Howard underwent back surgery this summer and his healing process will take some time. The Lakers will be title contenders with Howard, but according to reports, it will be a long time before he gets on the court.
Multiple sources told ESPN that Howard is expected to miss the start of the regular season as he continues to recover from back surgery.
One of the keys to winning a title is to stay healthy and have the best players at 100 percent come playoff time. The Lakers are no doubt the most talented team in the NBA and they cannot ruin that distinction by rushing Howard’s rehab.
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Howard is the best center in the NBA, but he will be severely limited if he decides to come back early. His back issues were a cause for concern for the Orlando Magic and the multiple teams interested in acquiring him. The Lakers knew his health status before landing him, but the front office was willing to pull the trigger even though he may not be playing for a few weeks.