5 free-agent centers the Lakers could sign to replace Dwight Howard

By Jason Reed | May 11, 2022

TORONTO, ON - MARCH 18: Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers warms up ahead of their NBA game against the Toronto Raptors at Scotiabank Arena on March 18, 2022 in Toronto, Canada. 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 Cole Burston/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Lakers /

The center position has been a revolving door for the Los Angeles Lakers over the last several years and there is no indication that it will be any different this summer. The purple and gold entered the season with two centers in Dwight Howard and DeAndre Jordan and slowly realized that Jordan was no longer valuable as an NBA rotation player.

Howard lasted the entire season with the team and while he is fine to have in a smaller role, he is a step slower than he used to be and you cannot fault the Lakers for wanting to go a different direction at the position.

Luckily for the Lakers, center is the easiest position to add to with a minimum contract and there are plenty of options on the open market for the team to pursue. None of these options are going to significantly raise the team’s ceiling, but if the Lakers can recapture what they had during the 2019-20 season then it would be great.

There are five free-agent centers that stand out for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Most of these options, including Howard, have very similar playing styles and offer the same kind of impact on the Lakers. It is up to Rob Pelinka and the rest of the front office to decipher which of these options would provide the biggest impact.

Let’s dive into the first option, who might be the most likely because of his ties to the Los Angeles Lakers.

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