No, El-Lay, the billboards are NOT for Dwight Howard. They're for the fans.

From the Los Angeles Times:

The Lakers' campaign to keep free-agent center Dwight Howard continued Wednesday with two public pleas for Howard to stay.

The first, a billboard at Staples Center, features a photo of the center with the words, "Stay. #stayD12."

Another variation of the theme has been erected in Hollywood.

Wow. A hashtag, and (according to Eric Pincus) an associated tweet. The Lakers must really be sending a message to Dwight Howard, right?

Not in the least.

Think about it. Both billboards and tweets are not designed to be seen by a single person; they are designed to be seen by multiple people. If the Lakers wanted to send a message to Dwight Howard, they would use a registered letter instead of a billboard, and a direct message instead of a public tweet.

This whole thing is merely a demonstration by the Buss family that they're really, really trying to keep Dwight - a sideshow for the vocal Lakers fans who labor under the belief that every young boy in the world dreams of becoming a Los Angeles Laker.

If Howard signs a contract extension with the Lakers, then the Buss family can proudly say that they kept him.

If Howard signs a contract with another team, then the Buss family can say that they really, really tried to keep him - remember those billboards that they put up?

However, remember that it's both cheaper and more public-relations friendly to put up billboards than it would be to do what is REALLY needed to keep Dwight Howard.

First, the Lakers would have to kick Kobe Bryant off the team, but do it in such a way that Howard's name is kept out of the matter.

Second, the Lakers would have to fire head coach Mike D'Antoni - and it would probably be OK for Howard's name to be connected to that.

Third, the Lakers would have to choose a coach of Howard's choosing.

Fourth, the Lakers would have to acquire some players of Howard's choosing. Those four things would be much more effective than a billboard campaign to keep Dwight Howard, but they would be costly - and it would probably be impossible to get rid of Kobe AND to stress that Howard had nothing to do with it.

But a billboard campaign keeps the fans happy.