The Los Angeles Lakers are in big trouble if Dwight Howard opts out

Ivica Zubac was a Los Angeles Lakers castoff. Dwight Howard made the decision look good.

Remember last year when Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka were a laughingstock for trading Ivica Zubac and Michael Beasley to the Clippers for Mike Muscala? Like literally? According to Dave McMenamin of ESPN, Jerry West and the Clippers brass were laughing it up.

"“Shortly after the trade deadline, Clippers consultant Jerry West—who spent more than 40 years with the Lakers as a player, coach and executive—got together for dinner with old friends who also had former Laker ties, sources said. He couldn’t believe how Zubac fell into his lap. The Clippers, sources said, never even called the Lakers to inquire about Zubac. The Lakers made the offer and the Clippers gladly accepted. “Sources said those at the dinner table shared a hearty laugh at the Lakers’ expense.”"

The Clippers eventually gave Zubac a four-year, $28 million dollar contract while the Lakers got the bargain of the year signing Dwight Howard to a make good, unguaranteed minimum veterans’ deal.

Then the number comparisons have the Los Angeles Lakers doing the laughing. Now and in the future with salary flexibility.

Howard out-rebounds Zubac (7.4 to 7.2) while almost matching him in scoring (7.5 to 8.0) in three less minutes a game. While Dwight Howard finishes games in crunch time, Doc Rivers has found himself frustrated trying to find Zubac minutes on the floor much less running with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.

Bottom line, the Los Angeles Clippers do not have a big man on the roster that can do this.

https://twitter.com/Lakers/status/1207119288626114560

Plus. the Clippers do not have the biggest collection of front line talent that the Lakers have potentially with Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee and Dwight Howard.

Let’s look at the other half of Frank Vogel’s center tag team.