The NBA trade rumors continue and at the center of the mill, Dwight Howard may be the biggest name involved.
There has been a report which states that Howard is now being shopped by the Houston Rockets, as claimed by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports.
"Howard, 30, plans to exercise an opt-out in his contract this summer to become an unrestricted free agent, and uncertainty surrounding the commitment both sides are willing to make has pushed Houston general manager Daryl Morey toward seeking potential trades on the market, league sources said," as stated in the report. "The Rockets are working with Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, on possible destinations, league executives told The Vertical."
There were rumors that the Boston Celtics have backed down from the Howard talks because the asking price is too high, which would douse the hopes of the New York Knicks, who could use the three-time Defensive Player of the Year as team site The Daily Knicks illustrate.
TDK noted that their team is "no. 28 in points in the paint per game" and -Howard would definitely help in that aspect. What's more, he is compatible with the possible heir of the team.
"Given those skills, as well as his status as a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, Howard is the perfect player to place along the interior as Kristaps Porzingis spaces the floor from the 4," The Daily Knicks stated.
The big question is how the Knicks can afford Howard. If the Celtics, armed with multiple draft assets could not seal the deal (if the rumors are indeed true), what more the Knicks, who don't even have a first round pick in 2016?
It is speculated that the Rockets may lower the asking price for Howard if they continue to flounder. When the deadline comes, they would be faced with the possibility of losing Howard for nothing. If the Rockets wave the white flag this season (as they probably would), they may look forward and get some assets for Howard.
The Knicks may have a slight window of opportunity when that happens and they have to hope that the Celtics have shifted their attention to other targets.
