There is no greater indicator of the sorry state of the Los Angeles Lakers than this sign.

Dwight Howard, of course, is a free agent, and will be able to sign with any team beginning on July 1. The Lakers, of course, want him back, because when healthy, he’s the most dominant big man in the NBA.

The Los Angeles Lakers also should not have to resort to billboards and hashtag campaigns to convince a superstar to re-sign. They’re the Los Angeles Lakers. They play in the second-biggest media market in the league (after New York), have won the second-most championships (after the Boston Celtics), boast an endless list of Hall of Famers and all-time greats who have worn purple and gold, and have missed the playoffs exactly four times since moving to Los Angeles in 1960.

They should not have to beg Dwight Howard to stay in free agency. Especially not when they can pay him over $20 million more than any other team.

But they are. This is what it’s come down to.