Is there still a place for Dwight Howard in the NBA?

Is there still a place for Dwight Howard in the NBA? by Daniel Lubofsky

The Los Angeles Lakers intend to start LeBron James at point guard next season. Where does he rank among the league’s best at his new position?

Sixteen years ago, a high school kid named LeBron James entered the NBA amid constant comparisons to Magic Johnson, the legendary point guard who guided the Los Angeles Lakers to five NBA championships and is credited with helping save the NBA in the 1980s.

The teenage version of LeBron could score with the best of them, but it was his passing skill and court vision — along with an instantly marketable persona — that inspired the Magic comparisons.

Over time, however, it became more popular to compare LeBron to Michael Jordan, even when LeBron’s style was always closer to Magic’s on the court.

LeBron went on to become a legend in his own right, winning three championships, three Finals MVPs and four league MVP awards. He did all of that while playing (or at least being listed at) small forward, and is widely considered the greatest the game has ever seen at that position.

Now, at 34 years old and going into his 17th pro season, LeBron is reportedly going to — like Magic once did — become the Lakers’ starting point guard.

Yahoo Sources: Los Angeles Lakers intend to move LeBron James to the starting point guard position. https://t.co/is6BPo5W0q — Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) July 8, 2019

Whether you like LeBron or you hate him, you have to admit this is a cool little narrative of things coming full circle.

Last season, his first with the Lakers after leaving the Cleveland Cavaliers, LeBron averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. He was voted to start in the All-Star Game and was All-NBA Third Team. He had eight triple-doubles, a 51-point game and passed Jordan for No. 4 on the all-time scoring list.

On the other hand, a groin injury limited LeBron to 55 games, his defense was noticeably bad, and the Lakers missed the playoffs.

What would’ve been a career year for a lot of players was a down year for LeBron, and it opened up a new debate over his place in the NBA’s pantheon of superstars. LeBron had the unofficial “best player in the world” title on lock for the better part of a decade, but there are a handful of younger stars — Kawhi Leonard, Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo and James Harden — who could currently lay claim to that label.

Will moving to a new position give LeBron the boost necessary to put himself back on top? More importantly, will it help the Lakers get any closer to a championship?

It’s safe to say that this position switch is happening out of necessity. Had the Lakers been able to sign an All-Star point guard like Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker or D’Angelo Russell in free agency, LeBron would still be a small forward or power forward on the depth chart right now.

To be honest, LeBron has been playing point guard for years, at least on the offensive end. He just wasn’t given that distinction on paper. It’s similar to how Tim Duncan was always listed at power forward, even after San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich acknowledged later in his career that Duncan was really a center.

Now that he is officially a point guard, where does LeBron rank among the league’s best at the position?

Taking some liberties to predict who will fill the role for each team next season, here is my ranking of the NBA’s starting point guards, in reverse order:

30. Coby White, Chicago Bulls (rookie)

29. Dennis Smith Jr., New York Knicks

28. Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets

27. Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs

26. Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies (rookie)

25. Goran Dragic, Miami Heat

24. D.J. Augustin, Orlando Magic

23. Collin Sexton, Cleveland Cavaliers

22. Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers

21. Jeff Teague, Minnesota Timberwolves

20. Ricky Rubio, Phoenix Suns

19. Patrick Beverley, Los Angeles Clippers

18. Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons

17. Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks

16. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets

15. Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

14. De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings

13. Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

12. John Wall, Washington Wizards

11. Jrue Holiday, New Orleans Pelicans

10. Mike Conley Jr., Utah Jazz

9. Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers

8. Chris Paul, Houston Rockets

7. Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors

6. Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets

5. Kemba Walker, Boston Celtics

4. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

3. Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

2. Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

1. LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

There’s a difference between ranking point guards versus ranking players in general.

Ben Simmons could easily be considered a more talented and better overall basketball player than Kyle Lowry, for example, but if Lowry holds the edge as far as handling the responsibilities of the point guard position — scoring, playmaking, ball-handling, floor generalship, leadership and winning — then Lowry should be considered the better point guard.

LeBron has very few peers as an all-around player, and even fewer as a point guard.

He is probably the most skilled passer in the league. The man who might be second behind LeBron just happens to be L.A.’s second-string point guard, Rajon Rondo.

As a scorer, the list of point guards who are as consistently productive as LeBron is short, headlined by Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard and Kemba Walker.

LeBron is known for his ability to control the pace of the game and direct traffic on the court. His resume alone speaks for his leadership and winning ways: Three titles (only Curry can match that) and a trophy case of MVPs that no active point guard can match.

During the three-year stretch from 2015-17 that the NBA Players Association gave out an award called “Player You Secretly Wish Was On Your Team” that was voted on by NBA players, LeBron won it each year.

Teammate wish list. The Player You Secretly Wish Was On Your Team goes to @KingJames. #PlayersVoice pic.twitter.com/baIq4ejUeP — NBPA (@TheNBPA) August 18, 2017

The biggest question mark for LeBron next season will be his defense. LeBron is physically capable of playing good defense, but he’s 34 years old with a lot of mileage on him, plus he has more bulk than any point guard in the league (listed at 6’8″ and 250 pounds). Will Lakers coach Frank Vogel really have LeBron chasing around guys like Trae Young and De’Aaron Fox every night? Almost certainly not.

One theory is that LeBron’s defensive effort has plummeted in recent years because he’s been intentionally preserving himself to carry a larger load on offense. It may not be a coincidence that LeBron’s defense really started to decline after Irving left the Cavaliers and the team never adequately replaced his scoring punch.

Last season, the Lakers didn’t have anyone who was an established great scorer. With this summer’s additions of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins, along with the continued development of Kyle Kuzma as an offensive weapon, perhaps LeBron can dedicate more of his energy to playing defense.

If he is just adequate defensively, LeBron could very well reclaim his place as the best player in the world.

He is already at the top of the list as the planet’s best point guard.