The Los Angeles Lakers looked to be in perfect position to compete for a title in 2025 after completing the most shocking trade in league history for Luka Dončić from the Dallas Mavericks on Feb 1.
Their potential contention was further amplified when they pulled the trigger on a deal to land Charlotte Hornets’ center Mark Williams prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline.
Unfortunately, the latter deal was later rescinded due to Williams’ failed physical, leaving the Lakers with a sizable hole at the center position.
With the Lakers now heavily lacking in the frontcourt prior to the beginning of the 2025 NBA Playoffs, the franchise’s general manager Rob Pelinka needs to assess all of his options to try and fill their Anthony Davis-sized void.
In order to do so, the team may consider adding a future Hall-of-Fame selection and NBA champion with the team in 2020, Dwight Howard.
While Howard hasn’t touched an NBA court since the 2021-22 season, it’s plausible that the former eight-time All-Star and All-NBA selection could have plenty left in the tank.
In fact, the former three-time Defensive Player of the Year winner and MVP candidate has hinted at interest in re-joining the team in recent weeks.
During the thick of NBA trade deadline rumors in late January, Howard himself took to social media to express his thoughts on the team’s well-documented search for a center.
“It ain’t that hard to find a center,” the 39-year-old Howard shared via Twitter/X on Jan. 24.
After the news of the Williams trade being rescinded by Los Angeles broke, Howard once again took to the platform, subtly showing that the team could have missed out on their shot at the legendary big.
“Too bad I’m a podcaster now,” said Howard on Feb. 8 after the conclusion of the trade deadline.
In 2019-20 with Los Angeles, Howard averaged 7.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks while shooting at an incredible 72.9% efficiency from the field in only 18.9 minutes. His efforts in limited playing time ended with a ninth-place finish in Sixth Man of the Year voting and his first NBA championship victory in the 2020 NBA Finals.
If Howard were to return and join a Lakers team headlined by two generational passers in Dončić and LeBron James, he could prove to be a massively important bench piece as a lob threat and dominant shot-blocking force.
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