Dwight Howard (Photo : NBAE via Getty Images)
The NBA trade rumors are on full throttle and Dwight Howard is literally at the center.
There are numerous teams that are connected with him like the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks, but the Washington Wizards could stand as a wild card contender.
The Wizards need to address their glaring weakness at the frontline as they could make one last run at the playoffs, and as always, prove themselves a viable destination for Kevin Durant.
The Dwight Howard trade was already tossed around by the Washington Post since last December as suggested by Bill Simmons.
Dwight to DC for Gortat, Nene's expiring & Washington's 2016 no. 1... who says no? CALL IT IN! You love it @housefromdc and @andrewsharp
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) December 16, 2015
The article in the Post by Clinton Yates noted that it might not be a good idea to trade Marcin Gortat and Nene's expiring contract as well as the first round pick of the Wizards (protected) for Dwight Howard because Howard has a player option at the end of the 2016-17 season.
Actually, Howard has a player option at the end of this current season which makes the argument even more convincing. Yates did not think it was a good idea even though its endorser was so enthusiastic.
Fast forward to the days before the trade deadline, and there are some things to consider. The Wizards frontline has regressed even more, and Howard, while not overwhelming, has been consistent. There are some quarters who think he might just be the kind of player who needs a new environment from time to time.
The prodigious young hoops sage Zach Lowe of ESPN notes that despite all the negativity surrounding Howard with his past episodes of indecision, despite turning 30 this year and the supposed "extinction" of the center position, there are still teams that would trade for Howard.
Trading for Howard is not at all surrendering the season, thus the teams with the intention to win-now should be interested (as mentioned, Miami and Atlanta). It might be the boost that the Wizards need.
Lowe believes that the Wizards could get Howard by sending Marcin Gortat, salary filler, and either a young player or a protected first-round pick. Houston could play hard ball and ask for both but that could be a deal-breaker for Wizards.
So the Wizards could be a player for Howard since they have less to lose than the Heat or the Hawks. The draft pick could be key for the Houston Rockets and may be the deciding factor over the Heat and Hawks.
