Los Angeles Lakers: Each player’s Christmas wish list

(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images)
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Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

Guarantee that contract

Dwight Howard came back to the Lakers this offseason on a non-guaranteed deal. He has played very well and now he deserves to get his contract guaranteed.

His second time around in Los Angeles has been much more pleasant. He seems to be playing rejuvenated basketball and looks to be having fun again. He is providing a spark off the bench and helping this bench unit create good results on the floor.

Howard is also motivated to continue growing his game. After a matchup with Oklahoma City last month, Howard came out and took 200 jump shots after the game. I took some video of that here.

Overall, Howard is producing a 112.3 offensive rating and a 103.9 defensive rating. The +8.5 net-rating is one of the highest of his career. He is shooting a career-high 74.3% from the floor.

To top it off he is shooting an absurd eFG% of 74.8 and a TS% of 70%, both career highs. He is proven to earn his contract to be guaranteed for the rest of the season. Keep it up and the Lakers will want to keep him around even longer.