Dwight Howard Free Agency Rumors: Lakers, Hawks, Mavericks or Rockets Could Land the All-Star Center
ByDwight Howard wants a change of scenery, again.
While he has only played for two teams in his NBA career, the all-star center has publicly changed his mind about where he would like to play numerous times. With the Orlando Magic, he made it known he wanted to play for the Brooklyn Nets or the Los Angeles Clippers.
He ended up on the Los Angeles Lakers playing with Kobe Bryant, Steve Nash and Pau Gasol on what was supposed to be a title contender. After numerous injuries and a first-round playoff loss, Howard is now reportedly interested in signing with either the Dallas Mavericks, the Houston Rockets or the Atlanta Hawks.
ESPN's NBA insider Chris Broussard reported there is "very little chance of Dwight Howard re-signing with the Los Angeles Lakers" and cited sources close to the situation.
Broussard reported the Lakers would be able to offer Howard a five-year contract worth $118 million dollars ($23.6 million per year), based on their salary cap space. Any other team would only be able to offer him $88 million over four years ($22 million per year).
Howard is also willing to forgo a $30 million option with the Lakers to explore his other options, the sources said.
Howard reportedly had issues with Lakers' coach Mike D'Antoni's system and with being the second offensive option to Kobe Bryant. Despite the reports, the Lakers played well toward the end of the season with the combination of Gasol, Howard and Bryant on the court at the same time.
If Howard's indecisiveness is any indication of how the situation will play out, the Lakers can be hopeful of Howard taking the $30 million option. In the last year of his contract with the Magic, Howard made a last minute decision to stay and exercised his contractual option.
Howard will reportedly meet with the Hawks, Mavericks and Rockets before meeting with the Lakers when the NBA's free agency officially begins on July 1.
Howard has stated in the past that he would like to play with Chris Paul, currently of the Los Angeles Clippers. The recent Doc Rivers deal is believed to be an effort to prevent Paul from leaving and the Clippers are unlikely to pursue Howard.
Howard has previously been mentioned in rumors to attempt to create a superteam, akin to the Miami Heat, with Paul, but those rumors have died down. His best chance for that would likely be with the Rockets, a team that already has James Harden and Jeremy Lin and enough cap space to go for another big name.