This past week, the Los Angeles Lakers looked to be shopping for a new man on the low block, considering what they were missing at the five spot as their newly-acquired all-star big DeMarcus Cousins reportedly ruptured his ACL in a 5v5 scrimmage in Las Vegas. So as a response, the organization invited three big men who have individually gotten their fair share of burn in the league – Joakim Noah, Mo Speights and “best center in the league” Dwight Howard – for an intricate workout and examination of who could provide the most impact in such a necessary role.
It was only a matter of time until the Lakers dwindled their search from three to one, ultimately leading up to their decision of taking a chance on a former all-star who dominated the glass and terrorized any assignment he had under the basket.
L.A. took the latter and trusted their guns in planning to re-sign Dwight Howard to a non-guaranteed contract on Friday afternoon. There are reports of Howard coming to meet with Jeanie Buss and the Lakers organization after dropping 25 pounds, with a completely healed back that practically sidelined him since November. Los Angeles has undergone the Dwight Howard experience just a little under a decade ago (which, as we all remember ended horrendously) so they were justifiably cautious to show what he has left in the tank.
It is also being reported that Howard had several meetings with other Lakers officials who are now willing to give him a second chance to show how he has matured in conducting himself. However, this non-guaranteed contract gives the Lakers leverage in their ability to cut him if he underperforms, injures his back again requiring him to sit for an extended period of time, or fails to mesh with the team’s infrastructure.
From a basketball standpoint, L.A. is now even deeper in rim protectors, with a former league MVP and elite defender in Howard likely starting, and Javale McGee coming into the second rotation. With the addition of Howard into an already threatening frontcourt scoring trio of LeBron, Anthony Davis, and a developing Kyle Kuzma, the Lakers will certainly be a hard out in the West this year.
Granted, if you account a simple eye test, you could make the very venerable case that Howard’s game – and his health – have severely deteriorated in the years after his exodus from Los Angeles. Back injuries and consecutive surgeries have made the once fun, eccentric all-star superfluous with personality into an unimpassioned role player whose reputation has turned into more of a laughing matter amongst NBA fans and the professional media, ever since he left Orlando.
Dwight wanted another chance to reset his career narrative. With the Lakers and one of his greatest foes during their duels in the East just a decade ago, he might just have the coaching expertise and assisting talent to have that chance.
How Howard Fits In The Rotation
If numbers are the single factor most considered when determining Howard’s effectiveness, it is just about a fact that he is not the player he used to be as a literal walking double-double and premier shot blocker. He only played nine games with the Washington Wizards, averaging 25.6 minutes with just a little under 13 points and 9 rebounds a game. Hence, the cue of condescending comments of “washed up” and out-of-his-prime being consistently directed at the former all-star.
Yet, with one season removed from back surgery, his first and last year with the Hornets was his best season since his Orlando days. In an averaged 30 MPG, Howard put up 17 PPG with 12.5 RPG to boot. In the span of three years, from 2016 to 2018, Howard has shot the ball at an alarming 60% from the field, mainly due to his bulk and athleticism getting him looks under the basket.
Of course, there is a calculated risk of Howard reinjuring himself, but if he is able to play out the entire season, the Lakers will not only have a healthy roster but another body to crash boards, put back misses, run the floor to get deep positioning early on matchups in transition, and be a consistent screen setter.
The best thing about the Howard signing? The former all-star does not have to perform like an all-star as he did with the rosters he was previously on. Dwight may have toiled away in obscurity among other locations like Atlanta and Brooklyn, but there are certain things he can do to benefit LeBron’s journey to a fourth ring.
Howard doesn’t need to be a superstar on a team that already features LeBron James and Anthony Davis. He doesn’t need to be a prolific scorer with Kyle Kuzma. When LeBron sits, Lakers guard Rajon Rondo will facilitate the offense when Howard is on the floor, making pick and roll sets that much more malleable into the system.
And when it comes to spacing the floor, the roster already boasts a bevy of promising shooters like the two-time champion and new Lakers shooting guard Danny Green. The Lakers just need the 33-year-old to do the literal bare minimum for trip No. 2 to Tinseltown to go swimmingly.
What Dwight Cannot Do As A Laker
As the NBA has transitioned into a positionless, pace and space, “stretch big”-abundant league, the old-school center position has undoubtedly altered itself with players experiencing different positions, practicing and excelling in different offensive skill sets that involve cutting, putting the ball on the floor and being a volume shooter off the catch and dribble. Centers and hybrid 4s are coming into today’s game with the defensive extensiveness to get stops against all ballhandlers (whether on the perimeter or inside the paint) on the floor when switched onto them.
Therefore, we are seemingly saying goodbye to the old-fashioned back-to-the-basket center whose footwork, off-ball technique and versatility are minuscule in comparison to the average center or power forward.
It is practically a formality that today’s big man must have an established jumper off the pick and pop and be equally effective as a fade and roll man. Dwight, unfortunately, is the last of a dying breed, as his failing health mixed and inability to utilize his power moves inside the key have made it simple for executives across the league to write him off.
In order to counter that, Dwight must play to his strengths if he is to remain on an NBA roster. Using his pliability and natural strength to set solid screens and cut to the basket off pindown sets will work, without a doubt. He has enough floor spacing to do that. On defense, Dwight is still a decent shot blocker. His blocks per game (BPG) numbers have been consistent his entire career with two per game and in just a two-year span, he averaged a block a game.
What will not work anymore, is for Dwight to take up space on the low block and isolate. He showed that he was still able to face up down low and get to the basket, primarily off the dribble.
The hook shot may fall when gifted the opportunity to make a play but the problem is, the offense will stall out, especially when two other ball-needy low post scorers in AD and LeBron need that space to survey the defense. Defenses across the league have adapted to nearly eliminating isolation possessions, so more ball holding down low means more collapsing, bad shot selections under the bucket, and transition opportunities for other teams.
It literally took the Lakers to sign LeBron James and Anthony Davis, a league-wide tour, the reinjury of another all-star big and a buyout of a contract to bring him back to the purple and gold. If he is to solidify his role as a veteran and do what he is supposed to do, this will be the site of his first successful season since 2009.
Dwight’s return from his fall from grace, and reacquisition of his lovable reputation, will all be worth it.
