In last year's offseason, when Howard announced his return to the Lakers, the outside world also had very high expectations for him. The outside world expects him to be able to stand up on the bench like in the 19-20 season, become the inner pillar of the Lakers' second team, help the team at both ends of the attack and defense, and become a good helper on the way to the team's championship. After Howard returned to the Lakers, he did want to help the team become a championship team like in the 19-20 season, but unfortunately, Howard was not reused by The Vogel manager this season, and in many games, Howard did not get playing time.
The data shows that Howard has three stats this season that set a new career low. Howard has averaged just 14.9 minutes per game this season, lower than in the past two seasons, and the fewest average appearances he's averaged in so many years since he's been in the league. His average of 5.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game also set a new career single-season low. This season's Howard is arguably the worst season of his long career with personal data.
Howard's personal data this season is dismal, not because his personal ability is not good, because he has too little playing time, which has also led to a sharp decline in his personal data, and his presence in the game is not strong. When Howard gets enough opportunities to perform, he still has the ability to make a brilliant performance. Howard had 14 points and 14 rebounds in 21 minutes against the Kings this season, and he also had 13 points and five rebounds against the Pistons, and his personal ability is still very strong.
Judging from Howard's play in the game, as a veteran, he is still able to help the team in the game. He also has a very good performance in the end of the basket, rebounding protection and rim protection. The main reason why Vogel did not reuse Howard this season is that after Westbrook joined the team, the Lakers hope to play a small lineup, let James play the fifth position, and Westbrook becomes the organizational core of the team. In the past many games, the Lakers have been using such a set of tactics. Although the effect was very unsatisfactory, the team won less and lost more, but Vogel still insisted on executing a small lineup, which also led to Howard not being reused this season, and the playing time also set a career low.
For now, Howard's position with the Lakers is not good because Howard, as a traditional center, he does not shoot, and Westbrook needs to partner with those space-type interiors. As a result, it is difficult for Westbrook and Howard to produce some chemistry in the game, and both players have appeared in the game at the same time this season, but the effect is very bad. When Howard was under the basket, Wei Shao's breakthrough line was blocked by the other side, and he did not have the ability to shoot, the inside line could not advance, the outside line could not shoot, which would greatly affect his play.
In the current Lakers' five-small lineup, Howard is not suitable for the team, and his prospects for the Lakers are not bright. If Vogel continues to stick to his five-pronged tactic, it is in my opinion that Howard may be traded to other teams before the trade deadline, because Howard's way of playing is difficult to chemically react with Westbrook. If Howard hadn't been traded, it would have been difficult for Howard to get enough playing time later in the season, and that wouldn't have changed much in the playoffs. Overall, Howard's prospects for the Lakers are not ideal, and it's not too realistic to want to be reused by Vogel again.