See you later, Dwight…

Dwight Howard is taking his smile and game to Houston. By scott mecum, via Wikimedia Commons

After being bounced in the second round of the Western Conference playoffs for the second straight year in 2012, the Los Angeles Lakers are in unusual territory.

They aren’t being considered serious contenders for the upcoming year.

Trading for Steve Nash and Dwight Howard in separate deals to pair with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol last year brought the promise of a hugely successful season. Fast-forward to the 2013 offseason, and dejected Lakers fans wondered, will Dwight Howard re-sign?

While many in the Lakers’ organization seemed optimistic, fans and executives around the NBA thought it unlikely Howard would continue in the Purple and Gold. With 16 NBA titles under its belt, I think the Lakers organization and must have been confident in re-signing Howard. They have Hollywood, legends, and banners, everything that Dwight Howard has said from the beginning that he wants. How can any star player deny a chance to become another legend that wore the famous purple and gold jerseys?

Don’t get me wrong, Howard is a great NBA player. When healthy, he is the best center in the league. But he is still immature and sometimes delusional, and never quite seemed like he belonged.

He has finally made his decision, spurning the Lakers to join James Harden and the Houston Rockets. Howard becomes the first superstar to leave Los Angeles for another team. He made it clear that he didn’t like playing under Mike D’Antoni but the Lakers didn’t budge and made it clear that he would be back as the coach. All that being said, I don’t believe Howard ever really wanted to be in Los Angeles in the first place. From the beginning he had other cities in mind — Brooklyn for instance. His relationship with the fans in Los Angeles seemed to mirror his relationship with every coach he’s ever had. Fans marveled at his talent and raw ability when healthy. They groaned when they considered the player he could be. The fans never accepted this #12 even as much as they accepted another #12 — Vlade Divac. Howard never wanted to be a Laker and rightfully so shouldn’t be one.

One last message to Dwight: Thank you for choosing the Rockets over the Lakers. At least now us Laker fans and organization don’t have to deal with all your problems. Have fun in Houston playing for a team that has won only two championships in its franchise history and the only reason they won those are because Michael Jordan left the league in 1994 and only played in 17 games in 1995. In a few years you will be sitting on your couch watching the Lakers hold up that trophy you so desperately covet and will be thinking, “I’ve made a huge mistake.” But again, thank you Dwight for leaving, you don’t want to be a Laker then the Lakers don’t need you. And Houston, this time you really do have a problem, a 6’11” problem.