Lakers have their eye on Noah
The Lakers are turning to some familiar veteran names as potential options for their thinned frontcourt.
In the aftermath of the torn left anterior cruciate ligament DeMarcus Cousins suffered in a workout last week, multiple outlets — including ESPN, the Los Angeles Times and The Athletic — reported Tuesday that the Lakers are planning individual workouts with centers Joakim Noah, Dwight Howard and Marreese Speights. Howard is currently under contract with the Grizzlies, but they would be willing to work on a buyout with him, ESPN reported.
The injury almost certainly will force Cousins to miss much — if not all — of the coming season. That would leave the Lakers with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and JaVale McGee as the top frontcourt players in their rotation.
Noah, a 12-year veteran who played his first nine seasons with the Bulls and was the NBA’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2013-14, averaged 7.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 42 games with the Grizzlies last season.
The Grizzlies signed Noah, 34, in early December after the Knicks cut him in October. He proved to be a valuable veteran presence and showed he still can provide solid off-the-bench minutes, especially on defense.
Howard, meanwhile, played in only nine games last season with the Wizards because of a back injury that eventually required surgery. He averaged 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds and shot 62.3 percent from the field.
Should Howard, 33, land with the Lakers, it would be his second stint with them. He played for them in 201213 after they acquired him in a blockbuster trade with the Magic. Howard posted solid overall numbers (17.1 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocked shots) but clashed at times with Lakers star Kobe Bryant.
Howard opted to sign with the Rockets in the summer of 2013, beginning a run of regular team changes for him.