5 Former Lakers Who Should Stop Dreaming of an NBA Return

DeMarcus Cousins

Even though Cousins never played in an NBA game for the Lakers, he should still qualify for this list. The polarizing big man signed in Los Angeles for the 2019-20 NBA season after his stint with the Warriors. The expectations were high for the Anthony Davis-Cousins reunion.

Unfortunately, this pairing was never able to take off as Cousins tore his ACL in the offseason. The Lakers had to waive him mid-season to sign Markieff Morris. Los Angeles ended up winning the title that year and presented him a championship ring after and Cousins signed with the Rockets afterwards.

Cousins recently said that he wished the Lakers kept that championship team together for longer. His career never recovered from the injuries but he is still playing overseas, spending time in Taiwan and the Philippines. At this point, however, he is unlikely to be able to contribute to an NBA team.

Dwight Howard

Howard hasn't played in the NBA since he was with the Lakers in the 2021-22 season but he has been vocal about his desire to return. The 38-year-old center has been playing overseas for the last two seasons, most recently signing with a team in Taiwan.

If Howard was any other experienced veteran, an NBA team would consider bringing him in as an end-of-the-bench option. Even Taj Gibson can find NBA deals as a 39-year-old big man. However, Dwight is far from a positive locker-room presence, making his NBA comeback unlikely.

The Lakers and Howard have a complicated relationship. The former No. 1 overall pick had three separate one-season stints with the Lakers. The first one in 2012-13 was a complete disaster. The 2019-20 was a huge success as Howard was a major contributor to the bubble championship. The 2021-22 return was less successful as the Lakers were a complete mess after the Russell Westbrook trade.