Dwight Howard had an emotional meeting with Los Angeles Lakers players and officials, and the former superstar big man won Los Angeles over for his approach and mindset, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Once he clears waivers, Howard will sign a one-year, non-guaranteed $2.6 million deal with the Lakers. He will be JaVale McGee's backup.

League sources said Howard had a convincing and emotional meeting with the players and Lakers officials, explaining how he had reached rock bottom a season ago and needed to find a new mindset in his life. On and off the floor. He was not the teammate he needed to be in playing for three teams in the past three years. He did not take the game seriously enough, he did not understand what was needed to turn the corner.

The Lakers had gathered momentum in their own research into Howard over the past week, but needed the roster to be fully on board. Howard won over the players in the locker room, including (LeBron) James and (Anthony) Davis, for his approach and mindset in the visit, sources said.

Since his prime days with the Orlando Magic ended, Dwight Howard has played for the Lakers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards.

In Houston, Howard didn't have a good relationship with James Harden. In Atlanta, Hawks players were reportedly thrilled when Howard got traded. In Charlotte, Howard was supposedly a locker room cancer. And last season in Washington, Howard played in just nine games. He underwent a lumbar microdiscotemy in November, the second back surgery he’s had in his NBA career.

Howard put up 12.8 points and 9.2 rebounds with Washington.

It’s all come full circle for Howard, who played for the Purple and Gold during the 2012-13 season. Now 33 and no longer a star in the NBA, Howard will have a minimal role on the Lakers and be on a short leash.