One word to describe every player on the Los Angeles Lakers this season

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Anthony Davis #3, Russell Westbrook #0, and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter of the game at Target Center on December 17, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 110-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 17: (L-R) Anthony Davis #3, Russell Westbrook #0, and LeBron James #6 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the third quarter of the game at Target Center on December 17, 2021 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Lakers 110-92. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
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(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers
(Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers

Dwight Howard: Afterthought

Dwight Howard has had moments this season where he has played some solid basketball and it seems like the Lakers are underutilizing him. He has also had moments (like against the Clippers) where he played really poorly and showed by he is not being utilized very much.

When it comes to being a traditional, rim-protecting and rebounding center, Howard is one of the best in the league. I would still take him over the likes of DeAndre Jordan (obviously), JaVale McGee, DeAndre Jordan, Robin Lopez, and others.

The problem is that job has never been less important in the NBA. However, because the Lakers have a superstar who should be a center but doesn’t like playing center, the team was forced to bring in two of these players to play this role and then early in the season played the wrong guy.

Howard was an afterthought behind Jordan then and he is still an afterthought now. It is really hard to play him next to Anthony Davis with the way Davis’s jump shot has been this season and it is borderline impossible to play him with Russell Westbrook because of the floor spacing.

It really is not Howard’s fault, either.