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Los Angeles Lakers: Why Amir Johnson is the best option at center

By Addam Goldman

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Amir Johnson #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense against the Indiana Pacers on March 10, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 10: Amir Johnson #5 of the Philadelphia 76ers plays defense against the Indiana Pacers on March 10, 2019 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: Dwight Howard attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JULY 10: Dwight Howard attends The 2019 ESPYs at Microsoft Theater on July 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Phillip Faraone/FilmMagic) /

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard’s been on five different teams since 2016, and he’s played for a total of eight organizations throughout his 15-year career.

Every time he’s changed locations, he’s left a wake of hatred and ill will. He doesn’t just burn bridges; instead, he pours gasoline on them and incinerates them down into nothing more than a few specks of gray ash.

Everyone in the league, from coaches, players, and scouts know that Howard is a person who always causes locker-room dissent. Throughout his career, he’s wined non-stop about not getting enough touches on the block or about having to exert too much energy on defense.

His constant chirping has built a culture of negativity during every stop he’s made on his never ending tour through the NBA. Sooner or later, his negative attitude ends up fracturing whichever team he happens to be suiting up for at the time. Thus, even though he’s been one of the most talented players in the NBA, he’s never won a championship.

Recently, there’s been one common remedy to Howard’s awful locker room presence that has been making the rounds through social media; the proposed solution is LeBron James.

Many Lakers fans believe that James will be able to corral in Dwight’s toxic personality and keep him check next season if Rob Pelinka does end up adding him to the squad. It’s possible, but Howard’s played with some of the best players to ever suit up in the NBA including Kobe Bryant and James Harden. None of them could morph Howard from a child-like complainer into a positive locker room presence.

Plus, LeBron James has better things to do than sit down with Dwight after every few games and gently explain to him why he’s not getting the six post touches per contest that he feels he deserves.

Besides Howard’s cancerous negativity, he’s injury history is also a concern. Last year, he played in only nine games before going under the knife to have spinal surgery. That wasn’t just a freak injury among a mass of healthy seasons either. Howard’s managed to play in 75 total games or more in a season only twice since he left Orlando at age 26.

Howard has more name recognition than any other center that the Lakers can sign with a minimum contract offer this late in the offseason. Once upon a time, he was the most dominating big man in the association, capable of changing the complexion of a game on defense. Even though Howard’s slowed down with age and various injuries, he can still be an impact player on defense.

With that said, he’s not worth the risk. After last season’s cultural debacle, the Lakers shouldn’t take a chance on the most prickly player in the league. Also, Howard’s injury history is a significant concern for the Purple and Gold, because after Cousins tore his ACL, the Purple and Gold are thin in the middle.

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