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Dwight Howard is reportedly about to become a member of the Los Angeles Lakers; again. Remember, back in 2012, the former All-Star joined the iconic franchise for a season and, well, it didn’t go as planned, with the team completely bottoming out despite heavy expectations. He clashed with then superstar Kobe Bryant. He was a distraction in the locker room. He was ejected in his final game in a Lakers uniform. Yeah, it wasn’t pretty.
Considering things flamed out the first time Howard was a Laker, it’s unsurprising that fans literally chanted “Howard sucks!” the first time he returned to Staples Center, with the big man arrogantly smiling and joining in on the cheer.
Well, everyone’s going to have to play nice now that Dwight’s back in purple and gold, so let’s strap up the chinstraps and see what kind of drama the Lakers are about to endure this upcoming season, because it could be entertaining AF — which is saying something considering last season was as dysfunctional as ever.
Although there’s potential for lots of distractions for the Lakers next season, the current roster — namely LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Rajon Rondo, among others — did their part to make sure Dwight Howard’s head is in the right spot. It’s why, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the center had an “emotional meeting” with people in the front office and a bunch of Lakers’ players, hoping that they would gain his trust prior to the team signing him.
League sources said Howard had a convincing and emotional meeting with the players and Lakers officials, explaining how he had reached rock bottom a season ago and needed to find a new mindset in his life. On and off the floor. He was not the teammate he needed to be in playing for three teams in the past three years. He did not take the game seriously enough, he did not understand what was needed to turn the corner.
The Lakers had gathered momentum in their own research into Howard over the past week, but needed the roster to be fully on board. Howard won over the players in the locker room, including (LeBron) James and (Anthony) Davis, for his approach and mindset in the visit, sources said.
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Word traveled around the roster, and Davis, Rajon Rondo and JaVale McGee spent time with Howard inside the team’s facility Thursday. They wanted to know whether they could trust Howard, whether Howard’s mindset would fit this team.
It’s a low-risk move for the Lakers to sign Howard, with ESPN reporting that the contract is only guaranteed beyond January 7, so he has to prove himself. Here are some details of the deal between the two.
The Lakers will hold the leverage on Howard, able to cut him prior to the NBA’s Jan. 7 deadline to guarantee contracts for the season without cost to the team. Howard’s arrival moves the Lakers’ roster to a full 15 players. His contract buyout with the Grizzlies — who acquired him in an offseason trade with Washington — will require him to clear waivers next week before signing with Los Angeles.
Howard surrendered $2.6 million of his $5.6 million guaranteed salary to Memphis in buyout, league sources said. He can earn back the $2.6 million on his veteran’s minimum deal with Lakers — if he survives on roster beyond Jan. 7.
The Lakers have championship aspirations this season after retooling the roster to acquire Anthony Davis from the Pelicans and rid themselves of young talent who didn’t mesh with James in his first season with the Lakers. And, to be safe, it’s smart for Dwight Howard’s new teammates to ask the former superstar to prove he can be trusted, making sure his head’s in the right place before he’s added to a team that isn’t just hoping to reach the playoffs, but that wants to hoist the Larry O’Brien Trophy.