There has been recent discussion that Dwight Howard will remain in a Magic uniform. If Howard does decide to sign an extension with Orlando, then this will smash any dreams that Laker fans had that he will be in a Laker uniform next season. But the fans should not worry as the Laker organization have the right pieces on the front-court for multiple championship runs.
The Los Angeles Lakers have what other NBA teams yearn for, and that is multiple seven footers that can dominate the paint. The combination of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom outmatch many of the other undersized teams because of their long length.
Dwight Howard has blossomed into one of the most dominant players in the NBA with his athleticism, but he still lacks many skills that make championship players. Even though Howard provides a consistent effort on the defensive and offensive ends, the three L.A. big men have proven that they each contain skills that outweigh Howard.
Next: The Laker Supermen
Andrew Bynum is the most promising big man in the league, and he has been regarded as a center full of potential since he entered the NBA as a high school player back in 2005. Bynum can match the dominance of Howard with his rebounding and blocking ability. His brute force and presence influences many players on the defensive end by altering their shots.
Even though Bynum does not produce as many points as Howard, he makes up for that with his defensive effort. The Orlando Magic rely on Howard to produce points because of their lack of offensive talent, but the Lakers have All-Star players in Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom that can compensate for Bynum’s lack of point production.
Pau Gasol has the unique ability to shoot from outside of the paint, which most seven footers are incapable of doing. In addition to his remarkable mid-range shooting, he can also knock down the ball on the charity stripe. Howard has struggled his entire career on the free throw line, only shooting 59.8% for his career, and Gasol has been able to shoot 75.1% for his career.
In addition to Gasol’s precise shooting, he also has solid passing skills for a big man. There is no other seven-footer in the NBA that can pass the ball so smoothly and make precise passes like Gasol. Howard clearly can dominant the paint with his size, but when it comes to making other players better, he lacks the passing ability to include other players in the offensive flow.
Lamar Odom is one of the most unique players in the NBA with his versatility as a big man. Odom is considered to be a human transformer because he is capable of playing every position on the floor. If the Lakers need him to play point guard, he could run plays, and if they need him to play down in the paint, he could match up with other big men in the league.
Not only can he shoot from behind the three point line, he is also a rebounding machine on both the offensive and defensive end. On top of his versatility, he can also run a fastbreak and execute down in the lane for easy layups or dunks.
Next: Lakers Offensive System
Do not get me wrong, the Lakers acquiring Howard could make their team much more dominant on the defensive end as he has won the previous three Defensive Player of the Year Awards for his magnificent rebounding and blocking skills. This is an element that the Lakers would like to improve, but his inclusion within the Lakers offensive system may not be as welcome.
The Lakers have already developed an offensive style that relies on the leadership of Kobe Bryant and the contribution of the other Lakers big men, but the addition of Howard may throw every offensive aspect out of whack. Howard is unable to improve everyone else’s play, which ultimately creates inconsistency.
Even though none of the Lakers big men can individually match the skills and dominance of Dwight Howard, their combination of skills and abilities outweigh him. As proven with the combination of the Miami Heatles in LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, it is always better to have three All-Stars than one.
* Stats provided by NBA.com