Lakers could lure Dwight Howard back to LA

The Los Angeles Lakers are considering a move to bring back former player Dwight Howard to fill the hole left by the potentially season-ending injury to center DeMarcus Cousins.

Howard, who spent one season with the Lakers in 2012-13, is expected to have his contract bought out by the Memphis Grizzlies and has a mutual interest in returning to Staples Center, according to reports in the US.

The 33-year-old averaged 17.1 points and 12.4 rebounds that season, but Los Angeles finished 45-37 and were swept by the San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the playoffs.

He only played nine games for the Washington Wizards in 2018-19 because of back surgery and other injuries. But he missed just 20 games over the three previous seasons and holds career averages of 17.4 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game.

Cousins, a four-time All-Star center, is more or less done for the entire 2019-20 season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee during a workout in Las Vegas.

The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Lakers in free agency after a season with the Golden State Warriors. He missed the first half of the 2018-19 season as he recovered from a torn Achilles.

In nine NBA seasons, Cousins has averaged 21.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game.

The Lakers, who are 5.25 to regain the NBA Championship in 2019-20, are also understood to be interested in free-agent veteran Joakim Noah as they look to avoid playing Anthony Davis at center.