Lakers reportedly granted permission to speak with Dwight Howard

The Los Angeles Lakers may be progressing towards a deal to add Dwight Howard.

The Lakers are in need of a center after DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn ACL last week that could keep him out for the season. Howard had expressed interest in a Lakers return last year and this summer, but the team went in other directions. Now that Cousins is out, the possibility of adding Howard is in play.

Early Sunday morning, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that the Lakers had interest in bringing Howard back. Charania later reported that the Memphis Grizzlies have granted the Lakers permission to talk with the big man.

Howard was traded to Memphis during the offseason and is expected to be waived. It’s not uncommon for teams to allow the agent of a player to seek a potential trade or new home for their client in the case where they are unlikely to keep the player.

Howard turns 34 in December and would be a gamble for the Lakers; he only played in nine games last season with the Wizards due to a glute injury. He also has previous negative history with the Lakers after leaving them for Houston in free agency in 2013.