Lakers should seriously consider a reunion with Dwight Howard

It is safe to say the Los Angeles Lakers did not meet people’s expectations this year. Given that they got knocked out in the first round by the Phoenix Suns, the Lakers are aching to accomplish something greater during the 2021-22 campaign.

One area where the team could use a significant boost is at the center position. Albeit this did not present an issue for the Lakers throughout their title run, this past season proved to be an entirely different story.

For example, the Andre Drummond experiment did not go according to plan. While most people thought Drummond would solve the Laker’s issues in the paint, there were certain nights where Drummond failed to make his presence known.

In addition, veteran big man Marc Gasol did not exactly perform at a high level the vast majority of the time. Although Gasol relieved LeBron James of some of his passing responsibilities, it would be a stretch to say that the Spaniard was a force to be reckoned with down low. Given his age, his mobility is not the same as it once was.

Out of the Lakers’ trio of big men, Montrezl Harrell was the most impressive of the bunch. However, Harrell’s smaller 6-foot-7 frame resulted in head coach Frank Vogel leaving him out of certain rotations. This was especially the case in the playoffs, leading some to wonder whether Harrell’s diminished role meant his time with Los Angeles was coming to an end.

That all being said, the Lakers certainly have their work cut out for them this offseason. More likely than not, the squad will have void(s) to fill at the five, thus meaning they will need to explore their options.

One route the Los Angeles Lakers may want to seriously consider involves a bit of a family reunion.

To be more specific, the Los Angeles Lakers would be doing themselves a disservice if they do not at least give Dwight Howard a look in free agency.

According to a recent Instagram post from Howard, the 35-year-old is already putting work in this summer. Granted, Howard fits the mold of a more traditional center, it appears as if he is attempting to become a better outside shooter.

Time will tell whether Howard evolves into much of a threat from downtown, but one thing is for certain. His post was a definite attention-grabber, and one individual who noticed it is Jared Dudley.

Dudley could not help but comment on Howard’s post, and his message was straightforward. Dudley wrote the following to the big fella: “Time to come home!”

Quite frankly, it is hard to blame Dudley for wanting Howard back in a Lakers’ uniform. Per Mico Ong of ClutchPoints, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year was an instrumental part of the team’s championship run last season. Regardless of the fact that he is getting older, Howard was a defensive menace during his second stint with Los Angeles and that remains the same to this day due to his brute size and strength.

One perk to be mindful of with Howard is that it would not cost a pretty penny to acquire him. He is in the home stretch of his illustrious career and would presumably not ask for much more than the minimum.

As of now, it has not been made public whether Howard plans to re-sign with the Philadelphia 76ers. Akin to how things were with the Lakers, Howard excelled as a backup center for Philly. He averaged 7.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per contest for the 76ers in 2020-21.

In furtherance of that, there is another reason why the seasoned veteran is worth a gander. It is clear he has reached peace with where he is at in his career and has shown a willingness to take on a lesser role for the greater good.

Thus, while Howard is no longer an All-Star caliber player, he is the type of guy who can be a star in the role he is given. That is precisely the kind of player every championship team could use. Sacrifice is key when it comes to winning it all.

While the future is up in the air, it is worth noting what Dwight wrote for all the world to see. He was not shy in admitting he wants “a parade” and even used a couple of trophy emojis to further suggest that. Consequently, it may not be far-fetched to believe a third run with the Lakers is not totally out of the question.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, they never got to have a parade last season on account of the ongoing pandemic. Therefore, it is difficult to not speculate whether Dwight’s post is designed to be viewed in a more general nature, or if he is actually hinting at a desire to reunite with the purple and gold.

It may sound like wishful thinking on my end, but the Lakers would be doing themselves a favor if they brought him back again. Dwight Howard is still more than capable of getting the job done. He would provide the Lakers with some much-needed stability at the five, a luxury the team never quite had this year.

Without a doubt, the 17-time champions have a lot of work to do if they want to get back to the promised land. Obtaining someone who helped them win a title last season would be a huge step in the right direction.