The Lakers are awaiting decisions on some of their players in regards to their player options for next season, as everyone is unsure of what Avery Bradley and JaVale McGee will do. They might decline their player options to test free agency. The Lakers’ other big man, Dwight Howard, is set to enter free agency either way. There have been previous reports of mutual interest between Howard and the Lakers, but who knows if Howard will want more money than the Lakers are willing to give him. He was extremely cheap for the Lakers last year on a non-guaranteed contract.
To add even more issues, The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor says below that he thinks Dwight Howard has some interest around the league (O’Connor was appearing on Joy Taylor’s show “Maybe I’m Crazy”).
“JaVale McGee, I’ve heard he’s probably leaving or that they just don’t want him back and with Dwight Howard, he has some interest around the league that could lure him away.”
The other day, Howard was asked whether or not he wanted to return to the Lakers in free agency this year (interview courtesy of Etan Thomas and BasketballNews.com)
My interview of #DwightHoward On The Rematch. We discussed his desire to return to the Lakers, winning a championship, ignoring haters and critics, how much he’s enjoying married life and much more. Click link below for the full interview #Lakers #NBA https://t.co/zXIDw2URpm pic.twitter.com/PbH038gdxN
— Etan Thomas (@etanthomas36) November 17, 2020
“You know, I would love to. I would love to come back and play. I think the season that we had this year was kind of like a test for us all. We were trying to learn each other, trying to figure everything out. In the process, we won a championship. I would love for all of us to come back, I would love to come back and play for the Lakers again. Hopefully, this year, they give me a contract. That’s the biggest thing. I don’t want to play for free anymore. You know this year was like “Okay, I’ll do whatever”. But I think that I’ve earned a right to have an opinion on a contract for myself, so that’s the biggest thing. I would definitely love to come back and play for the Lakers, the best fans in the world. It’s been amazing. My wife plays for the Sparks, so for both of us to be in the same city and play.”
The mutual interest seems to be there, as it has also been reported that the Lakers have been calling Howard “three times a week” to check in on his desire to return. The Lakers are going to have a lot of questions in regards to building out there roster, as it is becoming increasingly likely that they will at least lose Rajon Rondo in free agency, with the potential of the same to happen with Avery Bradley and JaVale McGee. Howard at least seems more likely to return than the aforementioned players, but it’ll be hard for the team and Howard to agree on a number.
The Lakers single handedly resurrected Dwight’s career. We’ll see what he does next year when he’s no longer a Laker.