Houston Rockets All-Star center Dwight Howard has denied he is unhappy in Clutch City, but that does not mean D12 would get to avoid trade talks.
Howard was reportedly unhappy playing second fiddle behind James Harden in Houston. This speculation from Chris Sheridan of Sheridan Hoops has sparked trade rumors about another Dwightmare in Houston.
However, trading Howard seems a viable option for the Rockets' front office, with D12 planning to decline his player option.
"A big reason why Howard is a strong candidate to be traded is that he can get out of the final season of his four-year, $87.6 million contract after this season become a free agent," Randy Miller of NJ wrote.
In a proposed deal from Fox Sports, the Brooklyn Nets receive Howard, Montrezl Harrell, a 2018-first round pick and a second-round pick, while the Rockets get Brook Lopez and Bojan Bogdanovic. This trade scenario is possible, according to Real GM's trade checker.
Chris Crouse of Hoops Rumors also believes trading Howard to the Nets for Lopez would be a good fit.
In Crouse suggested trade scenario, the Rockets would send Howard, Ty Lawson, and Corey Brewer to the Nets for Joe Johnson and Lopez, which is also possible in Real GM's trade checker.
Crouse wrote: "The Rockets should attempt to trade both Howard and Lawson and build a new team around James Harden. The Nets were on Howard's list of suitors when he was pushing for a trade from the Magic back in 2011 and while it's unclear if Brooklyn remains a preferable destination, GM Billy King has the pieces to make a logical trade."
There is no way Howard would instantly convert the Nets into a contender this season, but getting the three-time Defensive Player of the Year would help the franchise clear cap-space for next summer's free agency, giving Brooklyn a chance to instantly rebuild and contend again.
On the other hand, the Rockets would receive a young center in Lopez who could anchor the team's interior defense and inside scoring. Pairing Lopez to Harden would create a "more lethal duo" than a tandem with Howard.
Trading away Howard does not guarantee the Rockets to be a stronger team that could crack further into the playoff hunt. But if the right pieces are involved, the Rockets could be enticed to trade away their soon-to-be free agent big man.