Dwight Howard reportedly returning to Lakers

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Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard returning to Lakers

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports | By Grey Papke | Last updated 8/26/19

The reunion between Dwight Howard and the Los Angeles Lakers is happening.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Howard has reached a buyout agreement with the Memphis Grizzlies and intends to join the Los Angeles Lakers once he becomes a free agent.

Dwight Howard is finalizing contract buyout with Memphis and plans to sign with the Los Angeles Lakers as free agent, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 23, 2019

Rumored for weeks now, the Howard reunion provides all sorts of unique storylines. The veteran center’s previous tenure with the Lakers was marked by internal discord, but most of the figures who were involved in that era have left the team. The exception is owner Jeanie Buss, with whom Howard has maintained a cordial relationship.

The 33-year-old spent last season with the Washington Wizards but only played nine games for them after undergoing spinal surgery early in the year. Howard’s last full season came with the Charlotte Hornets, where he averaged 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game.

Room opened up for Howard when DeMarcus Cousins went down with a torn ACL. He’ll provide frontcourt depth for a Laker team that expects to be significantly better in 2019-20.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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