Dwight Howard is planning to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after finalizing a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Howard, 33, figures to compete for vacant centre minutes made available after DeMarcus Cousins tore his ACL last week.
This latest move to L.A. marks the second stint of Howard’s career in purple and gold, after the eight-time all-star joined the franchise ahead of the 2012-13 season. The centre’s previous run with the Lakers was short lived, though, as Howard left the club following a first-round sweep at the hands of the San Antonio Spurs in the 2013 playoffs to join the Houston Rockets.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski adds that Howard’s deal is non-guaranteed, meaning the team could cut ties with him at no cost. Part of the reason for the deal being non-guaranteed appears to stem from Howard’s fallout with the Lakers the last time he was on the roster.
While on the Lakers, it was well-documented how Howard clashed with some of his Lakers teammates, most notably the now-retired Kobe Bryant.
In 2017-18, the most recent regular season he was healthy for, Howard averaged 16.6 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.6 blocks in 81 games with the Charlotte Hornets. He appeared in just nine games last season, suiting up for the Washington Wizards, and was traded to Memphis in July in exchange for C.J. Miles.
The Lakers will become the fifth team Howard has played for in the past five seasons.
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