NBA Free Agency: Examining The Center Options
By Adam McGee
Dwight Howard
There’s an elephant in the room so let’s not ignore it. The rumors linking Dwight Howard to the Bucks have been going around for quite a while now, and if anything they’re likely going to ramp up again when he inevitably opts out and enters free agency.
From Adrian Wojnarowski’s reports of a potential trade at the deadline, to Gus Johnson‘s on-air remarks about Howard’s willingness to be a Buck, the thought of one of the NBA’s biggest players playing in Milwaukee has been a divisive one among fans.
In reality, Howard remains one of the league’s best centers and is likely nowhere near as detrimental to a locker room as spells playing with Kobe Bryant and James Harden have left his reputation to suggest.
When healthy, and that is certainly no guarantee, Howard can still be a dominant inside scorer, elite rebounder and a defensive stud. From a basketball point of view, his playing style is not the bad fit that many are making it out to be for Milwaukee.
The problem lies in the fact that Howard is still talented and productive enough to command a contract of high value from elsewhere in the NBA this summer. It’s not impossible for the Bucks to give him the contract he desires with multiple years on it, but it is if they wish to see their current young core hit their prime as Bucks. Howard is still a very good player, but he should be seen as a long shot not worth taking for Milwaukee.
Next: Bismack Biyombo