Warriors may have eyes on Howard

The Golden State Warriors could have interest in Dwight Howard should he become available in free agency, a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania suggests.

That’s only if he becomes available. According to Charania, Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers have a mutual interest in a new contract.

The 6-foot-10 Howard, who will turn 35 on Dec. 8, revitalized his professional career last year after he rejoined the Lakers in August after an injury to DeMarcus Cousins created an opening on the roster.

In 69 regular-season games, Howard averaged 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds as the Lakers finished atop the Western Conference standings. He then appeared in 18 of Los Angeles’ 21 playoff games, starting seven, and averaged 5.8 points and 4.6 rebounds as the Lakers won their 17th NBA championship.

The Warriors lack size in the middle and could be a fit, with 6-10 Alen Smailagic, and 6-9 Marquese Chriss and Kevon Looney presently their tallest players. The three combined to average 16.9 points and 11.4 rebounds per game last season.

There has also been speculation the Warriors will use their second overall pick in next month’s NBA Draft to select 7-foot-1 center James Wiseman.

Howard had previously played for the Lakers in 2012-13 before an acrimonious separation. He then played with the Houston Rockets from 2013 to 2016, followed by one-year stints in Atlanta, Charlotte and Washington.

Howard played just nine games with the Wizards before he underwent spinal surgery. The season before with the Hornets, a healthy Howard averaged 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.

Howard was traded to Memphis in July 2019.