This Tuesday, former NBA superstar Dwight Howard told The OBSERVER about his desire to return to the NBA.
"“I’m not retired from the NBA just yet, I would love to help the Sacramento Kings contend for a title.”"
Howard has played this past season in Taiwan for the Taoyuan Leopards, where he dominated with 23.2 points and 16.2 rebounds per game – all at the age of 37. The last time the future Hall of Famer played in the NBA was during the 2021-22 season with the Lakers, where he mostly came off the bench and averaged under 7 points per game.
Howard won his only championship with the Lakers during the 2019-2020 bubble season. He was also an all-star on eight different occasions, as well as a three-time defensive player of the year.
Howard mentioned that he was unsurprised by the Kings’ success, voicing his love for Mike Brown and the pre-season “all-in” contracts he had the Kings players sign. He also noted that he understands the roster may be “pretty much set.”
Should the Sacramento Kings sign Howard?
The Kings just came off a fantastic season, and they look like a brand new organization compared to the pain suffered by fans during the prior 17 years. While Howard is a no-doubt Hall of Famer and was a beast in his prime, he may not be who the Kings need to fill a roster spot with while they hope to win the first NBA title in franchise history.
But even though Dwight is older and out of his prime, it does not mean he can not help.
Aside from the generational talent of Steph Curry, a large reason why the Kings lost to the Warriors this past post-season was because of a lack of playoff experience. Bringing a veteran in who has won a championship and has more experience than any player on the roster may be an incredibly smart move for the Kings.
Howard seemed to understand that he would not be a massive contributor on the floor but could help the team through leadership and experience. He also could be a good option at the back-up center spot, especially with that as a need for the team in case of any potential Sabonis injury.
If the off-season doesn’t go how the Kings need it to, and there is still a roster spot open, is there any reason why the Kings shouldn’t sign Howard to a one-year deal? I don’t think so.
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