is a Laker, is he finally prepared to accept Bryant's words as truth?
Because Howard's role, as Bryant described, is the surest way to the 2013 NBA title.
I can understand Howard's reluctance to relegate himself to third-wheel status after serving a stint as the heart and soul of an entire franchise, and I can certainly empathize with Howard ...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
