After a back and forth week of will he or won't he, today is the day we all find out.  Dwight Howard has been cleared and is available for today's preseason game against the Sacramento Kings.  Howard said a couple days ago he felt ready to play, then coach Mike Brown told reporters that it was no guarantee Howard would play.  But the fact is, he is ready.

According to Mike Bresnahan of the Los Angeles Times, Howard will "probably" make his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers today.  Neither the Lakers nor Howard would confirm that he is actually going to play today.  They are airing on the side of caution in case Howard has any sort of setback leading up to game time.


Howard underwent back surgery in April and has been rehabbing ever since.  In August, he was traded to the Lakers in a blockbuster, three-team deal.  The Lakers are completely revamped with Howard and Steve Nash now on the team.  The former future of the organization, Andrew Bynum, has been shipped off to the Philadelphia 76ers.  So far, with Howard riding the bench, the Lakers have struggled in the preseason.  They are 0-5 entering play today.

Howard will certainly be an upgrade over Bynum at center as long as his back holds up.  Howard has averaged 18.4 points per game and 13.0 rebounds per game in his career.  He has become a superstar player while Bynum has not been able to make that leap.
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