The Boston Celtics has a backup plan in case they fail in luring star free agent Kevin Durant to Bean Town.
The Celtics are ready to approach free agency and orchestrate their main goal of signing Durant, one of the most coveted free agents in this year's class. However, the Celtics are expected to face stiff competition in pursuing the OKC Thunder superstar, with most of the NBA teams having plenty of money to spend this summer. According to Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders, if the Celtics fail to acquire Durant in the offseason, Boston could opt to chase Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard instead.
"The Celtics were one of the team linked to Atlanta's Al Horford at the trade deadline and there is a belief that if Durant and Conley come off the board, the Celtics may have interest in Houston's Dwight Howard," Kyler wrote.
Howard has been linked to the Celtics prior to the Feb. 18 trade deadline, with Boston reportedly talked to the Rockets for the service of the former three-time Defensive Player of the Year. The 30-year-old Howard is not the dominating big man he used to be, but he could still offer plenty for a Celtics team that has been lacking defensive presence since the departure of Kevin Garnett.
Howard would give the Celtics inside presence on both ends of the floor, but more importantly would allow to free up shooters, which Boston also lacks. However, there are concerns whether Howard would fit well to a team that has already established great chemistry over a short period of time. According to Jeremy Karll of Sports Illustrated's Fansided, signing Howard would be a "high-risk, high-reward option" for the Celtics.
"If Boston is able to get the most out of him, and channel his Magic days, then he could return to the discussion of the best center in the NBA. If not, the Celtics would be stuck with a massive contract for a player who doesn't have a team-first attitude and could become riddled with injuries later in his career," Karll wrote.
Despite struggling this season, only averaging 13.7 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, his lowest since his rookie season with the Orlando Magic, Howard is still likely to earn a max contract or at least another lucrative deal this offseason.
The Celtics have a projected max cap space of $53.3 million this summer, more than enough to sign Howard to a max deal. But if Boston deems Howard is not someone worth the risk, the 17-time NBA champs should shift their focus to other available star free agents.