Mitch Kupchak continues to be confident that Dwight Howard will re-sign with the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason as a free agent

“I expect it,” Kupchak said Tuesday to Jim Rome.

Howard had 26 points and 17 rebounds in Sunday's win over the San Antonio Spurs, the Lakers' first game without Kobe Bryant.

“For the last six or seven weeks, we’ve been seen him playing like he played in Orlando,” Kupchak said of Howard.