Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant moving on from Dwight Howard's departure

Days after Kobe Bryant unfollowed Dwight Howard on Twitter after the latter signed a deal with the Houston Rockets, the LA Lakers' star said he wont "waste any time trying to figure out why that happened."

Speaking with the LA Times, Bryant explained that he un-followed his former team-mate because "he's a competitor now."

"Listen man, it's just me, that's just how I am," Bryant said. "I have a hard time following people that want to beat us. Not to say that we're not friends or I don't respect him or anything like that."

The NBA star added that he wasn't particularly disappointed about Howard's decision to leave the team and claimed that the organization would "figure out the best thing going forward."

"This is one of the franchises that always lands on its feet," he said. "So whatever happens it's what's supposed to happen."

On Friday Howard turned down a five-year $188 million deal with the Lakers for a 4-year $88 million deal with the Rockets. His decision baffled fans and critics and left the LA Lakers management "naturally disappointed."

Asked if was looking forward to working with any free agents in the future, Bryant said he had a "collection of guys" in mind.

"Next summer is supposed to be a really, really big summer in terms of free agents that are available, and there's no shortage of great players, so I'm sure we'll hopefully have a nice pick," he said.