Dwight Howard (Photo : Getty Images)
Dwight Howard could be the missing piece the New York Knicks need to effectively utilize Phil Jackson's triangle offense.
ESPN's Ian Begley reported that Howard, who is set to opt out of his four-year $87.5 million contract with the Houston Rockets, has expressed interests in joining the Knicks in July.
While the Knicks have yet to show any desire to consider Howard, the three-time Defensive Player of the Year could be major piece in the team's implementation of the triangle offense. According to Maxwell Ogden of Daily Knicks, Howard could be Jackson's Andrew Bynum when playing the Zen Master's triangle.
"For Howard, specifically, playing in the Triangle Offense could do for him what it's done for other great big men," Ogden wrote. "He's likely past the stage of his career where he could've had anything comparable to Shaquille O'Neal's success, but he can still be Phil Jackson's Andrew Bynum."
Bynum, along with Pau Gasol, was a major factor in the effectiveness of the Los Angeles Lakers' triangle offense during their three-consecutive seasons of dominance in the league from 2008-2010. If signed by the Knicks, Howard would likely play Bynum's role of scoring down the paint and crashing the boards.
While Howard does not possess polished post moves like what Bynum had during the latter's prime, playing for Jackson would give the defensive big man a chance to improve on his back-to-the-basket skills.
Moreover, Howard signing with the Knicks would give the All-Star center redemption in a big market like New York. Howard was all but lost in the Rockets' offensive schemes in the past season, posting below career averages of 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game. Playing for a team like the Knicks would probably help Howard realign his career, although New York is not the only possible place where he could consider in the offseason.
According to Dwain Price of the Star Telegram, Howard is at the top of the Dallas Mavericks' free agent targets this summer as the team looks to give Dirk Nowitzki another one final run.
"At the top of the Mavericks' wish list this year is Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard, who plans to opt out of the final year of his contract and become a free agent this summer. Howard, it would seem, has absolutely everything the Mavericks need from a center," Price wrote.
Dallas could give Howard a chance to redeem himself as one of the most dominant big men in the league. But unlike the Knicks, who already have Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porzingis, the Mavs could offer Howard the opportunity to be the team's top star, with Nowitzki retiring soon.
Nevertheless, Howard seems to be heading to teams with big markets, and if the Knicks show a strong interest in bringing him to New York, Howard would surely be an integral part of the team's new offensive system.
