Dwight Howard finally rests after Lakers fulfill Luka Doncic wish with latest trade
Dwight Howard took to social media to express his approval of the Lakers landing Hornets center Mark Williams following Luka Doncic trade.
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Dwight Howard ends Lakers quest after latest center addition for Luka Doncic
The popular demand for Dwight Howard to return as a center for the Los Angeles Lakers might finally have come to an end. Following their blockbuster trade for Luka Doncic, the Lakers added Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams to fill out their requirement for an athletic big man to play alongside Doncic and LeBron James. And no one is happier about the trade than Howard.
Ever since the ‘Superman’ played his last game in the NBA for the 2021-22 Lakers, NBA fans have been looking at the former 2x DPOY to make a comeback. As the Lakers scoured the market for an athletic big man after acquiring the Slovenian senation Doncic, Dwight Howard was a name that some suggested for the Lakers. However, after the Lakers traded for Mark Williams, Howard took to X to sound his relief.
“Lakers got a center 🔥 now yall can stop tagging me 😎,” Howard wrote on X.
Lakers got a center 🔥 now yall can stop tagging me 😎
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) February 6, 2025
In his final season for the Lakers, Howard appeared in 60 games for the Lakers and averaged 6.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a decent spot-up big man. The departure of Howard marked the last true center that would play alongside Anthony Davis, despite several appeals from the former Lakers All-NBA star for additional help at the 5 spot.
However, after the Lakers traded Davis to acquire Luka Doncic, the team immediately set forth to grab a big man that would be able to help them out as a lob threat and a vertical presence. Williams is set to fulfil that role for the Lakeshow, with his intimidating 7’2″ presence combined with his 9’9″ standing reach providing a daunting rim presence.
Dwight Howard taken aback by Lakers trading Anthony Davis after his ‘big man’ request
Less than a month ago, Anthony Davis hinted that the Lakers were just one mystery piece away from jumping into championship contention. Of course, Davis could have never predicted that this mystery piece may have been the Lakers trading him in favor of a younger Luka Doncic. However, Dwight Howard shared his sympathy for Davis recently, showcasing his support for the 10x All-Star.
“Ad said he wanted a 5 and they traded bro damn,” Howard wrote on X.
Ad said he wanted a 5 and they traded bro damn
— Dwight Howard (@DwightHoward) February 2, 2025
So far, the Lakers have done their due diligence in trying to replace the vertical presence of Davis on both ends of the floor. However, that does not mean that AD is out of the picture. Davis will take his championship aspirations of playing alongside a traditional center to the Dallas Mavericks in the aftermath of the trade.
Some of Anthony Davis‘ best seasons have come while playing alongside a more traditional big man, allowing him to play the 4 spot effectively. This was evident in the Lakers 2020 championship run with Dwight Howard, Javale McGee and Mark Gasol anchoring the 5 spot, or even in the 2017-18 NBA season with DeMarcus ‘Boogie’ Cousins holding down the frontcourt.
With the Mavericks, Davis will find himself enough help in the frontcourt to ensure he can perform at his best. With young stars like Dereck Lively II and Daniel Gafford available at the 5 spot, AD can look to dialing up his scoring without worrying about being the only rim-presence available for his team on the floor.
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Armaan Gupta
(401 Articles Published)