The NBA trade deadline has passed and the big name most likely to be traded was not moved.
The Houston Rockets were repeatedly rumored to shop Dwight Howard as they would want to get some acquire some assets before he opts out of his contract at the end of the season, but they came out empty handed.
CBS Sports has declared the Houston Rockets and Dwight Howard himself as the biggest losers at the deadline. The Rockets, primarily because they were already determined to salvage the situation that they forced unto the Lakers three years ago when they lost Howard, is probably worse off.
Howard will opt out and get his money from another team, but the Rockets would be hard-pressed to find someone of Howard's caliber. Also, with the disappointing season that the Rockets had and their publicized off-court issues, it's hard to imagine someone like Kevin Durant choosing to sign with them.
Now, Dwight Howard will return to a team that has willingly tried to trade him as ESPN recounts.
"Many teams called expressing great interest in trading for Dwight," Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, told ESPN. "The obvious stumbling block to a trade was how could a team justify giving up important assets for a player who was about to become a free agent in a few short months?"
It was speculated that the Rockets might lower the price on Howard as they would have to face the prospect of losing him for nothing, but they stood firm, as Howard's agent confirmed that they did indeed negotiate with teams alongside the Rockets.
Fegan continued: "Not surprisingly, as the deadline approached, several teams called stating they had worked out the trade parameters with Houston for a Dwight deal but were not prepared to give up their assets unless Dwight agreed to opt into the last year of his contract and forego free agency. Dwight declined."
The 30-year old, three-time Defensive Player of the Year is not the most decisive person in the league, as spectacularly displayed in 2012 before being traded to the Lakers. He is not obliged to commit to any team that wants to trade for him-that was Houston's problem, as the trade value hinged on whether Howard would commit.
The ESPN article mentioned that Howard never made any trade demands and that seems logical since he can choose any team that offers for him at the end of the season. The rumor spreading around was that James Harden and Howard wanted the Rockets to trade the other star. At the very least, the relationship between the teams' two stars is not seamless.
Now, the Houston Rockets have to face this awkward situation for the next three months as they try to mount a playoff run.