Report: Dwight Howard interested in returning to Lakers

Just when you thought that the Los Angeles Lakers’ offseason couldn’t get any weirder, the greatest reunion story of our era could be upon us.

In an appearance Monday on “The HoopsHype Podcast,” Sam Amick of USA TODAY Sports reported that Dwight Howard is interested in a return to the Lakers. Amick notes the former Defensive Player of the Year’s desire to play with LeBron James but does add that it is unclear if the interest is mutual.

In addition to the Pelicans and Warriors, Dwight Howard is interested in returning to the Lakers, according to Sam Amick. "He’d like to play with LeBron [James]," Amick said on The HoopsHype Podcast. "That’s definitely on his radar." It's unclear if the interest is mutual.

— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) July 3, 2018

The 32-year-old Howard, who still has to finalize his buyout with the Brooklyn Nets, infamously played for the Lakers during the 2012-13 season and served as the poster child for their underachieving, dysfunctional team that year. He clashed with Kobe Bryant, voiced frustration with coach Mike D’Antoni, and seemingly burned his bridges after the season was over by leaving to sign with the Houston Rockets despite the Lakers’ impassioned “#StayD12” campaign.

Howard obviously remains a dubious locker room presence. But the Lakers need a center and almost the entire regime (from the players to the coaching staff to the front office) is now different from when Howard played there.

Crazier reconciliations have happened too (see: DeAndre Jordan-Mavs). But this particular one still seems like a longshot, especially when you consider that Laker fans still boo and heckle Howard at every turn.