NBA: Lakers Center Confident New Arrival Will Fit In

Los Angeles Lakers were forced to sign veteran center Dwight Howard after they lost DeMarcus Cousins to a torn ACL in his knee during the offseason. The latter is not expected to return to the court for the 2019-20 season and Anthony Davis made it clear that power forward was his preferred position and he will not play in the no. 5 position during the regular season.

JaVale McGee was left as the Lakers’ only center after Cousins’ injury and after evaluating more than one free agent center, the Los Angeles franchise decided to sign Howard, who has previously spent one season during the 2012-13 campaign in the purple and gold. McGee spent last season with the Lakers and re-signed with them this summer on a two-year $8.2 million deal with a player option.

The 31-year-old center, who has previously won a title with Golden State Warriors, believes Howard will be a good fit with the Lakers this upcoming campaign. He is certain other teams will not like contending with two big centers who can defend the rim and dunk the ball.

“I feel like he’s gonna fit great. We have similar games. The fact that we can have a 1-2 punch right after each other I dont think that’s gonna be good for other teams at all … two bigs that can defend the rim, run the floor and dunk it. I’m excited,” McGee said, as quoted on Talk Basket.

McGee has been taking part in informal workouts with his other Lakers teammates ahead of training camp in Las Vegas and according to Mike Bresnahan, he has been working on his conditioning. The Lakers analyst for Spectrum SportsNet also revealed that McGee expects to be the starting center for the 2020 NBA championship contenders.

“He [JaVale McGee] was very clear that he expects to be the starting center for the Lakers. Hearing things about him so far that he’s the guy who’s staying the latest at these informal workouts. He’s lifting & working on his conditioning,” Bresnahan said, via LakeShow World.