Dwight Howard Comes Back to the Los Angeles Lakers

The news of the day in the NBA is Dwight Howard’s comeback to the Los Angeles Lakers. According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Howard and the Lakers agreed to terms, and the big fella will try to help the Lakers in their title quest.

“Dwight Howard’s deal with the Lakers will be non-guaranteed, league source tells ESPN. Howard had several meetings with Lakers officials, and they’ll give him a chance to show he’s made changes in how he conducts himself. Lakers players were involved in process,” Woj wrote on his Twitter account.

The second part of his tweet meant that Howard voluntarily came to the Lakers, and tried to persuade the organization and the team that he is ready to put his personal interests aside and help the team. That wasn’t always the situation with the Superman who was often in the middle of scandals and was creating bad chemistry in the locker room.

Lakers are entering a Howard partnership with caution. For years, he's talked about making changes in how he interacts with coaches and teammates. He's still saying those things now, but the ability to cut him without cost keeps leverage with organization. https://t.co/Q7i5NcAtJA

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 23, 2019

The deal signed with the purple and gold is not guaranteed, and the franchise has a right to cut Howard before January 7 without any obligations or expenses towards the player.

Wojnarowski also revealed that the former No.1 pick from 2004 NBA draft worked hard on his body throughout the summer and that he showed all the valid medical results about his overall health condition. It seems that he finally realized that his career might end without having won a championship, despite him being one of the most dominant centers of all times.

“Howard came to meet Lakers after dropping 25 pounds; showed his back was healthy. Lakers want him to protect rim/rebound in limited role. There was sense Howard realized he hit “rock bottom” and had been humbled. Still, they’ll judge him on actions, not words. He’s been warned.”

Howard came to meet Lakers after dropping 25 pounds; showed his back was healthy. Lakers want him to protect rim/rebound in limited role. There was sense Howard realized he hit "rock bottom" and had been humbled. Still they'll judge him on actions, not words. He's been warned.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) August 23, 2019

After DeMarcus Cousins’ torn ACL, Rob Pelinka and the executives had to find a decent replacement. Along with Howard, Joakim Noah also came for a workout with the LAL but didn’t pass the test.

Following the first 8 years in the league spent with the Orlando Magic, where he played one NBA finals against the Lakers, Howard came to LA in 2012. But he stayed for only one year, after he and Kobe Bryant couldn’t work together. After that season, Superman spent three more in Houston, and becoming a journeyman afterward, changing three more teams, Atlanta, Charlotte, and Wahington. The Wizards have traded him to Memphis on July 6 this year, but Howard agreed to make a contract buyout with the Grizzlies due to his successful workout with LAL.

He is an 8-time All-Star, 5-time All-NBA First-Team and 8-time All NBA. Howard established himself as one of the best defenders in history. He was named three times the Defensive Player of the Year, and currently is the active player with the most double-doubles. Five-time rebounding leader and two-time top blocker of the league will no doubt be one of the cornerstones of the Lakers’ defense in the upcoming campaign.

Though his stats are not as fantastic as before, he could still contribute a lot on the court. He played only 9 games for the Wizards in the last season, averaging 12.8 points and 9.2 boards. But his season before that when he was with the Hornets looked solid – 16.6 points and 12.5 boards.

In 1035 games played, Superman posted 17.4 points and had 12.7 rebounds per night, with 2 blocks.

It is up to him now to show that he can still be of value.