NBA Rumors: Howard Can Rewrite Script With Lakers This Coming Summer

Dwight Howard will end his redemption tour this NBA season and the jig is up on where the 6-foot-11 slotman will play next. After years of struggling, the 34-year-old center has proven that he still has some fuel left in the tank and can adjust accordingly to any role given to him by any team.

Settling for a $2.6 million salary this NBA season, critics are aware that Howard is due a big raise before the 2020-21 wars. Sean Deveney of Heavy pointed out how the top pick of the 2004 NBA Draft will no longer be available for the veteran's minimum. Further, some front-office executives suggest that Howard could earn as much as $9.7 million and earn a good chunk of the Lakers mid-level exception.

In a previous post, it was detailed how Howard's 2019-20 performance earned him a guaranteed deal. He also said that after a sour last stint, he is having a lot of fun and happy in his second stint with the purple and gold.

"I like being here, I am having fun being here. I don’t know what is going to happen in the future but I know I can’t think about that or focus on it. I am just focused on being here."

This season, Howard has played in 45 games averaging 20.2 minutes on the floor. Per Basketball-Reference.com, the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year is averaging 7.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game for Los Angeles. While those numbers are a far cry from his career averages, the fact that he has played a lot of games via backup role is a bright sign of things to come.

Once the 2019-20 NBA season comes to a close, Howard will technically be in a familiar situation. Will he stay with the Lakers or consider offers from other ballclubs. The only difference between now and 2013 is that the numbers were jaw-dropping. Right now, the eight-time NBA All-Star would be happy getting an acceptable deal and playing more years.

The Lakers are expected to offer him something after this season. If Los Angeles does go to win it all, expect them to exhaust all means to keep Howard in the fold. But if they fall short, the numbers on his next paycheck could be different. Either way, it will be a test if Howard is indeed true to his word of being content in Hollywood or not once his current contract runs out.