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

3. Brooklyn Nets fans get their dream come true when Dwight Howard signs.

Due to the unconventional makeup of this Brooklyn Nets squad, it’s unclear who will be the primary backup center this year. Up-and-comer Nicolas Claxton is clearly their best center and is projected to start at the five, but given the lack of shooting Brooklyn faces with him and Ben Simmons on the floor together, playing a traditional center might be troublesome.

Regardless of who starts, the Brooklyn Nets don’t have a bruising center on the roster. Claxton has more of a lanky build while Day’Ron Sharpe and Markieff Morris are undersized. By adding Dwight Howard to the mix, GM Sean Marks gives the Nets another piece to throw into the rotation for the most difficult center matchups like Joel Embiid of the division rival Philadelphia 76ers.

For Brooklyn Nets fans, this would be a long-time coming. On several occasions, he was linked to the Nets during summers when the team had the cap flexibility and/or trade assets to make something happen. It never came to fruition, but there’s a contingency of Nets fans who never let go of that speculation. This signing would surely stir up some noise on Atlantic Ave.