Dwight Howard Leaves Los Angeles For Houston
The Los Angeles Lakes face a tough next season after Dwight Howard decided not to stay with the team. The team’s roster is filled with veteran basketball players like Kobe Bryant who is still recovery from an Achilles’ tendon surgery. It’s not clear of Bryant – a five-time champion – will come back.
Howard chose to leave Los Angeles for Houston, which means Pau Gasol as being the big man still on the Lakers’ roster. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni would have a few holes in his lineup if it were opening night. Alongside Gasol, Steve Blake, Jordan Hill and Steve Nash are likely to be starters.
The Lakers must choose what amount it can add while it preserving most of the 2014 cap space. Nash is presently the only player with a deal past June 2014. A stringent luxury tax is to take effect during the next season, which would force the Lakers to reduce its spending to get below the threshold.
As it stands, the Lakers aren’t considered the best NBA team in their town. Instead, it’s the Clippers who were able to secure Doc Rivers of the Celtics to coach and attained Chris Paul during the first free agency day.
Mitch Kupchak, general manager for the Lakers, said the team is disappointed by Howard’s decision but, as usual, it will move in a new direction and do the best it can so Lakers fans are proud to support them.
Howard averaged just 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds in the 76 games played during his time in Los Angeles. He came to the team from Orlando in August.
Nash, Gasol and Bryant suffered injuries during the season, allowing the San Antonio Spurs to block the Lakers’ chance to get into the playoffs. The Lakers previous coach Mike Brown was terminated early in the season, leaving Howard trying to fit into the system D’Antoni had laid out.
If Howard had resigned with the team, it would have been for $118 million for five years. As such, he signed a deal with Houston for $88 million and four years.
Online News Heard Now
Short URL: http://www.onlinenewsheardnow.com/?p=1952
Posted by