Just today it became official that Dwight Howard will opt out of his contract with the Houston Rockets and test out free agency starting July. Howard will test free agency waters and with the salary cap rising, could commend a max deal in excess of $30 million a year. Howard didn’t seem to enjoy this year with the Rockets, especially his relationship with star James Harden and that could be a key factor in his decision-making process. Despite the falling out between Howard and the Rockets, there’s word that the Rockets tried to make Dwight stay.
According to Calvin Watkins of ESPN, the Rockets reached out to Dwight before it was too late to try to convince him to opt-into his $23.2 million player option for next year. From Watkins:
Before Dwight Howard decided to decline his $23.2 million player option, Houston Rockets officials tried to convince him to remain with the team, according to a source.
Rockets general manager Daryl Morey spoke with Howard’s agent Perry Rogers, and team CEO Tad Brown talked to Howard himself in expressing his support as well.
The team values Howard’s defensive abilities and his potential on the offensive end in a new scheme under recently hired coach Mike D’Antoni.
With D’Antonio set to be the Rockets coach for the next 4 years, you have to think Howard is considering other options. Howard already spent one year under the coaching of Mike D’Antonio, and had arguably this worst time of his career there. He has his options too, he is said to be on the radar of tons of teams lurking for a new center, including another former team of his the Orlando Magic. The Suns, Mavs, and Celtics have all expressed their interest in the defensive specialist Center, and if I had to bet any coin on it, I would say Dwight Howard lands in Dallas this summer. The Mavericks will give him the money he wants, while also keeping him in Texas, where income tax is non-existent. Not only does he get the money he believes he deserves, but he gets to start fresh with a Mavericks organization that needs a bit of a revival itself.
