Lakers: Should LA Even Consider Dwight Howard in Free Agency?

With the Houston Rockets on the verge of elimination, it’s only right to recall the Lakers’ short relationship with Dwight Howard

Almost three years ago to date, the Los Angeles Lakers had just been eliminated from the Playoffs, getting swept by the San Antonio Spurs who eventually went on to the Finals, falling to LeBron James and the Miami Heat.

However, it wasn’t until a couple of months later that the once proud franchise stooped to their lowest point in team history, begging Dwight Howard to stay in Los Angeles with their desperate #StayD12 campaign.

The very same Dwight Howard who gave up on the team in the elimination game of the series, getting ejected in the third quarter, yelling at Mitch Kupchak on his way out.

However, with the Houston Rockets on the verge of elimination from the playoffs and Dwight Howard’s free agency decision looming, the question must be asked, did the Lakers actually dodge a bullet by not re-signing the once perennial All-Star?

More over, should the Lakers pursue him in the upcoming offseason?

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Fans were ecstatic when the Lakers shipped ailing star, Andrew Bynum, for Dwight Howard and equally as upset when he decided to spurn LA for Houston in 2013. That said, the missed connection may have actually benefited the Purple and Gold in the long run.

Were Dwight to re-sign, the Lakers likely don’t land the seventh pick in the 2014 draft, meaning no Julius Randle and potentially no Jordan Clarkson or D’Angelo Russell, pieces widely regarded as the cornerstones of LA’s ongoing rebuild.

Further, the five year contract that the Lakers were offering Howard would have significantly reduced the amount of cap space that LA will have heading into the most consequential free agency period in recent history. Sure, it could be argued that Howard might have lured free agents to Los Angeles, but based on his current attitude on the Rockets, that’s also doubtful.

If Dwight were to somehow magically revert to his Orlando Magic playing days, his inclusion on the current Lakers’ roster would be huge — an imposing rim protector who thrives in the pick and roll paired with Russell’s willingness to pass — but in his current state, his diva like attitude would only further contribute to the already tumultuous situation in the LA locker room.

For Houston, the Dwight Howard-James Harden pairing was thought to be the move necessary for the Rockets to make the jump into playoff contention but the experiment is proving more difficult than first imagined.

Despite averaging a double-double on the season — 13.7 points, the lowest since his rookie season, and 11.8 rebounds–  his off court relationship, or lack thereof, with Harden has translated to lackadaisical play on the court.

The once adored big man who was lauded for his hard work and charming demeanor has since been reduced to a player who complains on nearly every possession, desperately trying to place the blame somewhere other than on himself.

All in all, looking at the Rockets’ current dysfunction alongside the Lakers’ chance at a complete rebuild from the ground up, at this point in their venture, Lakers fans can take solace in the fact that they may have actually dodged a bullet by missing out on Dwight in 2013.

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That said, how willing would you be to bring back Dwight Howard if you were the Lakers’ front office? Voice your opinion on the subject in the comments below.