Lakers sign Dwight Howard

Who says you can't revisit the past?

With the loss of center DeMarcus Cousins to a season-ending knee injury, the Los Angeles Lakers were in desperate need of a cheap, serviceable big man.  A number of fading veterans were considered, but in the end the team signed Dwight Howard, their former star who controversially left the Lakers in free agency after one tumultuous season.

By adding Howard, the team will allow star Anthony Davis to play more at his preferred power forward position, while Howard mans the five.

Other players the team considered included Joakim Noah and Marcin Gortat.

Since leaving Los Angeles, Howard has burned bridges with multiple franchises and endured his share of injuries.  Perhaps that spotty track record convinced the team that Howard was facing his last chance and would be on his best behavior.

Howard appeared in nine games (all starts) with the Wizards last season, where he averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in 25.6 minutes.

When healthy, Howard can be a force on the glass and an outstanding rim protector on defense, as he enters the season ranking first among active players in career rebounds (13,184) and blocks (2,051). Howard also is a three-time Defensive Player of the Year – winning the award in consecutive seasons from 2009-11 – and has led the league in rebounds five times (2007-10, ’11-13), blocks twice (2008-10), and field goal percentage once (2009-10).

Entering his 16th NBA season, Howard owns career averages of 17.4 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks through 1,044 games (1,043 starts) with Orlando, Houston, Atlanta, Charlotte, Washington and the Lakers. He currently ranks fourth in all-time field goal percentage, converting 58.3 percent of his shots from the field (minimum 2,000 FGM).

An eight-time NBA All-Star and the 2004 first overall draft pick, Howard returns to Los Angeles after posting 17.1 points and a league-best 12.4 rebounds in 2012-13, his lone season with the team.

By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com