Who will win the Dwight Howard derby?

Writers from around the Tribune Co. will predict whether free agent Dwight Howard will re-sign with the Lakers or move on to another team. Feel free to join the conversation with a comment of your own.

Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times

If Dwight Howard truly intends to base his decision on basketball reasons — a phrase the Lakers have already grown to detest — then there’s only one destination that makes sense, at least for next season: Houston.

The Rockets already have a pair of dynamic guards in James Harden and Jeremy Lin and an intriguing forward in Chandler Parsons. Plus, they play at a fun, fast pace and could use Howard to transform them from a fringe playoff team to a Finals contender.

The alternatives don’t seem nearly as attractive. We already saw what kind of fit Howard was with the Lakers, and playing with Dirk Nowitzki and almost no one else of note doesn’t seem very enticing either. The Lakers and Mavericks could be in position to significantly improve themselves a year from now, but since when has Howard exhibited the patience and maturity to understand a long-term plan?

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