Los Angeles Lakers: Dwight Howard is open to a return

If Dwight Howard gets bought out, he would be open to a reunion with the Los Angeles Lakers.

If Dwight Howard gets bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies and becomes a free agent, he told the Los Angeles Times that he would consider joining the Los Angeles Lakers or the Los Angeles Clippers. Everyone would want to play in Los Angeles, and live in Los Angeles, but would the Lakers want Dwight Howard back, after the 2012-2013 season?

Dwight Howard was teammates with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Metta World Peace, and Steve Nash. The Lakers did make the playoffs that season, but at what cost? Kobe Bryant was playing 48-minutes per game down the stretch to push the Lakers to the playoffs. On April 13, 2013, the Lakers were playing at home against the Golden State Warriors.

The Lakers were down 109-107 with three minutes and eight seconds remaining, Kobe Bryant tore his Achilles while trying to drive in and score. He knocked down both free throws, walked to the locker room, and after that, Dwight Howard, and Pau Gasol had to lead the Lakers in the playoffs. They made the playoffs as a seventh seed and were matched up against the San Antonio Spurs. The Lakers got swept by the Spurs and were eliminated from the playoffs.

After all that Kobe did to will his team into the playoffs, Dwight Howard had a sour relationship with him. Rob Pelinka was Kobe Bryant’s agent, and I don’t think he would want to sign Dwight Howard after all that transpired in the past. Here’s what Howard said to Arash Markazi of The LA Times. 

"“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do love L.A. Staples Center is going to be rocking this season. When I played there, it was rocking every night. The atmosphere is crazy, not just for the Lakers but the Clippers too. I just think all the hard work they’ve put in is paying off now. They’ve always been viewed as the Lakers’ little brother, but they decided to stand out and be different, and you have to thank guys like Blake Griffin, DeAndre Jordan and Chris Paul for laying the foundation for this team, and then what Doc [Rivers] has done has been great. This is just all that hard work paying off.”"

The Clippers may have interest in Dwight Howard, but I can’t say the same about the Lakers. Howard played with the Lakers seven years ago, during the 2012-2013 season. His stats may have looked exceptional, averaging 17.1 points, on 57.8% shooting,12.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 2.4 blocks per game, but his attitude and locker room presence was not needed. By that, I mean he was not working hard. He had problems with teammates, including Kobe Bryant, and it was not a difficult decision to let Howard walk after one year in Los Angeles. There is a reason he’s been traded seven times since 2016.

"Dwight said, “It just wasn’t the right fit for me at the time. But the Lakers have been doing something right for a long time because they have the most fans in the world and the most championships over the past 40 years. You’re not going to win a championship every year, but they’re back and will compete for a championship next season.”"

It was not the right fit for him at the time with the Lakers, and it is not the right fit for him this time either. The Lakers already have DeMarcus Cousins, JaVale McGee, and potentially Anthony Davis playing at center sometimes as well. Also, they have a young talent in the G League named Devontae Cacok. The Lakers shouldn’t even consider Dwight Howard at this point. He just won’t fit in any rotation for them. The Clippers would be a better fit for him.

The Lakers have many personalities in the locker room from Jared Dudley to DeMarcus Cousins, but they will all co-exist. It seems that the Lakers have a strong bond with each other already.

The Lakers have one more roster spot to fill, but they may wait until a player is bought out or sign a 3-and-D type player. Whoever the Lakers will look to sign, it will likely not be Dwight Howard. Lakers need a player such as Andre Iguodala or Kyle Korver.

It’s safe to say that we will not see any Laker Dwight Howard billboards in Los Angeles.