The New York Knicks are searching for Robin Lopez’s replacement at center through free agency. Could Dwight Howard be the answer?
In acquiring point guard Derrick Rose from the Chicago Bulls, the New York Knicks addressed the most pressing need on the roster. New York also created a void, as starting center Robin Lopez was included as a part of the outgoing trade package.
There are a number of free agent centers who can fill Lopez’s proverbial shoes, but none are quite as prolific or polarizing as three-time Defensive Player of the Year Dwight Howard.
Howard’s list of accolades put him in the Hall of Fame discussion, and even his most bitter of critics can acknowledge that. Divisive a figure as he may be, when Howard is on his game, there are few players who can do what he’s capable of doing.
According to Ian Begley of ESPN New York, the Knicks are one of the teams Howard has on his free agency radar.
"if they have any interest in a center, one of the top bigs on the market would be open to signing with them. The Knicks are one of several teams Dwight Howard would consider in free agency, league sources say. Howard told friends earlier in the season that he was interested in playing for the Knicks; that interest remains as Howard approaches free agency, per league sources."
The Howard-to-New York rumors have been running rampant for the better part of the 2016 calendar year.
Howard will enter unrestricted free agency after falling victim to a team-wide mutiny in 2015-16. The Houston Rockets effectively phased him out of the offense, thus leading to many of Howard’s strongest critics begrudgingly showing sympathy.
Sympathetic as the general population was in 2015-16, the criticisms of Howard remain the same.
For Phil Jackson, his job will be to determine whether or not Howard is worth investing in. The cost would not be cheap, nor would the risk be nonexistent; for that matter, the potential reward could be incomparable.
The question is, should the Knicks offer Howard the money he’s seeking?
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