NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard Proves Point; Will Things Change After This Season?

The Los Angeles Lakers are buzzing in the NBA trade rumor mill with general manager Rob Pelinka reportedly open to improvements. Most of the attention has been on Kyle Kuzma, overshadowing other things. That includes players like Dwight Howard who is expected to be given a guaranteed contract following his performance this season.

With the deadline to guarantee contracts fast approaching, ESPN reports that the Lakers are expected to reward the eight-time NBA All-Star by keeping him for the rest of the season. With the performance he has had, this is not really surprising.

The top pick of the 2004 NBA Draft averaged only 19.5 minutes in 36 games but has put up modest numbers. He produced 7.1 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per contest according to Basketball-Reference.com, numbers that are way below his career stats. Most know his story, how his career took a turn. But it appears the 6-foot-10 center has gotten things together.

It was not an easy road for Howard who has a history with the Lakers. Most know how he turned his back on the franchise in 2013 to join the Houston Rockets. He also had his issues with Kobe Bryant but all of that is now in the past. With his NBA career spiraling, most were apprehensive about how Howard would fit in. To the surprise of most, Howard fit in perfectly. In fact, he figured prominently in the All-Star voting of the 2020 game.

Howard’s contract is good only for this NBA season. Looking ahead, it will be interesting if the Lakers try to keep him. He will become an unrestricted free agent and there is a chance that other teams in need of a center will pursue him. Either way, Howard has proven his worth and now he can try to resume his storied NBA career at the level where it should be.

For now, his guaranteed contract raises some questions for the Lakers. Most know that the Lakers are looking for a playmaker to join the roster. The names of free agent Darren Collison and D.J. Augustine have been mentioned but nothing has gone down. But with 15 fully guaranteed contracts, Los Angeles may need to let someone go to add another guard to the lineup.