NBA Rumors: Mavericks Interested In Signing Dwight Howard?
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
The Dwight Howard saga may be entering into a new chapter this summer with the star center expected to leave the Houston Rockets in NBA free agency. Howard claims everything is fine in Houston between him and star teammate James Harden, but everything is pointing to the contrary, as it usually does with Howard.
According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, Howard could be headed to the Dallas Mavericks. Howard met with the Mavericks back in 2013 before signing with the Rockets and could meet with Mark Cuban and company once again in July. Although the Mavericks are interested in Howard, the price they’re willing to pay has drastically changed:
Sources says the Mavericks’ interest in Dwight Howard as a free agent this summer will be dependent on the price. The Mavs do not intend to be in on the bidding for Howard if it’s in the neighborhood of a max contract, which would have a starting salary of more than $30 million.
Although Howard has become somewhat of a locker room cancer since leaving the Orlando Magic in 2012, the veteran center will still have his fair share of suitors in free agency this summer. Dallas will be one of many teams that will reach out to the three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year with the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks, and Magic also rumored to be interested in the journeyman.
As for the Rockets, Harden and company are still hoping to make the playoffs. Houston is still under .500 at the moment with a record of 38-41 and trail the Utah Jazz (39-40) in the Western Conference standings. Only two playoff spots remain in the West with the Mavericks (41-38), Jazz, and Rockets among the last teams in contention.
If the Rockets do end up missing the postseason, and all signs point to that being the case, chances are Dwight will have played his final season in Houston. Howard leaving the Rockets may be one of many changes the team could undergo this season with the team falling from the Western Conference Finals to out of playoff contention in only a year.
