Potential Destinations For Dwight Howard

Jan 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets center Dwight Howard (12) reacts after a play during the second quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Toyota Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 10, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 10, 2016; Memphis, TN, USA; Boston Celtics center Kelly Olynyk (41) shoots against Memphis Grizzlies forward Zach Randolph (50) during the first half at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Justin Ford-USA TODAY Sports /

Boston Celtics

The Celtics are clearly one team that is interested in Dwight Howard.  The Celtics have a war chest of draft picks to offer with the numerous trades, particularly with one of the worst teams in the league, Brooklyn Nets.  The Celtics won’t be offering the Rockets, the Nets #1 for this coming draft but they have others.

The Celtics are trying to become relevant in the NBA again and see themselves as a place that Howard would be willing to resign in the off season.

More from House of Houston

If the Rockets are to deal Howard you would think that they’ll be looking for a big man of some sort in return.  So I would expect Kelly Olynyk to be the one from the Celtics that the Rockets would insist on.

But in the NBA you have to make trades work form a salary standpoint.  With Howard at $22.3 million, there’s almost no way for the Celtics to make the deal work without including David Lee and his $15.5 million contract.  Lee would also be an expiring contract giving the Rockets a chance to see if they want to re-sign him or use that money for others this offseason.

Could the Rockets get much else from the Celtics in a deal this?  It’s doubtful, but a deal for Olynyk, Lee and a reasonably valuable draft pick may be too good to pass up, given where they are as a team.

Next: Can The Bucks Slide In For A Deal?