Free agent center Dwight Howard wants to continue his NBA career, but apparently is interested in joining the WWE if he’s unable to find a team, as Kurt Helin of NBC Sports relays (hat tip to Arash Markazi of ESPN Radio).
An eight-time All-NBA member and three-time Defensive Player of the Year, back injuries have unfortunately slowed Howard in comparison to his supremely athletic peak. Still, he has been a productive backup center the past three years for the Lakers and Sixers, winning a ring with Los Angeles in 2020.
In 60 games (16.2 MPG) with the Lakers in 2021/22, the 36-year-old averaged 6.2 PPG and 5.9 RPG. He’s one of several veteran free agents still looking for a team this summer.
Here’s more from around the basketball world:
- Turkish team Fenerbahce is reportedly targeting Carsen Edwards, per Basket News. Bugra Uzar of Eurohoops reports that Edwards and the EuroLeague side are in “advanced talks.” The No. 33 pick of the 2019 draft, Edwards spent his first couple of seasons with the Celtics, appearing in 68 total games while averaging 3.6 PPG and 1.1 RPG in 9.8 MPG. He was traded to Memphis last September, subsequently waived, and spent the majority of last season in the G League, averaging 26.7 PPG, 2.6 RPG, 4.2 APG and 1.6 SPG in 31 regular season games for the Salt Lake City Stars, Utah’s affiliate. The 5’11” guard signed a contract with the Pistons at the end of last season, appearing in four games with averages of 5.8 PPG and 3.5 APG in 19.8 MPG. However, his team option for ’22/23 was declined at the end of June, making him an unrestricted free agent.
- French phenom Victor Wembanyama will miss the upcoming EuroBasket tournament after sustaining a muscle injury, according to a report from Eurohoops. The 7’3″ Wembanyama is the projected No. 1 pick of the 2023 draft and considered by some talent evaluators to be the best prospect the NBA has seen in a couple decades. The group phase of EuroBasket tips off on September 1.
- One NBA team owner tells Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com that he thinks teams receiving payments from taxpayers at the end of the season should be required to reinvest that money into rosters rather than pocketing it. The seven taxpaying teams in ’21/22, led by the Warriors, paid a combined $481,021,386, shattering the old record of $173.3MM back in ’02/03. The 23 non-taxpaying teams received half of that total, so each team received a $10,456,987 payment. The league received the remaining $240,510,693 to help fund its revenue sharing program.
Something about that math doesn’t add up. That payment is exactly 50% of the total tax. Where does the other 50% go?
You’re right, it is exactly half. “The league will get the remaining $240,510,693 to help fund its revenue sharing program.”
I edited it for clarity.
I’d say you could fund a good number of revenue-sharing programs with $240M.
Lakers and Clippers paid big luxury tax to play lottery for other teams
Nets paid luxury tax to get swept in the playoffs
Fools?
No
They were targeting champs
Riveting insight as always. You mean they were spending money to try and be champs. Mind blowing
Howard is clown. Super silly how limited he was as a player. Very good athlete but didn’t want to Improve his game. Then acted as a goofy teammate, and now an instigator. WWE should suit him, short term. I don’t see his attitude fitting in
He’s just a big name, I can’t see him putting in the work to be a pro wrestler. Good for a big pop, but he’s going to be a worse big man than Giant Gonzalez.
Um … except Howard has real muscles and a real 6 pack. Whereas giant Gonzalez had to wear a corny weird suit. Oh and, Howard is actually a real world class athlete. Likely a hall of famer.
To be kind, I would have to seriously question your judgment at the time you made that post and comparison.
correction: Howard WAS a world class athlete. now he’s a broken down shell of his former self.
Anyone in the NBA is a world class athlete. Less than 1% of professional basketball players play in the NBA.
If you’re slamming him, you’re forgetting how much of a jerk he was to Stan Van Gundy
@Omarij
too bad his point guards didn’t get him the ball more often. A career 59% FG% screams he might deserve the ball 15 to 20x a game.
If you ever meet Stan Van Gundy you would understand.
Back injuries/issues and WWE… I can’t imagine that going well for very long.
Howard is an excellent backup for any team. If a contender doesn’t sign him. Then the Magic should. He can mentor Bamba and their bigs. And go out a Magic player.
Wenbanyama is worth tanking for. Top three draft teams will get a shot at him. He is worth it trust me. Plus next two picks are also great picks.
Right now I’d have to say Spurs, Jazz, Rockets, OKC. Are all waiting on him. He is a Franchise maker.