Sources: Howard to join Lakers; buyout agreed - ESPN

5:21 PM ET

Dwight Howard will sign with the Los Angeles Lakers after he and his representatives reached an agreement on a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, league sources have told ESPN.

Howard met with Lakers management, coaches and teammates after a workout in Los Angeles on Thursday, and convinced the franchise to give him an opportunity to show that he can be a productive player without the disruptions that have accompanied him throughout his career, sources said.

With a one-year, non-guaranteed contract, the Lakers will hold the leverage on Howard to cut him before the NBA's Jan. 7 deadline without cost to the team. Howard moves the Lakers' roster to a full 15 players.

The necessity to sign Howard came with a possible season-ending ACL injury to free agent center DeMarcus Cousins.

The Lakers will be Howard's sixth team since signing as a free agent in Atlanta in 2016. He's played with the Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards -- and been waived after trades to the Brooklyn Nets and Memphis without ever wearing a uniform.

He played only nine games with Washington before back surgery ended his season.

Howard played one season for the Lakers in 2012-13, then spurned them for the Houston Rockets in free agency.

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