The Houston Rockets need a change. The team is falling further down the Western Conference rankings after an ugly loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. They acquired Josh Smith, but that has yet to turn into productive change and now general manager Daryl Morey knows a move must come. After denying he was available in a deal, the Rockets have decided to test Dwight Howard's trade value heading into the deadline.
According to Yahoo Sports and ESPN's Chris Broussard, the Rockets are opening up trade talk for Howard as they slip to 27-28 on the season. Howard's long-term future was already in question. The center has a $23.3 million option for the 2016-17 season that he was already expected to bypass in order to capitalize on the expanding salary caps and bigger contracts headed to the NBA. As a result, the Rockets are willing to see if they can get a trade in order to not lose Howard for nothing in return.
Howard spoke with ESPN's Marc Stein and stressed that the trade talk was not coming from him. After reports that he was unhappy in Houston, the center is making it clear via ESPN.com, "I have not asked the Rockets to trade me, nor have I talked about right trades. I want to win. I want this situation to work. I chose this team."
If Howard is really available, the Boston Celtics are expected to come calling. According to the New York Daily News earlier in 2016, the Celtics had reached out to Houston about a potential trade, but were shot down by Morey and company. With Howard once again available, Danny Ainge will show interest. Howard will not be cheap and could cost the Celtics one of those first-round draft picks they have had stashed. Expect players like Jae Crowder, David Lee, Evan Turner, Amir Johnson or Jared Sullinger to all be tossed around in talks for the deal.
According to CelticsBlog.com, the Rockets might try to load up on draft picks instead of players in the trade. They suggest that the 2016 first-round pick and the 2016 first-round pick from Dallas along with Lee and Jonas Jerebko could get the trade complete for both sides. The Celtics would prefer not to give up Crowder, but teams like the young star.
The interest in Howard comes after Ainge told Boston radio that he did not believe the Atlanta Hawks were serious about shopping Al Horford. Yahoo's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that the Hawks were willing to shop their center who is on an expiring contract. The Celtics jumped at the chance, but Ainge does not believe the team is really willing to part with Horford who is eligible for a max contract this offseason. Instead, the Celtics could make a move for Howard as Morey appears very serious on getting a move complete.
