Dwight Howard
If the New York Knicks decide that Mitchell Robinson is their long-term answer in the middle, they need to find a capable backup for him. Do they want to bring Nerlens Noel back on a multi-year deal worth upwards of $15 million per season?
They can afford it given their cap space, but spending on two big men like that doesn’t seem like good business. Instead, they could go after a cost-efficient veteran big man once again and Dwight Howard would fit the bill.
It was only two years ago that Howard’s career looked to be at the end of the line. He had been labeled a bad teammate and locker room guy, leaving him short on options. So, he signed a non-guaranteed deal with the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2019-20 season and rehabbed his value.
He has played on veteran minimum contracts with the Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers but has earned himself a raise for this offseason. The Knicks could give him a contract similar to what Noel received last season, a one-year, $5 million to be their backup center.
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Despite losing some of his athleticism and explosiveness, Howard is still an elite rebounder and strong rim protector. He would fit perfectly into Thibodeau’s rotation playing 16-20 minutes per night off the bench with no drop off defensively from the starting center.
