LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after being fouled during the first half of a game against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on November 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, 2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed – Dwight Howard
Over the last three years with the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, Dwight Howard has transformed into a reliable backup center. After a solid season with the Lakers last season, the big man is still a free agent, and there should be some interested teams. While he is not the dominant force that he once was, Howard could certainly help a contender nightly, even at 36 years old.
On impact, Howard would be a quality addition to any team’s center rotation. The 18-year veteran would not only provide depth with a household name, but he can still add more strong rebounding and defense to a roster at this stage in his career.
Throughout the last three seasons, Howard has averaged 6.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 16.8 minutes per contest. Numbers like that are serviceable for a backup center, especially one with as much experience as Howard has earned over the years, as he has over 1,300 total NBA games played under his belt.
If Howard were to be signed, it would be on a minimum deal. Teams looking to add a third center will likely give Howard some consideration, and rightfully so. Once again, either Los Angeles team would be a reasonable suitor for Howard, in addition to other contenders like the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers.
Howard would not be a game-changing addition to any team at this point, but he could be a decent rotational piece that can play 10-15 minutes a night and provide depth at the center position. The 36-year-old has previously said that he wants to play into his 40s, and it will be interesting to see whether or not he ultimately reaches that milestone.
NBA Free Agency</a> opened up, and things have gotten rather quiet as of late. Over the next few weeks, there should be an occasional signing as teams look to put the finishing touches on their rosters.</p>
<p>One spot that still has a handful of talented players available on the free agent market is the center position. There are three particular names that come to mind, and any of them would make interesting additions to a team ahead of next season. With that said, let us look at three free agent centers that need to be signed before the 2022-23 NBA season starts.</p>
<h2>2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed – Hassan Whiteside</h2>
<p>It is somewhat surprising that Hassan Whiteside is still a free agent at this point. While he is not the player that he was back in the day, the veteran has become a serviceable backup center over the past two years, and he could still provide help to a team looking to strengthen their frontcourt via free agency this offseason.</p>
<p>Throughout his ongoing 10-year NBA career, Whiteside has made a living due to his strong presence on the defensive end. The All-Defensive center has been a formidable shot-blocker over the course of his career, having averaged an eye-catching 2.5 blocked shots per game.</p>
<p>That stellar shot-blocking has helped Whiteside take home the NBA’s Block Champion title twice in his career. Though Whiteside is somewhat limited on the other side of the basketball, mainly due to his lack of an outside jumper, he could certainly help shore up any team’s interior protection defensively with that excellent shot-blocking prowess he possesses.</p>
<p>Financially, Whiteside is likely looking at the minimum on his next deal. With that being the case, he would be a low-risk addition for any team looking to bolster their center depth ahead of next season.</p>
<p>As for potential suitors, either Los Angeles team could be a fit for the veteran center, as both teams <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"https://www.nba.com/stats/teams/misc/?sort=OPP_PTS_PAINT&dir=-1&Season=2021-22&SeasonType=Regular%20Season%22 target="_blank" rel="noopener">ranked top six in opponent paint points per game last season</a>. Both of them could use an interior defender to make sure that issue does not plague them again this year, and Whiteside could be a fitting addition in that regard on a team-friendly deal.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Center #2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_446980" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-446980 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1352582632.jpeg" alt="2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1352582632.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1352582632-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 10: Dwight Howard #39 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after being fouled during the first half of a game against the Miami Heat at Staples Center on November 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California, 2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed – Dwight Howard</h2>
<p>Over the last three years with the Los Angeles Lakers and Philadelphia 76ers, Dwight Howard has transformed into a reliable backup center. After a solid season with the Lakers last season, the big man is still a free agent, and there should be some interested teams. While he is not the dominant force that he once was, Howard could certainly help a contender nightly, even at 36 years old.</p>
<p>On impact, Howard would be a quality addition to any team’s center rotation. The 18-year veteran would not only provide depth with a household name, but he can still add more strong rebounding and defense to a roster at this stage in his career.</p>
<p>Throughout the last three seasons, Howard has averaged 6.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 16.8 minutes per contest. Numbers like that are serviceable for a backup center, especially one with as much experience as Howard has earned over the years, as he has over 1,300 total NBA games played under his belt.</p>
<p>If Howard were to be signed, it would be on a minimum deal. Teams looking to add a third center will likely give Howard some consideration, and rightfully so. Once again, either Los Angeles team would be a reasonable suitor for Howard, in addition to other contenders like the Boston Celtics or the Philadelphia 76ers.</p>
<p>Howard would not be a game-changing addition to any team at this point, but he could be a decent rotational piece that can play 10-15 minutes a night and provide depth at the center position. The 36-year-old has previously said that he<a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/wizards/dwight-howard-wants-play-his-40s-and-retire-wizards" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> wants to play into his 40s</a>, and it will be interesting to see whether or not he ultimately reaches that milestone.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Center #3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_446982" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="wp-image-446982 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1385289843.jpeg" alt="2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1385289843.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1385289843-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">PHILADELPHIA, PA – MARCH 14: DeMarcus Cousins #4 of the Denver Nuggets looks on against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 14, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Nuggets defeated the 76ers 114-110, 2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>2022 NBA Free Agency: 3 centers that need to be signed – DeMarcus Cousins</h2>
<p>After starting last season at home, DeMarcus Cousins received calls from the Milwaukee Bucks and Denver Nuggets, having suited up for both teams throughout the season. Cousins showcased that he could be a solid backup in the proper role, and center-hungry teams should certainly take a closer look at him as they brace for training camp in the coming months.</p>
<p>Despite enduring a handful of injuries over the last few years, Cousins showed that he could still perform at a serviceable level in a backup role. During his stints in Milwaukee and Denver, he put together averages of 9.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 15 minutes per game.</p>
<p>Cousins provided scoring, rebounding, and toughness whenever he was out on the floor, and he could do the same for any team that picks him up. The biggest knock on Cousins is his defense, as he has never excelled on that end of things, but he is still worth a flyer for everything else he provides. In somewhere around 10-15 minutes per game, <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/05/05/demarcus-cousins-renaissance-story/" rel="">there is certainly a role for Cousins in today’s NBA.</a></p>
<p>The big man is looking at a minimum deal if he were to be signed this late in free agency. Following a strong showing with Denver last season, it seemed likely that the Nuggets would bring Cousins back for another go-round, but that now appears unlikely after they signed DeAndre Jordan early in free agency.</p>
<p>If Cousins finds himself on an NBA roster ahead of next season, it will likely not be in Denver, but there should be some interested suitors out there. Once again, the Boston Celtics or Philadelphia 76ers would be two great options for the four-time All-Star, giving them a household name to shore up their center depth and giving him a shot to play legitimate minutes for a contender.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 small forwards that need to be signed" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/22/2022-nba-free-agency-small-forward/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/26/2022-nba-free-agency-centers/2/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/22/2022-nba-free-agency-small-forward/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 small forwards that need to be signed </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">
