1. Dwight Howard
The Los Angeles Lakers signed Dwight Howard to a one-year, non-guaranteed contract prior to the season after DeMarcus Cousins tore his ACL in a Las Vegas workout. The move was ridiculed by NBA fans and analysts alike and while most fans were optimistic in Howard, there were Laker fans that were not as welcoming.
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Howard’s first tenure in LA did not go as planned. At the time, he was still viewed as one of the five best players in the league and his addition to the Lakers should have made the team an NBA TItle contender.
While it was not all his fault, as Steve Nash did not pan out, either, Howard did not play great in LA, did not have the best relationship with Kobe Bryant and while anything could have happened if Bryant stayed healthy, the team vastly underperformed and was a low seed in the playoffs.
Howard then bounced from team to team and it appeared that his Hall of Fame-caliber career was coming to an end. He appeared to be more of a nuisance in the lockerroom with not enough production, and no team was picking up the veteran big man.
Then the stars aligned for him to return to LA and he has shattered all expectations. He has not been the most prolific player and is actually averaging career lows in points and rebounds, but that is what has made him so great for the Lakers this season.
He has gracefully taken a reduced role with the Lakers, has come up big when the team has needed him to and has not been a distraction in the slightest. He re-invented his career as a veteran big man on a contending team and after such a good showing this season, he deserves at least another one-year contract with the Lakers.
And for Howard, it makes sense to return to LA, even if they could only offer him a veteran minimum contract and other teams offer him slightly more. He has already played for his fair share of mediocre teams and at this point in his career, should be ring chasing and playing for a legitimate contender.
The style fit is great for Howard and he has re-found his footing in the NBA. To leave that for slightly more money, while I cannot speak on anyone else’s finances, would be an interesting move, to say the least.
JaVale McGee is the only center locked on the roster for 2020-2021, assuming he does not opt-out with his player option. The Los Angeles Lakers need to maintain that center depth, so it is best to simply re-sign the guy who shocked the league this year.
Percent chance of re-signing: 85%