UPDATE (6/21/16):
According the Shams Charania of The Vertical on Yahoo! Sports, Dwight Howard is opting out of his deal with the Rockets.
The Vertical Sources: Houston Rockets star Dwight Howard has declined his $23.2 million player option for 2016-'17, enters free agency.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 21, 2016
(Original story from 4/9/16)
The Houston Rockets have been nothing short of a disaster this season. From the countless vines and clips showing James Harden’s less-than-stellar defensive effort, to Dwight Howard’s trade deadline drama, to firing its head coach. Hell, even one of their trades became vetoed back in February, leading to the waiving of sharpshooter Marcus Thornton.
Much to the delight of Rockets fans, Marc Stein and Calvin Watkins have reported that the Rockets fully intend on cleaning things up this summer:
The Houston Rockets are planning a comprehensive evaluation of all facets of the organization at the end of this highly disappointing season that will put general manager Daryl Morey and interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff under the microscope, according to league sources.
Sources told ESPN that the Rockets believe every aspect of the organization — coaching staff, front office and, of course, their roster.
Similarly to the Phoenix Suns, the Rockets are searching for a permanent head coach after firing Kevin McHale back in December. ESPN, however, wasn’t finished and added this interesting piece:
Significant roster changes are likewise expected, with free agent-to-be Dwight Howard widely anticipated to move elsewhere and little certain beyond the Rockets’ presumed intention to reload around star guard James Harden.
Sources say Morey, whose contract runs through the 2017-18 season, also faces some uncertainty in the wake of the Rockets’ struggles. Morey’s ever-bold approach to roster assembly won deserved kudos for bringing Harden (October 2012) and Howard (July 2013) to Houston in quick succession, but team chemistry has been a rising concern this season given the well-chronicled deteoriation in the Harden/Howard relationship and the failed offseason gamble on guard Ty Lawson.
First off, Daryl Morey will certainly be evaluated. When Harden and Howard were paired years ago, Morey was praised. He was similarly praised when the Rockets traded for Ty Lawson last August, too. However, both plans have unraveled this season, likely costing the Rockets a Playoff berth.
Secondly, ESPN noted one major thing: Dwight Howard is “widely anticipated to move elsewhere” this summer in free agency. Back in February, rumors were swirling that Dwight may be on the move. Ultimately, Dwight stayed with the Rockets past the deadline, as Houston was unable to find a suitable partner for Dwight’s services.
This news cannot come as a full surprise, as Dwight wanted to leave Houston earlier this season. First, reports indicated that Dwight wanted to join the Atlanta Hawks. After the deadline passed, a new report suggesting Dwight is considering a return to the Orlando Magic surfaced. Wait, it doesn’t end there. Weeks ago, ESPN’s Ian Begley was told that Dwight Howard was now interested in joining the New York Knicks:
The big question is whether the Knicks, under Jackson, have a chance at landing one of the elite players on the market.
Along those lines, one name to keep in mind this summer is Dwight Howard.
Some of Howard’s friends have let it be known recently that the center would be interested in coming to New York as a free agent if he opts out of his current contract, league sources say.
Whether Jackson and the Knicks would be interested in a player like Howard is another question entirely.
With the Rockets set to potentially undergo a major overhaul ahead of next season, it’s unlikely Dwight Howard will stick around to see the changes. According to Tim MacMahon of ESPN, the Dallas Mavericks are already said to have interest in Howard. Expect teams such as the Miami Heat and Atlanta Hawks to join them, especially if they lose their own starting centers to other teams in free agency.
