Los Angeles Lakers: Free agents to replace Dwight Howard if he leaves
By Jason Reed
Dwight Howard could leave the Los Angeles Lakers in the offseason.
Oh, how a season can change the perspective of one player. After it was announced that DeMarcus Cousins would likely miss all of the 2019-20 season, the Los Angeles Lakers were in a scramble drill to find a new center.
There was only one big-name left available and that was Dwight Howard, who the team signed to a non-guaranteed one-year deal. Many criticized the move and doubted what Howard could bring to the table, and rightfully so.
However, Howard has since proved all of those naysayers wrong and has been a legitimate contributor to a first-place Los Angeles Lakers team.
Howard is averaging just 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game but he is doing so in 18.9 minutes per game. He has been wildly efficient for the Lakers this season and has proved that he can still be a big contributor for a contending team.
This is the kind of season that raises the value of a player and could draw in more suitors in free agency. As a result, Howard potentially may have more options in free agency, which could lead to him leaving LA.
JaVale McGee has a player option but even if he comes back next season the team is going to need to add some sort of center in the offseason. Here are the potential free-agent options if the Lakers went that route in replacing Howard.