Where Will Superman End Up?

Courtesy: NY Daily News

Ever since Dwight Howard left the Orlando Magic, there has been a lot of speculation on his ability to play basketball; Superman has never been so unpredictable. Granted, D12 is a phenomenal athlete who, despite having a recent bad season and surgery, is still averaging 18.3 points per game and 12.4rebounds a game. Howard is a three time recipient of the Defensive Player of the Year award and could dramatically change any franchise by just being on their roster. Dwight did not seem to be very happy with his role on the Los Angeles Lakers’ roster and it was very apparent during games, with his effortless play and off-court drama. Superman has decided to test free agency. Once again, all eyes are on Dwight Howard.

Dwight Howard has the need to be the ‘center piece’ of an organization; listed at 6′ 11” but his ego stands even taller.  D12’s Twitter bio says it all, “After The Ring!” With Howard expressing that he would like to test free agency this summer, a lot of franchises are checking for room in their salary cap (and roster) to see if they can snag down the NBA’s Superman. As for D12, he will be looking at options that are willing to “Pay a Max Contract” and Contend for NBA Championship.

There have been rumors of teams that are sparking Howard’s interest, but teams should look further into Dwight’s recent performance on and off the court before negotiating a mega-max contract that Howard is seeking.

Here are a few realistic options for Dwight Howard and the outcome of deals with potential teams.

Los Angeles Lakers

All of Laker Nation is patiently waiting to hear the center’s decision, especially Pau Gasol, whose future with the team may depend highly on Howard’s decision to stay or leave.  Kobe Bryant has even announced that it is “very important” for Dwight Howard to re-sign to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Howard though expressed that his decision of where to play, will ride of personal happiness. With this being said, money is still in the back of Dwight’s mind as Los Angeles is the only franchise that can offer D12 $118 million over five years, and other teams could only offer $88 million over four years. On the other side, Dwight seems to be at a point in his life where he wants to take his talents to wherever he believes he will win a championship, before thinking about money.

When you win in Los Angeles things take off, the whole city is happy and the market in Los Angeles would be a great place for Dwight to establish that he is once again a dominate Center and will eventually deserve to in the Hall of Fame. Though, Howard does not seem to be as ‘personable’ of a player as Derrick Rose, LeBron James, or even as Shaquille O’Neil;  Adidas was only able to move $5 million of shoes for Dwight, just under John Wall.

Hollywood may not be the type of place for Dwight; Mike D’Antoni is certainly not the coach for Dwight. D12 cannot live up to the media or fan expectations that Los Angeles has historically had high for its players, especially its big men. Pressure is something; we have seen Dwight Howard, not be able to handle it with grace. Playing beside Kobe Bryant in such a demanding area, stuck in the shadows of Wilt Chamberlin, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O’Neil, is not something Dwight is looking to do or comfortable doing.

Dwight Howard was last seen in a Laker’s uniform, as he was walking into the locker room during Game 4 vs. the San Antonio Spurs, after being ejected. This image of Dwight might be the last one we see of him rocking the infamous gold and purple.

A word of advice to the Lakers, avoid Dwight Howard, he has not made any improvements to a historically respectable franchise, since the Lakers obtained him.

Dallas Mavericks

The Dallas Mavericks just missed the 2013 NBA playoffs, earning the ninth seed and a record of 41-41. Dwight Howard could make a good replacement for Tyson Chandler, who was starting Center during the 2010-2011 season, who controlled the middle in the Mavs championship run.  The Mavericks have been in need of a defensive identity; they ranked 16th in rebounds, averaging 41.9 rebounds per game. Dallas’ need for interior defense is very apparent, as a team, they allowed 101.7points per game by their opponents last season.

Courtesy: Bleacher Report

To gain extra room on their roster and in their salary cap, rumors are that the Mavericks are shopping around their 13th overall pick in the upcoming NBA draft. I’m not sure how confident Dwight is in Dirk Nowitzki; those two would make a dominant duo for the next few years, at least on paper (if Mark Cuban places the appropriate players around them). Nowitzki’s contract runs up next summer but he plans on playing a few more years for the Mavs. Dirk has already stated that he is comfortable taking a pay-cut to add depth to the roster. Since there is no income tax in Dallas, Dwight could save $10 million just by playing ball here.

One of the biggest problems in Los Angeles, for Dwight Howard, was his personality conflict with Kobe Bryant. Dirk seems to be a better match because he would be more willing to let Dwight be the center of attention and new face of the Dallas Maverick’s franchise.

Dallas has the room and to obtain Dwight Howard. If they did, then their next move would be to sign a strong, young, and talented point guard. Let’s see what Mark Cuban will do; he usually gets what he wants.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors made a strong push this year, before falling short to the 2013 Western Conference Champions, the San Antonio Spurs. With Mark Jackson coaching the Warriors and Stephen Curry becoming an all-star, this young team should be making constant playoff appearances. With a healthy backcourt, Dwight Howard would make a nice addition to the Warriors.

Golden State’s X-factor this season was great team chemistry; it is a roll of the dice, placing resident NBA drama queen, Dwight Howard into that line up and disturbing their team’s chemistry. The Warriors are currently limited on cap room, so to obtain D12, they would need to make sign-and-trade deal with the Los Angeles Lakers. But the price may be too high; the Warriors would have to give up too much to obtain Dwight, who might not even like playing in Golden State, once he arrives. With Andrew Bogut holding on to one more year left in his contract, I would look to re-sign Bogut and let this young team blossom.

Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets are a young franchise and should already be playoff bound, each year, with players like James Harden, Jeremy Lin, Thomas Robinson and Chandler Parsons. Though, without a big dominate center; the Rockets will fall to defeat the first round, no matter whom they face in the Western Conference. Throw Dwight Howard into that line-up, the Rockets could look at making a serious championship push each year. You can’t forget, the state of Texas has again no income tax.

The Rockets have all the pieces set, expect for a dominate, two-sided Center. We can’t forget whom Dwight Howard has been training with either, Hakeem Olajuwon, former two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year and former two-time NBA champion for the Houston Rockets.

The Rockets have the best chance of obtaining Dwight Howard; Kevin McHale seems to be the perfect coach for Dwight Howard as well. McHale played along side Larry Bird, for the Boston Celtics, and is a three-time NBA Champion; as well as, a three-time NBA All-Defensive First-Team.  McHale sounds like the coach Dwight Howard is looking for, whereas Mike D’Antoni’s current style of fast-paced offensive basketball has Howard feeling and looking lost on the court. A change of scenery and coaching is just what Dwight Howard needs to regain superstar status in the NBA.

The Rockets should be on Howard’s mind because they are a great young team, have championship potential, have a Hall of Famer on the bench as a coach, and existing Rocket players will move aside to give the spotlight to Dwight Howard.

All statistics credited to NBA.com and Basketball-reference.com.