What happened: Los Angeles acquired Dwight Howard on Aug. 10, 2012, after a prolonged pursuit. His first Lakers stint lasted one season.

Why it matters: The acquisition raised championship expectations, but that run ended without a Finals trip. Howard later returned to Los Angeles and won the 2020 NBA title.

By the numbers: Howard was 26 and had completed eight NBA seasons when the trade occurred.

What to watch: The anniversary renews attention on how the 2012-13 roster fell short of its title expectations.

Sources

  • r/lakers