Metta World Peace, when focused, can be one of the best wing defenders in the NBA. And the addition of Antawn Jamison as a sixth man should really bolster L.A.'s ability to score off the bench.
But one surprising player who will likely make a big impact for Los Angeles is backup power forward/center Jordan Hill.
When the Lakers completed a trade for Dwight Howard a few weeks back, they were getting the best center in the NBA. Howard is an absolute force on defense, having won three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards from 2008-09 through 2010-11.
Howard's also an excellent rebounder. He's led the NBA in rebounds per game in four of the past five years and has hauled in 13.9 rebounds per game during that span.
And although he's not known for a polished game on offense, especially a back-to-the-basket post game, Howard's certainly no slouch on that end of the court.
He has averaged 18.3 points per game over his career, and the past five seasons he's averaging 20.6 points per game. And it's not just volume-scoring with Howard; he's been efficient too, shooting 59 percent from the field since the 2007-08 season.
When he's on the court, Dwight Howard is simply the best center the NBA has to offer. However, we don't know how much Howard will be on the court.
Howard underwent back surgery in April and is still recuperating. He said at his introductory press conference with the Lakers that there's no timetable for his return to the court. He also made no assurances that he'd be ready to go for the season opener on Oct. 3.
With a full and speedy recovery, Howard shouldn't miss too much of the 2012-13 season. But there are no guarantees with back injuries. Those type of injuries tend to linger and can be problematic for months, if not...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
