5 Teams That Would Benefit From Adding Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard: 5 Teams That Could Use His Services

With the season finished for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Dwight Howard saga turns to a new chapter. Unfortunately, this chapter is much like the chapters of old, as Howard may once again be on the move. Which begs the question, where will he go, and who could use his talents?

Shortly after Howard was ejected from a game four loss against the San Antonio Spurs, he took to twitter expressing his remorse and asking for forgiveness from the L.A. fans. One must keep in mind that these words were tweeted while Howard was caught up in the emotions of having failed at being the Lakers big man the team had needed.

We have seen Howard give in to his feelings of guilt and emotion in the past. We have also seen him settle back into the role of the petulant child and throw a fit until he gets his way.

Howard could have grown up over the last year. He may truly feel like he needs to rise to the challenge and come back to earn his place among the historic big men that have donned the purple and gold. Being present to watch Shaquille O’Neal’s jersey go up into the rafters should have been all it took to get 100% effort and dedication from Howard. It could be that getting swept out of the playoffs has finally made the situation serious to the NBA’a biggest joker.

Then again, maybe it didn’t, so the following list is of the top five teams, besides the Lakers, that could use Howard’s services. Honestly, if you were just looking at need, the list could encompass nearly every team in the league. Instead, this list covers need and probability, taking into account whether the team could make a realistic push for the talented and temperamental center.

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Jeff Everette is a NFL columnist for www.RantSports.com. You can follow him on Twitter @jeverettesports, “like” his page on Facebook, “Trust” him on Sulia, or join his community on Google+.

5. Cleveland Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers may be the most unlikely of places for Howard to go, but it would be a good fit. The Cavs need a centerpiece, and they have the talent around the position to tempt Howard into considering. The location of the franchise is probably the biggest downside for Howard, but if he just wanted to go somewhere to ball out and be a fan favorite, Cleveland would be the place to go.

4. Denver Nuggets

Earning the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs was a great accomplishment for the Denver Nuggets, but getting knocked off in six games by the Golden State Warriors was an embarrassment.

The Nuggets have an interesting squad as deep as any NBA team when it comes to talented players, yet not one of them truly stands out as the team’s superstar. Howard could go into the Mile High City and be the missing piece they need to help them get over the hump. Denver has the talented JaVale McGee, who is an extremely athletic big man, but Howard is a more complete player, by far. McGee has tons of upside and potential, but Howard is the best big in the game when he is focused and dedicated to the moment.

Howard’s jokester personality would be a great fit in Denver; he would just need to be willing to run in George Karl’s offense, and that could be a problem for Howard.

3. Dallas Mavericks

Mark Cuban has made public his desire to have Howard on his Dallas Mavericks, and he would certainly pull out all of the stops to get the talented center to sign. The Mavericks could be shaped into the perfect situation for Howard, but they are not the perfect fit as of now. The supporting cast is aging and below par compared to the other teams Howard could sign with. Cuban would need to tweak his roster to fit Howard's strengths, and that is not something you do overnight.

Then there is the issue of Dirk Nowitzki. The seven-foot German with the silky touch is getting older and may be in the twilight of his career. But then again, maybe it is just the media that paints the picture as such. Nowitzki still has plenty of elite basketball in his system which could work as a draw for Howard, or a deterrent, depending on Howard’s mood at the time of the pitch.

2. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets could be the smartest move Howard has an opportunity to make. At the time of this article, the Rockets have pushed the Oklahoma City Thunder to a game six in the playoffs and have looked impressive doing it. Howard would be able to come in and push the Rockets into the upper echelon of the Western Conference hierarchy. With James Harden and Jeremy Lin on the roster, the Rockets have weapons and stars that can take the pressure of being “The Man” off of Howard and allow him to just play ball and flirt with the people of Houston.

1. Atlanta Hawks

The Atlanta Hawks could be the perfect fit for Howard. He would be joining a team set up in a way to utilize his strengths, possibly better than any team in the league. Howard’s strength is in the low post, and while every team listed has the weapons in place to space the floor for Howard, Atlanta may be best equipped. Josh Smith and Al Horford possess the length, strength, and shooting ability to allow Howard to flourish at what he does best. Plus, playing for his hometown would be a fitting way to have the drama surrounding Howard come to an end.