For the second time in his career, Dwight Howard will become an LA Laker. Howard and his team are finalizing a deal that will bring back the one-time All-Star back to Los Angels. The veteran big man plans to sign a one-year, $2.6 million deal with the Lakers after finalizing a contract buyout with the Memphis. Lakers welcome back Dwight Howard.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Howard gave up $2.6 million of his $5.6 million guaranteed salary to Memphis in the buyout. He can earn that amount back if he’s still on the Lakers’ roster past early January. The fact it is dependent on him being there in January would seem it is not a guarantee he will be with the team the entire year.
Dwight’s History With LA
The last time Dwight Howard was in a Laker uniform he had just forced a trade from the Orlando Magic. After a bitter divorce with the Magic, he got his wish and was paired alongside Kobe Bryant. It did not take long though before He had overstayed his welcome as his relationship with Bryant was rocky at best.
He was not happy with the way the team was using him which led to him and Bryant being at odds with each other. Subsequently, He did not step up and perform after Kobe got injured that. They felt for the money they had paid him but they did not receive value in return. Dwight never got to the level of play in LA that made him an All-Star in Orlando. After one year Howard left for a Max deal with the Houston Rockets. Thus this second coming for Howard leaves Laker fans not so hyped and wanting him to prove himself.
He will back up Javale McGee who moved into the starting role due to DeMarcus cousins going down with an ACL. Will the second time around be different for Howard? Does he still have enough game to help a team that some think will contend for a title? All questions that will need to be answered. But for now, Lakers welcome back Dwight Howard.
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