Since the potential blockbuster deal with the Brooklyn Nets collapsed, new trade rumors circulate around the Houston Rockets and their pursuit for Dwight Howard.
According to ESPN.com's Marc Stein and Chad Ford, the Rockets are working on a new trade proposal that could potentialy bring Howard to Houston, accompanied by the long-term contracts of Glen Davis, Jason Richardson and Chris Duhon. In exchange the Rockets would offer Orlando multiple future first-round picks and recent draftees, including a potential lottery pick acquired this week from Toronto in the Kyle Lowry deal.
Sources at ESPN.com also report that in order to go forward with this trade, the Rockets plan to release starting power forward Luis Scola, via the NBA's amnesty clause, as early as Friday.
The Rockets believe that, with Scola's three remaining seasons valued at roughly $21 million off the books, they can create the necessary cap space to move along with the trade and thus making them the frontrunners for Howard.
In addition, the Rockets would also have to waive a handful of players with non-guaranteed contracts (Shaun Livingston, Courtney Fortson, Josh Harrellson, Jerome Jordan, Jon Leuer, Diamon Simpson and Greg Smith) to clear sufficient cap space.
However, sources with knowledge of Orlando's thinking say that the Magic expect to be quiet over the weekend on the Howard front and likely won't revisit the prospect of trading Howard until next week.
This would allow Houston to deal with the free agency contracts of Jeremy Lin and Omer Asik.
