Predicting where each Lakers free agent lands this offseason
By Jason Reed
Dwight Howard: Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have the best center in the league in two-time reigning MVP Nikola Jokic. However, they have absolutely no depth behind him as the team had to sign DeMarcus Cousins after a 10-day contract last season. Depth behind Jokic is not a huge issue, but the team still needs a traditional backup center on the roster.
Dwight Howard has bounced around from team to team and he has backed up an MVP-caliber center before. In his one season between stints with the Los Angeles Lakers he signed with the Philadelphia 76ers to backup Joel Embiid.
His role with the Nuggets would be fairly similar. He would only be asked to play around 12-15 minutes per game and would essentially be there to make sure Jokic’s limbs don’t fall off while also providing more of a “true” center presence.
Howard was good enough last season to extend his NBA career and he is going to want to sign with a contending team. A Nuggets team with a healthy Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. might be the best team in the entire conference, so they fit the contender box.
As far as the Lakers go, the team could definitely make a case to bring Howard back but there are so many quality options available for the minimum on the free-agent market. Bringing back Howard would be accepting less than what the team can actually get.