Dwight Howard (Photo : Doug Pensinger | Getty Images Sport)
The trade deadline was not as boring as most people thought. A lot of transactions were discussed, just did not meet the right conditions.
Probably the biggest name that would have changed addresses was Dwight Howard. Despite Houston Rockets' GM Daryl Morey's denials and claims that the rumors were overblown, it was pretty clear that they inquired on teams who would take the three-time Defensive Player of the Year.
The Milwaukee Bucks had defensive woes all season long so it seemed logical that they would want Howard, if only for the presence of Greg Monroe, their starting center and prized free agent acquisition. Still, the Bucks were close to acquiring Howard at the deadline.
According to Bucks announcer Gus Johnson, who quoted a conversation with Dwight Howard, the big man confided (h/t Yahoo Sports)
"I wanted to come to Milwaukee during the trade deadline. I would have come, but they wanted me to sign an extension."
Howard probably meant agreeing to stick around for the 2016-17 season, for $23.3 million, instead of opting out and becoming a free agent and signing a long-term deal.
This claim is consistent with a previous report from Marc Stein of ESPN wherein Howard's agent (now ex-agent) Dan Fegan shared:
"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 in to the last year of his contract and forego free agency. Dwight declined."
The problem for the Bucks is that they have to surrender real assets to acquire Howard, but not opting in will mean that he can walk away at the end of the season. However, the scenario changes if he opts out and becomes a free agent, then the Bucks can sign him outright.
There would still be some questions about the Bucks acquiring Howard. What would they do with Greg Monroe? Will they trade him to get more cap space-something they strongly refused to consider at the trade deadline? Also, if Howard demands a max contract-which is estimated at $30 million, would the Bucks be willing to pay that much, considering Howard is on the downswing?
One thing of note-the Milwaukee Bucks are now a legitimate free agent destination. Greg Monroe chose them over New York and now even Dwight Howard wants to play with their young core. It shows that having young talent is better than being in a big market city in today's NBA.
