Coincidentally (or not), that was the same year that Howard lifted the Orlando Magic to the NBA Finals, wherein they fell to the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
Those same Lakers who've ranked among the suitors hardest after Howard since his trade demands first surfaced last fall. Those same Lakers who currently boast four All-Star-caliber players on their roster—Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum—but could use one of Superman's particular talents to shore up their next dynastic run.
Of course, any team could use Howard. He's one of the two or three most valuable players in the league, and has been for the last six years or so, at the very least.
Statistically speaking, he's a virtual lock for a double-double on any given night, if not the 20-point, 13-rebound output he's averaged in four of his last five seasons. He doesn't need the ball in his hands to pump out numbers like that either; he's converted 57.7 percent of his career field goals and does much of his offensive work on put-backs, alley-oops and quick passes into the post.
Truth be told, the Lakers already have an All-Star center who's capable of putting up numbers like those. His name is Andrew Bynum, he's more skilled offensively than is Howard and he averaged just under 19 and 12 last season.
Then again, that was Bynum's first supremely productive campaign, whereas Howard's been stuffing stat sheets galore for the better part of a decade.
More importantly, Dwight brings a consistent energy and presence to the floor that 'Drew doesn't. For all the criticism Howard took (and deservedly so) for throwing his teammates under the bus and hijacki...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Los Angeles Lakers
