Dwight Howard and Hassan Whiteside (Photo : Getty Images)
The NBA Free Agency rumors continue and one of the most interesting positions to watch is at center.
The Houston Rockets is one team to watch in the offseason. GM Daryl Morey will definitely not take a .500 season sitting down. Also, he has a major decision to make in Dwight Howard.
In a previous report, Morey was not very decisive when asked about Howard. Now, even one of his mentors has his doubts on Howard staying. Hakeem Olajuwon has been there before and he shared thoughts to USA Today.
"I know he loves Houston, and he wants to be here," Olajuwon . "(He's) trying to find his identity again. I think for a big man like Dwight, more of the frustration is not being utilized. He can do much more. All the big men always feel that way. That's natural. But what I try to tell him is get more in the flow of the game."
It's unlikely that Morey would let go of his big free agent acquisition-someone he battled the LA Lakers and Dallas Mavericks for, unless he has someone in mind to replace what he brings to the their game.
There were already rumors about Dwight Howard being traded to the Miami Heat for Hassan Whiteside before the trade deadline but obviously that never materialized. Now that both players are free agents, there are possibilities.
Hassan Whiteside will definitely command the max contract. There would be teams that would step aside of his negative history but it only takes two or three teams and the bidding would go crazy. According to Basketball Insiders expert Alex Kennedy, Whiteside's phenomenal season makes him deserving of the max.
"Regardless of the recognition Whiteside receives for his strong play, one thing is clear: He's going to get a huge pay day this summer," Kennedy said. "NBA executives are noticing just how dominant the seven-footer has been and he'll have a long list of potential suitors this offseason."
"Dominant" is the appropriate word. Whiteside is averaging 3.8 blocks per game-more than average of the entire Detroit Pistons, Dallas Mavericks and Cleveland Cavaliers teams.
The Mavericks and the LA Lakers are two teams who list the center position-a rim protector as their priority and they have the cap space. However, the Houston Rockets already had a similar player in Dwight Howard, and Whiteside could just take his role and play with a scoring superstar.
