Howard shoots for Friday decision

Free-agent center Dwight Howard is up in the air about where he will sign after listening to offers from five NBA teams during the past few days but hopes to have a final decision by Friday, according to an ESPN report.

The coveted free-agent center wrapped up meetings on Tuesday (Wednesday, PHL time) with potential suitors trying to persuade him to sign with their teams. Among them was his latest employer, the Los Angeles Lakers, the last to make a case.

Howard also heard pitches from the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks since the free-agency period opened Monday.

There were reports Wednesday that Howard left the L.A. area and headed for Montana or Colorado to contemplate his decision over the holiday break.

Howard's two-hour meeting with the Lakers concluded Tuesday afternoon in Beverly Hills. Lakers teammates Kobe Bryant and Steve Nash attended along with general manager Mitch Kupchak, executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss and representatives from AEG and Time Warner Cable.

After leaving the presentation by the Lakers, Howard gave no indication of which way he was leaning.

"I had a lot of great meetings," Howard said, vaguely.