Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard is reportedly "extremely unhappy" in Houston and doesn't want to play "second-fiddle" to James Harden, and the Rockets are reportedly looking to trade him because of that. Here are three teams that are the most likely to trade for the All-Star big man:
Miami Heat
The Heat are looking for a long-term solution at the center position as they probably won't be able to re-sign starter Hassan Whiteside this offseason, and Howard could be their man. Miami is rumored to be looking into a potential trade for Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (they're offering Whiteside and rookie Justise Winslow as the centerpieces of that deal), but Howard is much more available and wouldn't be as pricey to acquire.
Chris Sheridan of SheridanHoops said that "no place would be a better fit for Howard than Miami, with its geriatric roster built around Wade and Chris Bosh. If you are [GM Pat] Riley, and your two best players are in their 30s, why not add a third 30-something and take a swing at Cleveland with that?"
If Howard does get moved, Miami will probably be his landing spot.
Chicago Bulls
A much less likely option is Chicago, who are also reportedly looking to upgrade their center position. Chicago has a logjam of power forwards on their roster, and have made veteran big men Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah available, along with rookie Bobby Portis and draft picks. Portis would be a perfect addition to Houston's up-tempo system, and no deal would get done without him being involved.
Boston Celtics
Boston has been heavily pursuing Cousins for the past year, but it seems more and more like the Kings are going to hold onto their All-Star center for the long-term. However, the Celtics' search for a star player to make them a contender could lead them to Howard. Boston has more draft picks than they know what to do with, and with their abundance of cap space this summer, they could acquire Howard without giving up any talent while making themselves a more desirable free agent destination.
Follow our Houston Rockets news page for all the latest Rockets news!
Back to the Houston Rockets Newsfeed