The drama is over, and Dwight Howard has finally made his decision. Howard is leaving the Los Angeles Lakers to sign with the Houston Rockets. The reports from other sites are still coming in, but from what I have read all signs are pointing to Houston as the winners in Howard sweepstakes. This move now propels the Rockets to title contenders in the western conference, and leaves the Lakers to figure out their next move.
The teams that were chasing Howard can finally move on. The Golden State Warriors made a hard push by clearing out cap space and even entertained the thought of doing a sign and trade with the Lakers, but none of that happened. The Warriors quickly moved on and signed former Nuggets forward Andre Iguodala. The Lakers on the other hand are now left to pick up the pieces and will now try to salvage what is left of the off-season.
From my point of view Howard knew where he was going all along, but still wanted to be courted by other teams. It was a boost for his ego and showed that Howard cannot play with a dominant player who demanded winning in Kobe Bryant. Howard most likely didn't want to spend his prime years on a Lakers team that is old and with no future plans. Howard seen a young Rockets team headlined with an upcoming superstar in James Harden much more appealing than playing with an older Lakers team that has nothing but question marks surrounding them for the next few years.
If Howard had resigned with the Lakers, he would have probably endured another tough season. Howard has said in the past that he is about winning, not just now, but well into the future. One thing no one is looking at is Howard played against the Lakers in the finals back in 2009 and probably has seeked some kind of revenge on the purple and gold for some time.
The Lakers lead by Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol dominated Howard's then Orlando Magic squad in a series that only lasted five games. Howard had a great season that year in which he lead the Magic passed the Celtics and the Cavaliers. No one expected the Magic to come out of the east that year, but made it because of Howard's dominant play. But Howard had to watch Kobe and the rest of the Lakers celebrate on his home floor and maybe, just maybe Howard right then and there pledged to hurt the Lakers if they ever met again. Maybe Howard finally got his wish, to hurt the Lakers and leave them with their arms out in free agency. Who knows?
Dwight Howard is still one of the best centers in the NBA, but Howard has clearly shown the rest of the league and fans world wide that he can't handle the pressure of playing in a big market where pressure is at every corner. There is nothing wrong with going to a small market team, but Howard lead everyone in the NBA to believe that he wanted the spotlight and wanted the perks that came with playing in Hollywood, and it looks like that Howard made sound basketball decision in going to young Rockets team with a bright future, rather than staying on a old Lakers team looking to get Kobe his sixth ring.
The Dwight Howard era for the Los Angeles Lakers is over, now the Houston Rockets get to deal with Howard and all of his drama. Maybe Howard was just putting on a show, and wanted to show everyone around the world that he could leave a historic franchise with no problem, and he did it. The winning tradition of the Lakers wasn't enough to entice Howard to stay, and instead Howard decided that the Rockets were on to something better.
Howard didn't want to be apart of the Lakers tradition of big men and that was his choice. He wants to be in a class of his own, and that is fine, but now the work comes in. He will have to prove that he is still the best center in the game and if he still is, then the Houston Rockets will be a tough team to beat and hopefully the drama of Dwight Howard is now over as heads to the Rockets to form an interesting one-two punch with James Harden. Peace...
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