Shaquille O'Neal Comments on Dwight Howard's Potential Free Agency and More
Former Orlando Magic star Shaquille O'Neal fled to greener pastures and won three championships with the Los Angeles Lakers during his heyday. Dwight Howard's post-Orlando NBA career hasn't had anywhere near that level of success.
O'Neal spoke Monday about how Howard would stand to benefit from a return to the Magic, per ESPN.com's Calvin Watkins:
"I think it would be good for the city. First of all, after the first time he left, letting a big young guy get away, it shouldn't happen a second time. All the puzzle [pieces] have to fit. …
If you have respect for one another, I think you have to delete the word differences 'cause business is always going to be business. The DeVos family [which owns the Magic] I have respect for. It can definitely work, as a general manager and owner we're not just going to be bringing people back, we're trying to get to that next level. If that guy can't get us to the next level, then it don't make sense.
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Following in O'Neal's footsteps to a degree, Howard went to the Lakers in his first stop after Orlando. The stint lasted only one season, as L.A. fell short of expectations and Howard clashed with Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, which O'Neal was known to do despite their multiple championships together.
Since then, Howard has spent the past three years with the Houston Rockets, largely underachieving and failing along with star guard James Harden to lift the franchise to a championship. Per Spotrac, the 30-year-old has a player option for next season, but he can opt out and be a free agent this summer.
With the NBA's salary-cap rise imminent, Howard can make even more money on the open market. He is a unique, gifted player at his position and ought to command top dollar from any number of suitors.
O'Neal spoke about how the current climate of perimeter-oriented pro basketball, punctuated by the Golden State Warriors and their 69-8 record thus far in 2015-16, will help Howard and would've helped him if he were still active, per Watkins:
"You got everybody shooting jumpers, guess what? Middle is open, right? You got everybody shooting jumpers, middle is wide open. Every time I played against a big guy who shot a jumper, that just told me he didn’t want to be inside, and I would pound him some more and I would purposely get an offensive foul to let you know that I'm coming, elbows up, all up in your chest, let you know I'm coming. The fact everybody is shooting jumpers, right now, I'd average $40 million in this league I promise you, especially with the new CBA and nobody wants to play inside.
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The Magic would be a nice sentimental choice, and Orlando fans would likely welcome Howard back and hopefully see him elevate his game. It's just a matter of whether he would fit with the squad's young core.
An obvious block to a prospective Howard return to Orlando is the presence of Nikola Vucevic, who's only 25 and is averaging 18 points and 8.9 rebounds per game this season.
Orlando has been building its foundation for years since Howard's departure, and the vision is finally about to come to fruition. At least the vast majority of pieces—such as hybrid forward Aaron Gordon, Mario Hezonja, Victor Oladipo, Evan Fournier and Elfrid Payton—are on the perimeter.
That leaves some room for Howard to step in, though if he were to seriously consider Orlando as a destination, the Magic would in all likelihood shop Vucevic.
Leadership and intangibles aren't qualities Howard has been known for in the past. Perhaps he can reverse that perception with the franchise that selected him No. 1 overall in the 2004 draft and, to use some of O'Neal's words, help lift a burgeoning young team "to the next level."
Similar to what LeBron James is trying to do—bring a championship to the Cleveland Cavaliers in his second stint with the team—Howard could make it all the more sweet by winning his maiden title where his NBA journey began.
