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Los Angeles Lakers: Dwight Howard’s ceiling is massive, but so is the floor

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Dwight Howard #21 of the Washington Wizards looks on from the bench during the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 26: Dwight Howard #21 of the Washington Wizards looks on from the bench during the first half of the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center on March 26, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers filled the hole left behind by DeMarcus Cousins with Dwight Howard, who can be great, or awful, for the team.

The Los Angeles Lakers took a gamble on DeMarcus Cousins on a one-year contract for the 2019 season and that gamble did not pay off. Cousins tore his ACL while working out in Las Vegas and will most likely miss the entire season. If he does come back, it would likely be in the deepest stages of the playoffs.

Luckily for the Lakers, they did not wager much in this gamble as Cousins only got a one-year, $2.5 million contract. So it is not like the team just has a bunch of empty cap space, but it does suck that we don’t get to see the trio of LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Cousins all share the court.

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The team did not wait long in finding Boogie’s replacement and they went with an option that has torn the fanbase apart. It was reported on Friday that the Los Angeles Lakers will sign Dwight Howard to a one-year, non-guaranteed deal once he finalizes a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies.

Howard is not well-liked by Laker fans because of his beef with Kobe Bryant and the fact that he, in a sense, represents the downward spiral of the team that is just starting to pick back up.

However, needing bodies with only one true center on the roster, the Lakers had to add someone and Howard is undoubtedly the best option still available talent-wise. He is still only 33 years old, although at times it feels like he is older, and once felt like he was going to be one of the best centers we have ever seen.

The non-guaranteed contract that Howard received is essential to this situation. If Howard does not display growth in the locker room and within himself, then the Lakers can pull the plug relatively early.

While that was a smart move by the Lakers, it does not take away the potentially pitfalling floor that Howard represents, although he also represents a pretty high ceiling as well.

Let’s start with the positive side of the coin.

In terms of Howard’s ceiling, he has the chance to surprise a lot of people this season. The Lakers likely won’t call on him to start and if they do he will share similar minutes with JaVale McGee and likely won’t be on the court in the closing minutes of a game as the Lakers run their best five out there.

However, for the first time since the 2015-2016 season, Howard is actually playing on a title-contending team. And while his last two years in Houston were disappointing, we have seen that it is not the easiest thing in the world to play with James Harden and that had to have had some sort of impact on Howard’s play.

We do not want to make excuses for Howard, but it is not unreasonable to think that Howard will play better with a player that makes him better instead of someone who plays isolation basketball, like Harden.

LeBron James has made a career out of making his teammates better and has particularly made big men look better as well. Ivica Zubac got a four-year, $28 million contract with the Los Angeles Clippers after some big games alongside LeBron and a subsequent trade.

Howard is just a year removed from averaging 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game with the Charlotte Hornets in 81 games played. If I take away his name and just show the numbers, a lot of people would think differently about Howard.

The problem with Howard and the reason why his floor is so low though is that you cannot take away his name. Trouble has followed him on any team that he has been with and that is not particularly great with a team like the Los Angeles Lakers that has been chaotic over the last year.

Sure, the non-guaranteed deal helps the team if he shows any signs early on of not being different, but what if his true colors start to come out in February, after the trade deadline?

There is a good chance that something will eventually crack and then the Lakers will be left in a very sticky situation that late in the season. At that point, what can you really do if you are the Lakers?

And while he has been healthy for most of his career, you cannot ignore his health. He played just seven games last season and isn’t getting any younger. Last year was only his third year with fewer than 70 games played, but you cannot ignore that narrative.

So if anything goes haywire, whether in the locker room or with his health, the Lakers will be left yet again with a very thin center position.

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And for that reason, Howard presents a scary floor for the Los Angeles Lakers. However, there is just as good of a chance that he shocks not only Laker fans but the entire NBA community.

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