For the past few years now, the general consensus has been that the Warriors need more than Kevon Looney at the center position. Looney, being the absolute best at what he does, silenced the fans that thought this and helped contribute to a championship. But now looking at this upcoming season, the question arises- Will Wiseman and Looney with the occasional help from Draymond be enough of a presence in the front court to sustain another year of winning basketball?

In most cases that answer is yes but if the Warriors have a chance at signing the likes of Dwight Howard to a veteran minimum contract, should they do it? Howard is now thirty-six years old and clearly past his prime as far as scoring is concerned. But last season he played 60 games with the Lakers and averaged 6 points and 6 rebounds after returning from a brief stint with the Sixers the previous year. In 2020 he was a key piece in the Lakers championship team as he alongside Javale McGee were their only center presence in the paint. During that championship run he averaged 7.5 points and 7.3 rebounds which are remarkably similar to his averages from this past season.

He most certainly could slide into a role like Kevon Looney played, a hard screener who can roll to the basket and defend the rim at a high level. Howard can also be a Wiseman fail-safe if the young big man was to get hurt again but that is highly unlikely. The addition would deepen the Dubs’s front court and give the team a much-needed boost in the height advantage. While on the Lakers in a game against the Pistons, Howard recorded 5 blocks on route to a win. A force like that down low could have greatly helped the Dubs against a team like the Celtics. Who in the Finals were declared as the more physical and lengthier team.

But is Howard the best option? Even with him starting to expand his game and shoot more jump shots, the question would be how well he would fit into the Warriors system. Obviously, you do not have to be able to shoot like Looney and Draymond but it is a great plus when weighing the options. Among Free Agent big men that have yet to be signed here are some options: DeMarcus Cousins, Ed Davis, Moses Brown, Blake Griffin, LaMarcus Aldridge, Hassan Whiteside, and lastly Dwight Howard.

Of the group I would say that the three top fits with the Warriors would be DeMarcus Cousins, (his second stint with the Dubs) Hassan Whiteside, and Dwight Howard. The cheapest option would most likely end up being Howard but all three could easily slide into the Warriors system. Howard is the most decorated player of all the options as he won Defensive Player of the Year for three consecutive years from 2009-2011. While the Warriors will not be getting a current DPOY, the case can certainly be made for signing Howard. In the end it all comes down to whether he wants to be part of winning basketball or try to create his own version of it in Los Angeles. In his case it would be a low risk, high reward if the Warriors decide to give him a contract to deepen the bench for next year.

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