Veteran center Dwight Howard didn’t manage to land a deal with the Golden State Warriors for the 2023-24 NBA season. The Warriors brought the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a workout earlier this week but opted against signing him.

According to NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Warriors were pleased with Howard during his two-day visit but decided to keep roster flexibility entering the training camp.

Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021–22 season when he averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 60 games with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 37-year-old then spent a year in Taiwan with the Taoyuan Leopards, where he won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Howard reportedly intends to explore his opportunities with other teams, although a chance of the eight-time All-Star signing with the Warriors at a later date still exists.

The Golden State Warriors will move forward with Kevon Looney as their starting center and Draymond Green as center in small-ball lineups. The Warriors also have rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis and two-way player Usman Garuba as depth pieces at the position. The belief is that the front office is comfortable with their frontcourt and will instead look to upgrade at the wing position. 

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Dwight Howard returned to the Los Angeles Lakers after one year with the Philadelphia 76ers but found a lot of new faces in the locker room compared to the team he won the NBA title with in 2019-20. And there was one new teammate that Howard was especially glad to see there.

During a recent chat with the reporters, Howard said that he is particularly excited to share the floor with superstar Russell Westbrook. The latter joined the Lakers in a blockbuster trade from the Washington Wizards in the summer. The veteran big men even called the opportunity to play with Westbrook “a dream come true.”

“Russ, watched him play for a very long time…This guy averages triple-doubles, so it’s like, he loves to pass the ball,” Howard said. “And I watched him in the playoffs last year when we played him, the big men were eating. So when they see Russ was coming to L.A., I said, ‘Oh man, dream come true.'”

Howard and Westbrook previously played together for USA Basketball but were mostly going head to head throughout their NBA careers. Their most recent clash was the Eastern Conference first-round that ended with Howard and his 76ers getting the better of Westbrook and the Wizards.

It isn’t surprising to see Howard gushing about pairing with Westbrook considering he had his worst career-year in Philly in 2020-21. The 35-year-old veteran finished the regular season averaging career-low 7.0 points alongside 8.4 rebounds.

The post Dwight Howard on Playing with Russell Westbrook: “Oh Man, Dream Come True” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that Los Angeles Lakers will have center Dwight Howard for the NBA season resume after all. In a recent appearance on CNN, Howard said that he’ll make the trip with the team to Orlando while pleading to donate his salary to charities.

Howard was one of the players who were vocal in their disagreement when the NBA first presented its plan to restart the season. The 34-year-old center openly questioned return to basketball in the midst of coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing battle and protests against social injustice, while hinting that he doesn’t want to play in 2019/20 anymore.

However, it appears that Howard changed his mind in the meantime.

“Yes, I will be joining my team in Orlando,” Howard said when asked about his participation in the NBA season resume.

However, Howard decided to donate all of his remaining salary, around $700K, to charity organization Breathe Again that he started back in 2015.

“I have a contractual obligation to my teammates, to my fans, the Lakers, the organization, and everyone, but at the same time, I also have an obligation to my family and to my community,” he added. “We will be getting a lot of work done here in Atlanta and around the nation as far as making sure people don’t forget about us and what’s going on in our communities.”

Having Dwight Howard in Orlando will make a big difference for Lakers, who are NBA title favorites this year. Howard was instrumental in the team’s success during the regular season, providing stability in the defense while contributing with 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

The post Lakers’ Dwight Howard to Take Part in NBA Restart, Will Donate His Salary appeared first on SportzBonanza.

In recent weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers’ center Dwight Howard openly opposed NBA’s plan to resume the 2019/20 season amid the coronavirus pandemic and current social justice protest across the United States. However, Lakers are still hoping that Howard could end up deciding to join them in Orlando.

During a recent video call with reporters, Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel said that the team decided not to look for a replacement for Howard and will keep the 34-year-old center on their travel list.

“We’ve been in communication with Dwight the whole way with supportive phone calls and text messages,” said Vogel. “We don’t know what the level of participation is going to be yet. He wants to play. We’re hopeful that he’s able to join us.”

The reason why Lakers are taking the risk of not having a substitute player is that Howard emerged as a valuable contributor for the team this year. He established himself as a strong presence on the defense while averaging 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game before the season was suspended due to the pandemic.

Reportedly, Howard himself remains undecided about whether to take part in the NBA restart or not.

LA Lakers previously lost starting guard Avery Bradley, who decided to sit out the rest of the season due to family reasons. Lakers ended up signing free agent JR Smith as his replacement.

The post Lakers “Hopeful” They’ll Have Dwight Howard For NBA Restart appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Upon joining the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard asked the team for a non-guaranteed contract. The word is that Howard wanted to prove his worth and show the commitment to the organization. Well, it seems like he did both.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Lakers will make Howard’s veteran’s minimum deal fully guaranteed, keeping the 34-year-old on the roster for the rest of the season.

This seems like a no-brainer, especially considering how Howard has been playing in 2019/20. He has been one of Lakers’ key contributors from the bench, averaging 7.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He has also been a significant defensive presence, which greatly helped Lakers remain the top seed in the Western Conference.

Entering this season, Dwight Howard was considered to be a toxic locker room presence and tough player to play with. He was on three teams in three years, failing to adapt to the modern NBA and sacrifice some of his game for the greater good. Still, after Washington Wizards traded him to Memphis Grizzlies, who then released him, Howard knew he has to change his approach in order to remain in the league.

Lakers initially didn’t have an interest in Howard, but after DeMarcus Cousins’ injury, they decided to take a gamble. And, so far, it’s turned out to be a good decision.

The post Dwight Howard’s Deal With Lakers to Become Guaranteed appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After DeMarcus Cousins suffered a potentially season-ending injury, Los Angeles Lakers are forced to look for alternative solutions at the center position. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Lakers are set to work out former All-Star centers Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah.

Lakers invited Howard and Noah to come for individual workouts this week in Los Angeles, where they could also be joined by veteran Mo Speights. Another option that the team considers is former Washington Wizards’ player Marcin Gortat.

Howard, who was already a member of the Lakers back in 2012, is currently under contract with Memphis Grizzlies, but that reportedly shouldn’t be an issue. Grizzlies are willing to allow the 33-year-old to find another landing spot in NBA and join a contender despite the fact that his expiring deal might be a trade asset.

Noah is currently a free agent and is believed to be another enticing option for the Lakers. He spent the previous season with Memphis, averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Speights and Gortat, on the other hand, are not believed to have much chance of landing a roster spot, but Lakers want to have backup options.

With Cousins out, Lakers are now left only with JaVale McGee at the center position. They can also use Anthony Davis, but prefer that the 26-year-old All-Star spends the majority of his minutes as a power forward.

The post Lakers to Work Out Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah Among other Centers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After playing just nine games with the Washington Wizards this past season due to a back injury, Dwight Howard is hoping that he will bounce back next season and show he still has a place in NBA. And he wouldn’t mind doing that in Los Angeles.

Wizards traded Howard to Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, but he is expected to be waived soon as he doesn’t fit with the team’s inexperience and young roster. When asked by the Los Angeles Times about his next destination, the 33-year-old center said he is open to signing with Los Angeles Lakers or LA Clippers.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do love L.A.,” – said Howard. “Staples Center is going to be rocking this season. When I played there, it was rocking every night.”

Howard already played in the Lakers’ jersey back in 2012/13 but his pairing with aging Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant didn’t end up well and he left the team after just one year. Despite the short and unsuccessful stint, however, the eight times All-Star thinks highly about Lakers.

“It just wasn’t the right fit for me at the time,” – he added. “But the Lakers have been doing something right for a long time because they have the most fans in the world and the most championships over the past 40 years. You’re not going to win a championship every year, but they’re back and will compete for a championship next season.”

After leaving the Lakers, Dwight Howard spent time with Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets. He never managed, however, to get back on the same level of play he had with Orlando Magic early in his career.

Howard’s NBA career averages include 17.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.

The post Dwight Howard Would Consider Playing with Lakers or Clippers Next Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Washington Wizards’ Dwight Howard is expected to undergo a surgery that will correct a persistent gluteal injury that has kept him sidelined for the better part of this season, league sources revealed on Friday.

The three-time NBA defensive player of the year has only played nine games this season as a result of the gluteal injury. On Friday, Chris Hayne of Yahoo Sports reported Howard had seen a nerve specialist in Los Angeles that advised him to undergo the surgery.

While nursing his injury, Howard has averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in a Wizards team that is struggling overall. However, the 32-year-old has been one of the most reliable players in the league for more than a decade. Since his debut in 2004, Howard has played less than 70 games in an NBA season only once.

Howard started the 2018-19 season on a disappointing note, missing the first few games with an injury that causes him pain when he is seated. Other than this year, the 32-year-old has been limited by injuries only twice, in the 2012-13 season and the 2014-15 season.

His great form has kept him in the Wizards starting line up throughout his contract, including playing 81 games last season. His career average is 17.4 points and 12.6 rebounds and was the No.1 draft pick in 2004.

The post Wizards’ Dwight Howard Expected to Undergo Gluteal Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Veteran center Dwight Howard didn’t manage to land a deal with the Golden State Warriors for the 2023-24 NBA season. The Warriors brought the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year for a workout earlier this week but opted against signing him.

According to NBA Insider Shams Charania, the Warriors were pleased with Howard during his two-day visit but decided to keep roster flexibility entering the training camp.

Howard last played in the NBA during the 2021–22 season when he averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds in 60 games with the Los Angeles Lakers. The 37-year-old then spent a year in Taiwan with the Taoyuan Leopards, where he won the MVP and Defensive Player of the Year honors.

Howard reportedly intends to explore his opportunities with other teams, although a chance of the eight-time All-Star signing with the Warriors at a later date still exists.

The Golden State Warriors will move forward with Kevon Looney as their starting center and Draymond Green as center in small-ball lineups. The Warriors also have rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis and two-way player Usman Garuba as depth pieces at the position. The belief is that the front office is comfortable with their frontcourt and will instead look to upgrade at the wing position. 

The post Warriors Opt Against Signing Dwight Howard to a Deal appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Dwight Howard returned to the Los Angeles Lakers after one year with the Philadelphia 76ers but found a lot of new faces in the locker room compared to the team he won the NBA title with in 2019-20. And there was one new teammate that Howard was especially glad to see there.

During a recent chat with the reporters, Howard said that he is particularly excited to share the floor with superstar Russell Westbrook. The latter joined the Lakers in a blockbuster trade from the Washington Wizards in the summer. The veteran big men even called the opportunity to play with Westbrook “a dream come true.”

“Russ, watched him play for a very long time…This guy averages triple-doubles, so it’s like, he loves to pass the ball,” Howard said. “And I watched him in the playoffs last year when we played him, the big men were eating. So when they see Russ was coming to L.A., I said, ‘Oh man, dream come true.'”

Howard and Westbrook previously played together for USA Basketball but were mostly going head to head throughout their NBA careers. Their most recent clash was the Eastern Conference first-round that ended with Howard and his 76ers getting the better of Westbrook and the Wizards.

It isn’t surprising to see Howard gushing about pairing with Westbrook considering he had his worst career-year in Philly in 2020-21. The 35-year-old veteran finished the regular season averaging career-low 7.0 points alongside 8.4 rebounds.

The post Dwight Howard on Playing with Russell Westbrook: “Oh Man, Dream Come True” appeared first on SportzBonanza.

It appears that Los Angeles Lakers will have center Dwight Howard for the NBA season resume after all. In a recent appearance on CNN, Howard said that he’ll make the trip with the team to Orlando while pleading to donate his salary to charities.

Howard was one of the players who were vocal in their disagreement when the NBA first presented its plan to restart the season. The 34-year-old center openly questioned return to basketball in the midst of coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing battle and protests against social injustice, while hinting that he doesn’t want to play in 2019/20 anymore.

However, it appears that Howard changed his mind in the meantime.

“Yes, I will be joining my team in Orlando,” Howard said when asked about his participation in the NBA season resume.

However, Howard decided to donate all of his remaining salary, around $700K, to charity organization Breathe Again that he started back in 2015.

“I have a contractual obligation to my teammates, to my fans, the Lakers, the organization, and everyone, but at the same time, I also have an obligation to my family and to my community,” he added. “We will be getting a lot of work done here in Atlanta and around the nation as far as making sure people don’t forget about us and what’s going on in our communities.”

Having Dwight Howard in Orlando will make a big difference for Lakers, who are NBA title favorites this year. Howard was instrumental in the team’s success during the regular season, providing stability in the defense while contributing with 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game.

The post Lakers’ Dwight Howard to Take Part in NBA Restart, Will Donate His Salary appeared first on SportzBonanza.

In recent weeks, the Los Angeles Lakers’ center Dwight Howard openly opposed NBA’s plan to resume the 2019/20 season amid the coronavirus pandemic and current social justice protest across the United States. However, Lakers are still hoping that Howard could end up deciding to join them in Orlando.

During a recent video call with reporters, Lakers’ head coach Frank Vogel said that the team decided not to look for a replacement for Howard and will keep the 34-year-old center on their travel list.

“We’ve been in communication with Dwight the whole way with supportive phone calls and text messages,” said Vogel. “We don’t know what the level of participation is going to be yet. He wants to play. We’re hopeful that he’s able to join us.”

The reason why Lakers are taking the risk of not having a substitute player is that Howard emerged as a valuable contributor for the team this year. He established himself as a strong presence on the defense while averaging 7.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game before the season was suspended due to the pandemic.

Reportedly, Howard himself remains undecided about whether to take part in the NBA restart or not.

LA Lakers previously lost starting guard Avery Bradley, who decided to sit out the rest of the season due to family reasons. Lakers ended up signing free agent JR Smith as his replacement.

The post Lakers “Hopeful” They’ll Have Dwight Howard For NBA Restart appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Upon joining the Los Angeles Lakers this offseason, eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard asked the team for a non-guaranteed contract. The word is that Howard wanted to prove his worth and show the commitment to the organization. Well, it seems like he did both.

According to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, Lakers will make Howard’s veteran’s minimum deal fully guaranteed, keeping the 34-year-old on the roster for the rest of the season.

This seems like a no-brainer, especially considering how Howard has been playing in 2019/20. He has been one of Lakers’ key contributors from the bench, averaging 7.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. He has also been a significant defensive presence, which greatly helped Lakers remain the top seed in the Western Conference.

Entering this season, Dwight Howard was considered to be a toxic locker room presence and tough player to play with. He was on three teams in three years, failing to adapt to the modern NBA and sacrifice some of his game for the greater good. Still, after Washington Wizards traded him to Memphis Grizzlies, who then released him, Howard knew he has to change his approach in order to remain in the league.

Lakers initially didn’t have an interest in Howard, but after DeMarcus Cousins’ injury, they decided to take a gamble. And, so far, it’s turned out to be a good decision.

The post Dwight Howard’s Deal With Lakers to Become Guaranteed appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After DeMarcus Cousins suffered a potentially season-ending injury, Los Angeles Lakers are forced to look for alternative solutions at the center position. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Lakers are set to work out former All-Star centers Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah.

Lakers invited Howard and Noah to come for individual workouts this week in Los Angeles, where they could also be joined by veteran Mo Speights. Another option that the team considers is former Washington Wizards’ player Marcin Gortat.

Howard, who was already a member of the Lakers back in 2012, is currently under contract with Memphis Grizzlies, but that reportedly shouldn’t be an issue. Grizzlies are willing to allow the 33-year-old to find another landing spot in NBA and join a contender despite the fact that his expiring deal might be a trade asset.

Noah is currently a free agent and is believed to be another enticing option for the Lakers. He spent the previous season with Memphis, averaging 7.1 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

Speights and Gortat, on the other hand, are not believed to have much chance of landing a roster spot, but Lakers want to have backup options.

With Cousins out, Lakers are now left only with JaVale McGee at the center position. They can also use Anthony Davis, but prefer that the 26-year-old All-Star spends the majority of his minutes as a power forward.

The post Lakers to Work Out Dwight Howard and Joakim Noah Among other Centers appeared first on SportzBonanza.

After playing just nine games with the Washington Wizards this past season due to a back injury, Dwight Howard is hoping that he will bounce back next season and show he still has a place in NBA. And he wouldn’t mind doing that in Los Angeles.

Wizards traded Howard to Memphis Grizzlies this offseason, but he is expected to be waived soon as he doesn’t fit with the team’s inexperience and young roster. When asked by the Los Angeles Times about his next destination, the 33-year-old center said he is open to signing with Los Angeles Lakers or LA Clippers.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I do love L.A.,” – said Howard. “Staples Center is going to be rocking this season. When I played there, it was rocking every night.”

Howard already played in the Lakers’ jersey back in 2012/13 but his pairing with aging Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant didn’t end up well and he left the team after just one year. Despite the short and unsuccessful stint, however, the eight times All-Star thinks highly about Lakers.

“It just wasn’t the right fit for me at the time,” – he added. “But the Lakers have been doing something right for a long time because they have the most fans in the world and the most championships over the past 40 years. You’re not going to win a championship every year, but they’re back and will compete for a championship next season.”

After leaving the Lakers, Dwight Howard spent time with Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, and Charlotte Hornets. He never managed, however, to get back on the same level of play he had with Orlando Magic early in his career.

Howard’s NBA career averages include 17.4 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game.

The post Dwight Howard Would Consider Playing with Lakers or Clippers Next Season appeared first on SportzBonanza.

Washington Wizards’ Dwight Howard is expected to undergo a surgery that will correct a persistent gluteal injury that has kept him sidelined for the better part of this season, league sources revealed on Friday.

The three-time NBA defensive player of the year has only played nine games this season as a result of the gluteal injury. On Friday, Chris Hayne of Yahoo Sports reported Howard had seen a nerve specialist in Los Angeles that advised him to undergo the surgery.

While nursing his injury, Howard has averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds in a Wizards team that is struggling overall. However, the 32-year-old has been one of the most reliable players in the league for more than a decade. Since his debut in 2004, Howard has played less than 70 games in an NBA season only once.

Howard started the 2018-19 season on a disappointing note, missing the first few games with an injury that causes him pain when he is seated. Other than this year, the 32-year-old has been limited by injuries only twice, in the 2012-13 season and the 2014-15 season.

His great form has kept him in the Wizards starting line up throughout his contract, including playing 81 games last season. His career average is 17.4 points and 12.6 rebounds and was the No.1 draft pick in 2004.

The post Wizards’ Dwight Howard Expected to Undergo Gluteal Surgery appeared first on SportzBonanza.