(Where should Howard take his talents? – via Laker Nation)
by Patrick Cairo
Dwight Howard has been blessed with a rare opportunity that many of the NBA’s best players wish they had at one point in their careers; a second chance. After the “Dwightmare” and the end of the 2012 season which led to his departure in Orlando, the Lakers decided to welcome him in to the storied franchise in hopes that they could get him to sign a long-term deal. Well here’s your chance Dwight, you’re a free agent and you’re one of the top centers in the league, take this second chance and run with it.
Let’s start off with the one place Howard should NOT sign; Los Angeles. What can you say? It was a nice attempt at building a Miami-like team in the West but what everyone learned in a short amount of time is that it just wasn’t going to work. Bringing Steve Nash and Dwight Howard along to team up with Kobe and Pau Gasol looked like the most powerful team in the league on paper, but getting that paper product to produce on the court became more and more unlikely as the season went on. There were way too many egos in one locker room to make a successful team out of that roster. As much as NBA fans hate to say it, Kobe just couldn’t relinquish his power into making a complete team. He didn’t adjust his game to mesh with the weapons that he finally had and if Dwight had his eyes open at all this season, he would know that he’s not going to find success on this Lakers team. With a roster that has as many egos as LA and with how old the roster is, Dwight will find himself in the same situation he was at the end in Orlando; a dominant player looking for help.
Let’s take a look at his options. The teams that have reportedly shown the most interest in Dwight are the Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors. The Lakers can offer him the longest contract and the most years but as stated before, he’d be setting himself up for the same situation he was in with the Magic once the roster continues to age. I look at Dallas as the same scenario. Dirk Nowitzki is getting old and behind him the roster does not have much potential. Dallas and LA are both places where Dwight would go and do exactly what he did in Orlando. The team would probably be a top 4 seed in the West and they would not be able to get past teams like the Oklahoma City Thunder.
That leaves Houston and Golden State. Both of these teams are young and with or without Dwight, they’re going to continue to flourish in the next few years. They are both developing and possess young and maturing superstars in James Harden and Stephen Curry. If I’m Dwight Howard, these are the two places that I would be giving the most consideration to. They not only have the ability to win big now, but they have the roster and age to be good for many years to come in the future. With Houston, the combination of Harden and Dwight could flourish into something along the lines of Kobe and Shaq. Their games mesh well together and with the right coaching and motivation Dwight and the Rockets could turn into a true championship contender.
The most intriguing scenario to me is Dwight and the Warriors. A superstar point guard/center combination is much more effective than a guard/forward combination such as the Heat and Knicks. Steph Curry showed everyone this offseason that he is the real deal and that he is only going to get better. Curry is a player that still has a few years before he even hits his prime and he was close to leading his team passed the Spurs for a Western Conference Finals birth. This Warriors team is so young and good and if Dwight does not realize that than he needs someone else to start making his decisions for him. There are two clear teams that can sign Dwight and immediately develop into a championship contender and now it’s up to him to make the right decision.
Another problem that arises with Dwight is the factor of his maturity. It’s no secret that he has lacked maturity in the last two years and has made some very questionable decisions, but I’m a believer in that he is over that phase. It’s time that he starts to put his career in perspective and does things for the team, not himself. He’s a 27-year old superstar who has a lot to prove and the past two years have made him realize that. Whereever he may end up next year we’re going to see a new Dwight Howard who’s determined to win a championship and to earn the right to be called the best center in the league once again. The options are clear and his second chance could not have come at a more crucial time, it’s now up to Dwight to make the decision that is going to suit him best for success now, and in the future.
