Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard. (Photo : Getty Images)
The Boston Celtics continue its search for a true superstar player and Houston Rockets eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard is reportedly the team's latest target during this season's NBA trade period.
Oregon Live reported that the Celtics are currently engaged in talks with the Rockets for the 30-year-old Howard, citing New York Daily News' Frank Isola as source. Isola doubts that the deal will push through, though, as the five-time All-NBA First Team player has recently been ravaged by recurring injuries and can also opt out of his player contract this summer and become an unrestricted free agent.
It is indeed doubtful that Boston will give away a ton of their trade pieces just to acquire a legitimate superstar that is not guaranteed to stay with them for the long term.
However, SB Nation said that if the Rockets are really "eager to move him (Howard) and it doesn't cost us much, this could be an option at the trade deadline" for the Celtics to take advantage of.
Boston's "disgruntled" power forward David Lee is said to be the expected trade chip to match-up salaries, but Lee's wage is $7 million less than Howard so a few other assets must be included to make the deal work.
Meanwhile, several NBA analysts have noted that the Celtics taking Howard would be risky for the rebuilding efforts of the franchise.
The former Slam Dunk champion was once considered the best center in the NBA, but his deteriorating numbers and health have made him lose that reputation in recent years.
From a dominating force inside the paint, Howard has become a baggage in the locker room with his attitude and a lumbering big man clogging the paint on offense because of his chronic back and knee injuries.
The three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year awardee is currently in the third year of his four-year, $88 million contract with Houston, which has a player option at the end of the season. He is set to earn around $22.3 million this year and $23.3 million next season if he decides not to opt out.
Howard is averaging career lows in points and rebounds, 14.4 and 11.8, so far in almost 32 minutes of playing time per night in 40 games played this season as the Rockets hang on to seventh place in the Western Conference standings with a 26-25 slate.
