Ex All-Star Howard expected for meeting
The Golden State Warriors are expected to meet with eighttime All-Star center Dwight Howard next week, league sources confirmed to the Chronicle on Friday.
Howard, who was drafted No. 1 overall by the Orlando Magic in 2004, last played in the NBA for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2021-22, when he averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds across 60 games with 27 starts.
The 37-year-old spent the 2022-23 season with the TaiwanBeer Leopards in Taoyuan City, Taiwan, where he was named the Most Valuable Import of the T1 League despite dealing with a knee injury throughout the season. He averaged 23.2 points and 16.2 rebounds in over 20 games. In a funny viral video that surfaced last season, Howard recruited Klay Thompson, former Warriors guard Jordan Poole and other NBA players to join him in Taiwan.
Howard won an NBA championship with the Lakers in 2019-20.
As the Warriors continue to explore low-cost options to add frontcourt depth, Howard has showcased throughout the later stages of his career that he can offer value at the center position while accepting a lesser role. In an interview in November while Golden State was still navigating its James Wiseman situation, Howard spoke about his potential fit in San Francisco, saying he could generate open looks for Stephen Curry and Thompson with his screening.
“That’s perfect,” Howard said. “They need a big. I know they have Kevon Looney. I know they have (Wiseman), but I’m Dwight Howard. Wiseman could learn so much from me, because he’s heading in that direction of being a great big man.”
Wiseman was dealt to the Detroit Pistons at last season’s trade deadline, which opened the door for Gary Payton II to return to the team.
Other frontcourt options: The Warriors are expected to sign free agent center Usman Garuba to a two-way NBA contract, league sources confirmed to the Chronicle on Friday.
Garuba, 21, likely will fill the second of Golden State’s three available two-way spots. The first is occupied by summerleague standout Lester Quiñones, who signed his deal in late July.
Garuba, a 2021 first-round draft pick of the Houston Rockets, averaged 2.8 points and 3.9 rebounds in 99 games over the past two seasons. He was dealt twice in July before being waived by the Oklahoma City Thunder. Garuba told Hoopshype in May 2022 that Draymond Green is the player he studies the most.
The Athletic reported on Friday that the Warriors are bringing in Donovan Williams on an Exhibit 10 contract to compete for a roster spot during training camp. The 6-foot-6 wing finished last season on a two-way contract with the Atlanta Hawks. In 50 G League games, he averaged 14.1 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 45.4% from the field.
Golden State now has 20 of a possible 21 spots on its trainingcamp roster filled. That includes 13 standard NBA deals, two two-way spots and five Exhibit 10 deals. The team is expected to carry 14 players on the 15-man roster this season.