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Knicks Rumors: Pros And Cons Of Pursuing Dwight Howard

By Maxwell Ogden

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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Apr 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) drives in against Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) during the second quarter in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 27, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) drives in against Golden State Warriors center Marreese Speights (5) during the second quarter in game five of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

Pro: Postseason Experience

In 2016-17, every member of the New York Knicks should be chanting the same mantra: postseason or bust. Phil Jackson will have the team aiming more along the lines of, “Championship or bust,” which is how a winning culture is built.

Missing the playoffs for a fourth consecutive season simply wouldn’t be acceptable, and that’s why signing Dwight Howard makes sense for the Knicks.

Love him or hate him, a team with Howard on the roster hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2006. During that remarkable 10-year run, he’s played in 89 postseason games—more than any player on the Knicks, including Carmelo Anthony.

During those 89 games, Howard has accumulated averages of 19.1 points, 14.1 rebounds, 4.1 offensive boards, and 2.6 blocks on 58.9 percent shooting from the field.

Howard led the Orlando Magic to the 2009 NBA Finals and 2010 Eastern Conference Finals. In 2015, he averaged 16.4 points, 14.0 rebounds, 2.3 blocks, and 1.4 steals on 57.7 percent shooting during the Houston Rockets’ trip to the Western Conference Finals.

Not only has Howard helped lead the teams he’s played for to 10 consecutive postseason appearances, but he’s been brilliant upon reaching the playoffs.

must read: Veteran free agents who'd help the locker room

The question is, can a soon-to-be 31-year-old Howard help end the Knicks’ 43-year title drought? Jackson will answer that question in the near future.

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