Dwight Howard's Jersey Number and Contract With Lakers Are Totally Bizarre
By Sean Facey
Dwight Howard is really mixing things up now that he's back in Los Angeles.
The 15-year NBA veteran is rather strangely donning No. 39 for the Lakers for the 2019-20 season, an intriguing departure from his usual No. 12 or 21.
Our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania reports Dwight Howard will wear No. 39 next season in his return to the Lakers.
— Stadium (@Stadium) August 26, 2019
First look: pic.twitter.com/RnyjRchwKp
He really didn't have a choice when it came to 12 considering that's occupied by Devontae Cacok, but it's strange that he went with a completely new number rather than asking Cacok to vacate it or roll with No. 21 like he did with the Wizards last year.
His number isn't the only bizarre part of his second stint with the Lakers, either. The deal he signed with the team is what's known as a "summer contract," which has no guaranteed salary. What that means is that he'll get paid $14,490 per day he's on the roster, and those payments will begin on Oct. 21.
The contract that Dwight Howard will sign in LAL is called a “summer contract” because it has $0 salary protection (comparable to Anthony Bennett in Houston). Howard will earn $14,490 for every day he is on the roster. The per day clock will start on Oct. 21.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) August 26, 2019
Maybe he can view the new jersey and new contract as a fresh start. He can shrug off all of the distractions and problems he's dealt with and start again on a team that has playoff aspirations.
“Can we trust you to guard the likes of Joel Embiid? Can we trust you to embrace your role?”
— Stadium (@Stadium) August 24, 2019
Our NBA insider @ShamsCharania reveals the Lakers' decision-making process that resulted in a surprising reunion with Dwight Howard. pic.twitter.com/7NjJE0hZ1p
Whatever the case may be, it's truly an odd start to the next part of his long and winding roller coaster of a career.