Dwight Howard Future: The 3 options Dwight Howard is facing this summer

During the first half of his career, Dwight Howard enjoyed a sustained period of success as the focal point of a high-flying Orlando Magic team, however, since leaving for the Lakers in 2013, Howard's career has been in a slow decline.

Howard's much-anticipated move to the Lakers lasted less than 12 months, as the center refused to re-sign with the team following a season filled with feuds and disagreements with Kobe Bryant. His subsequent three-year spell with the Rockets was solid, although after falling out with James Harden, Howard has found himself on three different rosters in as many years.

Both Atlanta and Charlotte discarded Howard after just 12 months, and while he joined the Wizards last summer, injuries have restricted him to less than ten appearances. Due to Howard's history and current lack of fitness, his future in the NBA is in doubt, and as we approach the offseason, there are three ways that this summer could play out for the former All-Star.

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#3 Howard finds himself into a similar scenario to Carmelo Anthony

Howard will definitely get paid for the 19/20 season, although there are no guarantees that he will see any time on the court. In recent years, teams have been increasingly willing to buy out the contracts of highly paid veterans, and with just one year left on Howard's contract, the Wizards may explore this option.

This would put Howard in a similar position to which Carmelo Anthony has faced throughout 2019. The similarities don't end there, as Anthony and Howard are both fading former All-Stars, whose games have aged extremely poorly in the increasingly positionless era of the NBA. Due to Anthony's failure to find a new team over the last five months, Howard's prospects don't look great.

#2 Howard sees out the remaining year of his deal with the Washington Wizards

Dwight Howard has a player option on his contract for next season, although there is no doubting that the former All-Star will opt into his deal worth $5.6 million. This leaves the Wizards facing the prospect of another year of Howard, although due to John Wall's long-term injury, Washington may be willing to bide their time.

After years of underperforming, the Wizards were expected to trade both Wall and Bradley Beal this summer, however, Wall is not expected to play again until at least 2020, and the team will find it incredibly difficult to move him ahead of his return.

Due to this, the Wizards are set for another difficult season, and with little chance of making the 2020 playoffs, it may be sensible to wind down the remaining year of Howard's deal.

#1 Howard is traded to another team

As previously mentioned, Howard's skill set has not aged well in the NBA. Bigs are now expected to offer a threat beyond the arc, while also possessing the ability to defend multiple positions and Howard has struggled to develop either of these skills.

However, the eight-time All-Star still remains as one of the NBA's best rebounders, and Howard also continues to be among the most efficient players around the hoop. In his nine games with the Wizards, Howard shot 63% from the field while contributing 12.8 points in 25.6 minutes per game.

While the Wizards' will hold off trading Beal and Wall this summer, some of the team's other high earners may be moved, and Howard could potentially be traded as part of a multi-player deal. Evidently, Howard's future would then be left in the hands of his new team, although there is no reason why he couldn't contribute from a contenders bench.