Los Angeles Lakers: Dwight Howard just isn’t worth the headache
By Jason Reed
The Los Angeles Lakers need after DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn ACL and could see a possible reunion with Dwight Howard.
The Los Angeles Lakers thought they had the roster all figured out with no other moves to make this offseason (unless Andre Iguodala got bought out, of course). That all changed as DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn ACL while working out in Las Vegas.
It is more than likely that Cousins will miss the entirety of the 2019 season and even if he does make a return it will most likely not be until deep in the playoffs. With an 82-game grind ahead of them, the Lakers now need to bolster the center position.
The only other true center on the roster is JaVale McGee, who ended up being much better than expected last season but should not be tabbed to play 30 minutes per game. However, since the team has depth with Kyle Kuzma, they can also afford to play Anthony Davis at the five, despite Davis’ insistence that he prefers power forward.
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Regardless of what the team does, it is undeniable that they need to add another center to the roster. Among the names of possible fits, former Laker Dwight Howard has stuck out as someone who has a mutual interest with the Lakers.
Howard, like Iguodala, is also under contract with the Memphis Grizzlies but according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Memphis would gladly work out a buyout with the veteran center. Wojnarowski also reported that Howard is set to have an individual workout with the Lakers in the near future.
Surprisingly, it appears that a good portion of the Lakers fan base is okay with this reunion, despite the mini-feud Howard had with fan-favorite Kobe Bryant. At the end of the day, the Lakers need bodies and Howard is the most talented option available. Fans understand this.
However, the role he is going to have on the Lakers should actually make it less likely that he will end up in the purple and gold. On the surface, it feels like a low-risk move as he will be on a veteran minimum deal, but that is not the case.
The problem with Howard is that everywhere he has gone there has been chaos that has followed. While he has this goofy persona in the public light, there is something behind closed doors that turned Howard from being on track to be one of the greatest centers of all time to being a minimum option for the Lakers in August.
That is the last thing this team needs considering how chaotic things have been over the last year. If Howard was set to come in and have a big role, you could swallow your pride and hope this chaos does not follow him back to LA.
But with him playing a depth role, likely behind both McGee and Davis, there really is no point to put yourself through that headache. Howard might be the most talented option available but there are several guys that can come in and play 15 minutes per game and get rebounds and protect the rim.
dark. Next. What does the future hold for DeMarcus Cousins?
All the Los Angeles Lakers really need is a competent player that can take the stress off of McGee and Davis. Howard can do that, but there is so much more that comes with him that isn’t worth the 15 minutes per game.