Shams Charania: Sources: Dwight Howard has cleared waivers and is signing his new Los Angeles Lakers contract now. Howard plans to wear No. 39 as a Laker next season.
Storyline: Dwight Howard to Lakers?
33 rumors in this storyline
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Stadium: Our NBA Insider @Shams Charania reports Dwight Howard will wear No. 39 next season in his return to the Lakers. First look:
Omari Sanfoka II: Grizzlies announce they have officially waived Dwight Howard
After completing a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies, Dwight Howard will sign a non-guaranteed contract with the Los Angeles Lakers that comes with a clear message, league sources told ESPN: Disrupt this team — and you’ll be gone.
In meetings with Lakers management, coaches and teammates — including Anthony Davis — late this week, Howard sold himself as an eight-time All-Star who had hit “rock bottom,” in the words of one team source, and promised that he’d humbly accept the responsibility to rebound and block shots for the Lakers.
He showed the Lakers that his surgically repaired back was healthy and that he had lost 25 pounds to get into better condition, and ultimately the Lakers chose him over Joakim Noah, sources said.
When fate and circumstance intervene, the results can be quite interesting. For the LA Lakers and Dwight Howard to reconnect, the word interesting is probably an understatement. Howard reached an agreement on a contract buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday and will sign a one-year, non-guaranteed $2.6 million deal with the Lakers once he clears waivers, league sources told The Athletic.
After the Lakers and Briscoe were given permission to seek the opportunity by the Grizzlies, Howard and Kidd were able to connect in person, league sources told The Athletic. They discussed life, their playing days together, the possibility of Howard joining the Lakers. Howard’s message to Kidd and the Lakers was the same one he delivered to The Athletic in July from NBA summer league: He’s learned from the past several seasons, learned that, at age 33, he is simply one of the guys now. Howard believes he can contribute at a high level for any NBA team, but the eight-time All-Star also understands he has to focus on rebounding, defense, blocking shots, finishing around the rim and simply playing whenever he is asked. He has accepted it — as much as those in the basketball community have doubted his words.
The Lakers then began setting workouts for free agents, and Howard traveled from Atlanta to Los Angeles on Wednesday. His meeting and workout with the Lakers was set for Thursday, but Howard went to the Lakers’ facility in El Segundo, Calif., on Wednesday afternoon for his own training session. The Lakers were surprised to see him, sources said, and many key decision makers were in attendance.
The impromptu workout led to some informal dialogue among Howard and several Lakers officials, league sources said. “Dwight didn’t need to be here the day before the actual workout,” one source said, “but he was.” When Thursday arrived, Howard had a workout in which the Lakers believed he looked healthy and fit. “Amazing,” said a source present in the gym.
League sources said Howard had a convincing and emotional meeting with the players and Lakers officials, explaining how he had reached rock bottom a season ago and needed to find a new mindset in his life. On and off the floor. He was not the teammate he needed to be in playing for three teams in the past three years. He did not take the game seriously enough, he did not understand what was needed to turn the corner.
Adrian Wojnarowski: 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.
Shams Charania: Dwight Howard’s agent, Charles Briscoe of Briscoe Sports Group, has completed buyout with Grizzlies officials, and Howard will sign with the Lakers once he clears waivers, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Dwight Howard’s deal with the Lakers will be non-guaranteed, league source tells ESPN. Howard had several meetings with Lakers officials, and they’ll give him a chance to show he’s made changes in how he conducts himself. Lakers players were involved in process.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Lakers are entering a Howard partnership with caution. For years, he’s talked about making changes in how he interacts with coaches and teammates. He’s still saying those things now, but the ability to cut him without cost keeps leverage with organization.
Ramona Shelburne: Dwight also met some Lakers players in this process. He convinced everyone that he’s genuine in wanting to play the role the Lakers need. And if not, he’ll be waived.
David Aldridge: The question with Dwight on the Lakers will be the same one it’s been for the last 5-6 years. He can still rebound and block shots with anyone, and occasionally score on the block, and thus could help any team. But will he be satisfied doing just those things?
Dwight Howard headed to the Lakers
Shams Charania: Dwight Howard is on his way back to the Los Angeles Lakers, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
Shams Charania: Dwight Howard is finalizing contract buyout with Memphis and plans to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers as free agent, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Howard-to-Lakers unlikely
Windhorst thinks the Lakers are doing their proper due diligence, but says Howard coming back to the Purple and Gold is probably not going to happen. “I don’t think it’s a very likely marriage,” Windhorst said on ESPN’s SportsCenter. “I think the Lakers right now are doing their due diligence on players, on available centers. Joakim Noah’s another guy they’ve looked at. “Dwight Howard has been on four different teams in the last four years. The Lakers are in need of somebody who can be healthy and give them minutes and that doesn’t fit who Dwight Howard or Joakim Noah are at this point of their careers.
“But I understand why the Lakers have those names on the list. I think this is unlikely. I believe the Lakers coaches want a younger, more active player at this point in their careers.”
Ramona Shelburne: As @VeniceMase and I discussed the other day on @ESPNLosAngeles … Dwight may have left town on bad terms with some in LA. But he always had a good relationship with Jeanie Buss. Remember, Jeanie and Phil tweeting at him during the recruiting process.
So does the Lakers’ recent affinity for Howard actually make sense? Should they really be after the eight-time All-Star? Are there not better options out there? According to one anonymous NBA executive who spoke to HoopsHype, the low-risk, high-reward nature of such a deal, one that would be worth the veteran minimum if it does happen, would make it a worthwhile gamble for Los Angeles. “Personal baggage aside, I would sign him,” the executive said. “He’s clearly the best player available if he’s healthy. We’ve heard the same song from him for years [as far as changing]. But for the minimum? Why not? If it doesn’t work, they move on.”
A second league exec polled by HoopsHype shared the same sentiment: “I think it’s worth the risk for them. If it doesn’t work out, they can cut bait.”
NBA Insider @ShamsCharania breaks down the Lakers beginning pursuit of Dwight Howard and the factors of motivation and health for the 8-time All-Star.
Shams Charania: The Grizzlies are granting the Los Angeles Lakers permission to speak with Dwight Howard, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Ramona Shelburne: As @VeniceMase and I discussed the other day on @ESPNLosAngeles … Dwight Howard may have left town on bad terms with some in LA. But he always had a good relationship with Jeanie Buss. Remember, Jeanie and Phil tweeting at him during the recruiting process.
ShowtimeForum: “By all accounts @Dwight Howard is motivated right now and he wants to be a part of a potential #Lakers team. He’s excited about the prospects of joining @LeBron James & @Anthony Davis and doing really whatever is asked of him.” 🎥 @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/gjDRguwxmb
Shams Charania: The Lakers are expected to request permission soon to speak to Dwight Howard and there’s mutual interest between the eight-time All-Star and L.A. in wake of DeMarcus Cousins’ torn ACL, league sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium.
Lakers interested in Dwight Howard?
Rohan Nadkarni: A name I’m hearing the Lakers are seriously interested in after the Boogie Cousins injury: Dwight Howard. The Grizzlies haven’t bought him out yet, but he’s not expected to play in Memphis this season. Javale McGee is the only other center on LA’s roster.
November 12, 2019 | 11:19 pm UTC Update
Tom Moore: Brett Brown says Al Horford resting tonight has been in the works for a while. Sounds like Joel Embiid could sit Wednesday in Orlando with Horford starting. #Sixers
Eric Smith: Info from the Raptors: OG Anunoby saw a specialist today in Los Angeles & was diagnosed with a contusion to his right eye. Anunoby will not play Wednesday at Portland. That’s all we know for now.
Anthony Chiang: Erik Spoelstra says James Johnson (illness) and Tyler Herro (ankle) are out tonight vs. Pistons. Kelly Olynyk (knee) will play.
Boston Celtic Enes Kanter joined Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Capitol Hill Tuesday to help introduce Markey’s and Wyden’s new bill, the “Turkey Human Rights Promotion Act.” The press conference came before President Trump is supposed to host Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House Wednesday.
Kanter, who has been a longtime critic of Erdoğan, thanked Markey and Wyden for their leadership. “You guys know my story because I play in the NBA, but there are thousands and thousands of stories out there that are worse than mine,” the 27-year-old center said. “That’s why I’m trying to use my platform to be the voice of all those innocent people who don’t have one.”
November 12, 2019 | 10:14 pm UTC Update
Jon Johnson: Ben Simmons, Shake Milton will play tonight
Jon Johnson: Trey Burke out
November 12, 2019 | 9:08 pm UTC Update
Sarah K. Spencer: Evan Turner (left Achilles pain) is out for tonight’s game vs. Denver, but he’ll try and play with the coaches in practice tomorrow, Lloyd Pierce says. “He says the pain’s starting to feel a little less and the comfort’s starting to feel a little more.” — LP
Jon Johnson: Shake Milton probable tonight. Trey Burke questionable(left calf). No word yet on Ben Simmons.
November 12, 2019 | 8:30 pm UTC Update
Mirjam Swanson: Ahead of the two-game roadie: The L.A. Clippers announce they have assigned center Mfiondu Kabengele and guard Derrick Walton Jr. to the Agua Caliente Clippers.
Chris Kirschner: Damian Jones will start in place of Alex Len tonight.
Kevin Chouinard: Hawks list Allen Crabbe as probable.
November 12, 2019 | 8:07 pm UTC Update
It was only three years ago Thomas was talking about bringing out Brinks trucks before finishing fifth in MVP voting. A series of injuries later, he still wants his elusive paycheck, but he also craves a more sustainable lifestyle for his two sons, his 1-year-old daughter, Journey, and his wife, Kayla.
“I want to be somewhere I can be three or four years,” he said. “I was in Sacramento for three years. I was in Boston for three years. Even though that’s not a long time, I was comfortable there. My family was able to build relationships with people around the organization, people around the city. It just made things easier. So, what I am looking for — obviously, I want to get paid the most I possibly can, because I feel like I deserve that, but I also want to be able to be somewhere for a while.”
But Wednesday, for the first time since he was a member of the Celtics, he’ll hear his name called as a starter in a city that appreciates him as much as any NBA community cares for any opposing player. “It’s real, genuine love from the first day I got there,” Thomas said. “And then, I went through a real-life situation there that they went through with me, so I think that love is going to be forever. Actually, I know that love is going to be forever. I was only there three years, and you would think I won a championship there how much they love me. … Even on my social media, that’s all it is. That’s forever.”
Anthony Chiang: Heat announces guard Daryl Macon has re-joined the Heat as part of his two-way contract. Macon brings depth to what could be a very shorthanded Heat roster tonight.
Chris Kirschner: John Collins is practicing with the team. Eligible to come back Dec. 23 pic.twitter.com/XBmvuI8txt
Alykhan Bijani: D’Antoni on Eric Gordon being out 6 weeks: “It’s been bothering him, actually, from the middle of last year. I think he’s probably relieved that he can clean it up, get it going, so he can come as back strong as ever.” He got an MRI this morning that showed “significant” debri
November 12, 2019 | 7:27 pm UTC Update
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets send Gary Clark and Isaiah Hartenstein back to the Vipers in the G League. Neither played last night in their stopover with the Rockets between RGV games.
November 12, 2019 | 7:00 pm UTC Update
November 12, 2019 | 6:56 pm UTC Update
Shams Charania: Timetable expected for Eric Gordon’s absence from Rockets lineup: Up to six weeks, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
With Dion Waiters in the early stages of a 10-game Heat suspension, there have been conflicting reports about his future with the team. Two South Florida reporters have speculated that he has played his last game for the Heat, whereas The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that “the Heat are going to welcome him back after this 10-game absence.” Charania said: “The Heat has let Dion Waiters know we need you back in this rotation. We want you to come back and earn your stripes.”
So which of these reports is the truth? I’m told that the door has not definitively been closed on a Waiters return, but it would take a lot for Waiters to earn the trust needed to return. He would need to be contrite and do absolutely everything right for the Heat to consider playing him again. An injury to a perimeter player could certainly create a path to playing.
Could the Heat never play him again? That’s absolutely a possibility. But they have not made that decision as of this point.
November 12, 2019 | 6:16 pm UTC Update
KC Johnson: Jim Boylen said Otto Porter has had “not much development” since leaving crutch. Still waiting for soreness to subside. Felicio hurt wrist. Seeing specialist.
