NBA Rumors: Dwight Howard Leaving Houston Rockets For Dallas Mavericks

NBA rumors have been swirling around Dwight Howard. The 30-year-old center is set to be a free agent this summer. According to Fox Sports, one potential team that will be interested in Howard is the Dallas Mavericks. The person who will be facilitating this is none other than Chandler Parsons, who was the person that brought Howard from the Orlando Magic to the Houston Rockets. The main goal for the Mavericks is to build an NBA championship contender while Dirk Nowitzki is still playing.

Mark Cuban will pay whatever it takes for the Dallas Mavericks to have a chance to win another NBA Championship. Cuban, however, is unwilling to offer Dwight Howard a four-year maximum contract, which is exactly what Howard will be seeking this summer. The Mavericks made Dwight their primary target and offered him a max contract in the summer of 2013. Howard ultimately decided to sign with the Houston Rockets.

The main concern for the Dallas Mavericks about signing Dwight Howard will be how he will hold up physically and mentally. Since leaving the Orlando Magic, Howard has been dealing with back, knee, and ankle injuries. With James Harden being such a focal point in the Houston Rockets offense, Dwight’s role has been diminished. There has been talk of Howard giving up on the team, just playing to make it through the season.

By signing Dwight Howard, the Dallas Mavericks improve their defense. The former NBA Defensive Player of the Year is still a good rim protector and defender. By adding Howard, this will put less pressure on Dirk Nowitzki on the defensive end. Nowitzki will no longer have to stay in the low post defending the bigger player, fighting for rebounds, and going for blocks. With Wesley Matthews and Howard, the Mavericks will now have two good defenders in the starting lineup. Before Matthews tore his Achilles, he was considered one of the best wing defenders in the National Basketball Association. Having both guys on the floor that will thrust the Mavericks’ defense into one of the top units in the NBA.

The Dallas Mavericks can potentially have a very dangerous offensive weapon in Chandler Parsons and Dwight Howard. At 6’10”, Parsons is one of the best at running the pick-and-roll last season. Howard has athleticism and can get to the basket. This could very well be one of the best pick-and-roll tandems in the NBA. Parsons has the ability to get to the basket, shoot off the dribble, and find the open man when the defense crashes down on him.

If Dwight Howard chooses not to join the Dallas Mavericks, he will have other options in the NBA. Howard could return to the Orlando Magic, where he was once the franchise player. The Atlanta Hawks could be another potential destination, since Dwight grew up in the area and expressed interest. There is also a chance Howard can return to the Houston Rockets, since he is already familiar with the team and can try to work it out with James Harden.

If Dwight Howard does choose to go elsewhere, the Dallas Mavericks will have other options. The available players this upcoming summer include Pau Gasol, Mike Conley, and Hassan Whiteside. Another possibility for the Mavericks will be Kevin Durant, who could potentially transform the franchise. Durant could take over as the star player from Dirk Nowitzki.

Dwight Howard could possibly end with the Dallas Mavericks next season. Even with Howard’s issues, Mark Cuban is willing to pay the price to help Dirk Nowitzki compete for his second NBA Championship. If Cuban fails to bring in more help for Nowitzki, he could suffer the same fate as Kobe Bryant, who has already lost more than 60 games so far this season.

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