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Congratulations everyone! We haven’t forced you to slog through Dwight Howard- and Los Angeles Lakers-centric drama in quite awhile.
Like all good streaks, though, this one too must come to an end. Now.
Before returning to Los Angeles for the first time since signing with the Houston Rockets in free agency, Howard was naturally asked if the Lakers could have made him stay by doing anything different, to which Superman responded,
yes.
Actually, it’s more complicated than “yes”.
From the Orange County Register‘s Janis Carr:
Asked if there was anything Lakers could've done different to make him stay, Dwight said "there's a couple of things, but that's over now."
— janis carr (@janiscarr) February 18, 2014
But “that’s over now” is right. Let’s journey down that hellhole one more time, though, shall we?
What is it the Lakers could have done differently? Petitioned for his face to appear on U.S. currency? Thrown Kobe Bryant in a dungeon, never to play in the NBA again? Beaten the mustache off Mike D’Antoni? Constructed a throne separate from the Lakers bench, on which a robe-wearing and crown-sporting Howard could sit during games whilst twirling his comically small-sized scepter?
More realistic versions of the Kobe and D’Antoni suggestions are just two of the things Howard would have reportedly wanted, as ESPN Los Angeles’ Marc Stein and Ramona Shelburne noted in July:
Dwight Howard’s distaste for the offense and approach of coach Mike D’Antoni is widely cited as the biggest trigger in his decision to leave the Los Angeles Lakers. But another key factor that led the All-Star center to the Houston Rockets was the Lakers’ refusal to establish a clear timetable for moving on from the Kobe Bryant era, according to sources with knowledge of Howard’s thinking.
Sources told ESPN.com that Howard and his representatives — in a handful of meetings with Lakers officials before he became a free agent July 1 — strongly suggested the center would have a difficult time re-signing with the team if Bryant stayed with the franchise beyond the 2013-14 season, the final year of his contract.
Wanting the Lakers to fire D’Antoni is something I take exception to more than the Kobe debacle. Not that the Lakers should have amnestied Kobe, but clueing Howard in on their plans to offer him a two-year extension like they inevitably did might have helped things.
D’Antoni is often berated for his failure to emphasize defense and refusal to embrace post-ups within his offensive system, two things Howard holds dear to his heart. But whatever.
Kurt Rambis was brought in as an assistant to help the Lakers defensively. While they suck again this season, that’s more a reflection of their deficient personnel than anything. With Howard in the fold, things could have been different.
And not for nothing, but Howard isn’t a post-up big. This isn’t to say he’s awful, but he’s best served within pick-and-rolls, a staple of D’Antoni’s system that helped past big men—like a healthy Amar’e Stoudemire—thrive.
Oh, well. It’s over and done with. Answers to questions like these are merely mementos of the past, used to fuel “what could have been” narratives.
What could have been with the Lakers and Howard? What could he and the Lakers have become?
We’ll (still) never know.
Dan Favale is a firm believer in the three-pointer as well as the notion that defense doesn’t always win championships. His musings can be found at Bleacherreport.com in addition to TheHoopDoctors.com.
