Knicks Rumors: Pros And Cons Of Pursuing Dwight Howard

Apr 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) warms up before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
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Mar 6, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) dunks the ball against Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 6, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) dunks the ball against Toronto Raptors in the second quarter at Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Pro: Rebounding

If nothing else can be unequivocally agreed upon, it’s that Dwight Howard is still one of the most dominant rebounders in the NBA. The numbers say as much, as does the eye test, as Howard routinely overwhelms opponents down low.

The New York Knicks were a solid rebounding team in 2015-16, but with Howard, Jeff Hornacek‘s crew could become elite on the boards.

Howard finished the 2015-16 regular season at No. 4 in the NBA with 11.8 rebounds per game. He was No. 6 with 8.4 defensive rebounds per contest, No. 3 at 3.4 offensive rebounds per game, and No. 10 with 38 double-doubles in 71 games played.

Simply put, Howard is a nightly double-double threat who can provide steady production from the 5.

Howard has slipped a bit defensively, but he was playing for a Houston Rockets team that abandoned all effort on that end. It stands to reason that, alongside Kristaps Porzingis, he could help anchor a dominant interior defense.

At the very least, Howard would dominate the boards on both ends of the floor.

Next: Con