Roundtable Discussion: Dwight Howard and the Lakers
By Jacob Rude
What’s the Lakers Plan B if Dwight Howard leaves LA this summer?
Apr 5, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers power forward Pau Gasol (16) talks to center Dwight Howard (12) during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at the Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
CC – It has to be to wait for the 2014-15 season. As I said in the last question, the Lakers are going to have a good deal of money to spend if they keep Howard. Now, if they let Howard walk, they will have even more money. Kobe will still be recovering from his injury, so the team definitely won’t be in championship contention. Do I smell a tank for Wiggins campaign coming soon?
JR – If Dwight Howard does leave this summer, the Lakers won’t need to panic. Financially, they’ll certainly be better off without his huge contract on the books and it’ll also give them more flexibility come next off-season. On the court, they will fit even better into D’Antoni’s offense. Without Dwight, Pau can move to the center position and someone like Earl Clark can play the stretch four.
SG – They have to come away with something. Power forwards are much more available this summer than centers, so I could see the Lakers moving Pau Gasol down to the 5 and sign either Paul Millsap or Josh Smith. I’ve always preferred Pau Gasol on the low block compared with the high post. It would be a bleak situation if Howard left, but the Lakers could find alternatives. The biggest issue would be defense though. I’d look for the Lakers to sign Corey Brewer as a solid defensive perimeter player to help with that issue.
BB – Plan B is probably to do as best as they can with the roster they currently have next season. That will probably lead to a 1st or maybe at best second round exit. Then again in 2014 the Lakers will have an abundance of cap space. That will be spent on whoever they see as their next franchise player, instead of players that they would try to sign to build around Howard.
FR – The Lakers only alternate plan would be to ride out the 2013-2014 season and then begin to rebuild following the season with their mountains of cap space that they’ll have available.. It would probably be a long and painful rebuilding process, acquiring modest talent in free agency and the draft.
What the Lakers must do is if they get the inkling that Howard is going to leave, they must work with team Howard and other NBA teams in a sign and trade. There was a report that the Golden State Warriors is a team that Howard would like to play for next season. Golden State is over the salary cap and unable to offer Howard anything more than their 5 million dollar exception which means they would need the Lakers to participate in a sign and trade. The Lakers must work persuading Howard to sign with the Warriors and net some of their young talent, like Harrison Barnes and/or Klay Thompson.
CL – If Dwight signs with anyone other than the Lakers, GM Mitch Kupchak will certainly have his work cut out for him. Because the Lakers are over the cap, they won’t be able to bring in anyone new this season to help out. This means the season would consist of watching Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, and a recovering Kobe Bryant try and make this team a contender. Would the Lakers consider trading Pau for cap relief and draft picks in a…gulp…attempt to tank? Next year’s draft is stacked with talent and would certainly improve the Lakers long term forecast, but it would also be an unprecedented move.