5 teams that should jump at the chance to sign free agent Dwight Howard

Like a sparkler on the Fourth of July, former All-Star center Dwight Howard was an alluring spectacle drawing the league’s attention to Orlando before fading into the night with a sizzle. From 2006 to 2012, D12 was an annual lock to reach All-NBA status while vying to lead the entire league in both rebounds and blocks. An athletic force of nature who could soar above the rim or score from the paint, Howard was the focal point of a Magic team that without him, had no business being so prevalent in the Playoff conversation.

Although his prime years ended earlier than expected, Dwight Howard remained a productive player for many seasons to come. The three-time Defensive Player of the Year was a starter through his age 32 season —though he never stuck with one team for more than a season in the six years since his departure from Houston. Now 36 and unsigned, Dwight Howard remains one of the most noteworthy names left on the free agent market.

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Dwight Howard still has a lot to offer the NBA as a backup center.

You know exactly what you’re going to get from Dwight Howard at this stage of his career: Interior defense, rebounding and some inside scoring. If your role is clearly defined and you don’t ask too much of him otherwise, he’s a solid addition to any team trying to compete in the postseason. His kryptonite in the past has been a will to do more. He imagined himself being a far more effective post player than he actually was, and wished for more of his teams to funnel their efforts through him as a focal point.

That’s simply not the case anymore and he knows it. Center depth isn’t easy to come by these days — especially with more players aiming to play from the perimeter than do the dirty work inside. So any team with spare minutes behind their starting center would gain elite insurance with second, or in some cases, third-string center play from Dwight Howard. He’s not done yet.