LeBron James, Projected Lakers Lineup After Rumored Dwight Howard Contract

The Los Angeles Lakers have to start off the regular season without DeMarcus Cousins after he suffered a terrible injury. The franchise was involved in several rumors, and one of them suggests that the front office is bringing Dwight Howard back.

Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported that Howard is bringing his buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies to an end. In other words, he is getting ready for a contract with LeBron’s team. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported that this contract is non-quaranteed.

The Lakers have been checking out the market for a center since Cousins tore his ACL on August 15 in Las Vegas.

If Howard signs with the Lakers, his contract won’t affect the lineup head coach Frank Vogel plans to build at the beginning of the regular season.

According to the projected lineup, LeBron James, Anthony Davis, JaVale McGee, Danny Green, and Rajon Rondo will be starters.

Howard, Kyle Kuzma, Quinn Cook, Avery Bradley, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jared Dudley, Troy Daniels, Alex Caruso, and Talen Horton-Tucker are on the bench.

The only thing Vogel should focus on is his center. Davis is interested in playing power forward, but he can also help the team in this aspect.

“I like playing the four, I’m not even going to sugarcoat it,” he said. “I like playing the four, I don’t really like playing the five. But if it comes down to it, Coach, and you need me to play the five, I’ll play the five.”

McGee did so much last season. The 31-year-old player started 62 games and averaged 22.3 minutes per game. This is his care-high number, and his most since 2011-12 and third-most in 11 NBA seasons.

Howard’s potential arrival may ease McGee’s burden. Adrian Wojnarowski reported on the possibility.

“Howard came to meet Lakers after dropping 25 pounds; showed his back was healthy. Lakers want him to protect rim/rebound in limited role. There was sense Howard realized he hit “rock bottom” and had been humbled. Still they’ll judge him on actions, not words. He’s been warned.”

Vogel will have to make a decision on Howard’s minutes. He averaged 25.6 minutes per game last season with the Wizards, but was also limited to nine games due to spinal surgery, back and hamstring injuries.

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