NBA Free Agency 2018: 5 best centers available
As we prepare to enter free agency this year, we will look at the center position, and which players teams should be most excited about there.
The center position has evolved over time. At one point in time, the center was the focal point of a team’s offense, going to work in the post possession after possession. Now, that has changed. This year’s draft had players who were beginning to demonstrate what the ‘Modern 5’ is. They are now expected to be able to switch on defense and shoot threes, while still being rim protectors. Marvin Bagley and DeAndre Ayton were the prime examples of this. Yet, this year’s free agent centers don’t completely fit that mold, with a lot of guys still built to play around the rim. Here are the best of them.
Stats courtesy of basketball-reference, offensive and defensive rating from NBA.com
5. Dwight Howard
Howard was just traded from the Hornets to the Nets, but the Nets are expected to buy him out of his contract. The big man has career averages of 17.4 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per game, numbers which he has done well to maintain through his career. Last year, he averaged 16.6 points and 12.4 rebounds per game.
The eight time All-Star still has the ability to impact the game on a daily basis. His 20.5 PER speaks to that, plus he has the ability to limit second possessions for the other team. He has a 33.8% defensive rebound percentage and still owns the glass.
That being said, Howard has still been on four teams in four seasons, that happens for a reason. He was reportedly awful in the Hornets lock room, with not many teammates liking him. That is probably why the Nets are buying him out, they don’t need somebody to disrupt the chemistry they are trying to build in their young locker room.
So, Howard can still play. If he joins a situations where he is happy and good for the locker room, he will help a team immensely. Especially if the rest of the floor is spaced out well, he can be a menace inside, eating up opposing bigs on the glass.