There are certain teams that are always associated with particular positions.
USC has historically been Tailback U. Great linebackers come from Penn State. And when you think of the Lakers, you think of great centers, starting with George Mikan all the way through Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Shaquille O’Neal. Even Magic Johnson made a brief appearance in that lineage when the rookie jumped center in place of the injured Abdul-Jabbar in the 1980 NBA Finals.
Seven years ago, the Lakers attempted to add another superstar center to that storied history, trading the very good Andrew Bynum for the great Dwight Howard, who had won three Defensive Player of the Year awards and was a generational talent.