NBA Rumors: Festus Ezeli Leaving Golden State Warriors For Houston Rockets

NBA rumors have started swirling around Festus Ezeli. The Golden State Warriors center is set to become a restricted free agent this upcoming summer. There has been a lack of quality big men available in the National Basketball Association. Ezeli will be generating some interest from several teams in the league. According to Basketball Insiders, one of the teams that will be looking to acquire the 26-year-old center will be the Houston Rockets. They are in need of someone who can replace Dwight Howard.

Festus Ezeli is a very smart person and player. He graduated high school at the age of 14. Ezeli first started learning about the game of basketball at 15. At the age of 16, he joined his second AAU basketball team while going to a community college part-time. He did that so he could still have a full four years of eligibility. Festus decided to play his college ball with the Vanderbilt Commodores. He had a breakout season his junior year. Ezeli averaged 13 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.6 blocks per game.

Festus Ezeli has shown flashes of being a really good interior rim protector in the NBA. He has a really bright future ahead of him. The Golden State Warriors center has only been in the National Basketball Association for only three years. He was the 30th pick in the first round of the 2012 NBA Draft. Ezeli has been learning from one of the better interior defenders in Andrew Bogut. This season, Ezeli is averaging seven points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in 16 minutes.

The Houston Rockets will be in need of a big man who can be a dominate interior rim protector with Dwight Howard leaving. Many people in the NBA believe that the former Defensive Player of the Year will opt out of his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer. Howard has looked like he has lost his interest of playing for the Rockets since the middle of the season. With him leaving Houston, they could be looking to find a replacement for him in free agency. The Rockets will have about $41 million to spend this summer.

The Houston Rockets also have a young center in Clint Capela. He was selected with the 25th pick in the first round in the 2014 NBA Draft. Capela has shown some improvement in his second year in the National Basketball Association. This season, he averaged seven points, 6.4 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game in 19 minutes. Capela has shown flashes of being a good player, but Festus Ezeli has won an NBA Championship. That would give Ezeli the edge to start over Capela.

The interesting thing that a lot of people would wonder about is how Festus Ezeli would mesh with James Harden. It shouldn’t be difficult because Ezeli doesn’t need the ball to be a good player. He does all the little things like set screens, fight for rebounds both offensive and defensive, and block shots. Ezeli would also be able to help Harden on defense since he doesn’t show much interest on that side of the ball.

There are also those in the NBA that believe Festus Ezeli might prefer to stay with the Golden State Warriors. Winning championships is something that most players want to do. The Warriors are built to compete for an NBA Championship for the next several years. Andrew Bogut is also set to become a free agent this summer. Some people believe he might sign with another team in the National Basketball Association. That will open the door for Ezeli to take over the starting center spot for the Warriors.

Regardless of what he decides to do, Festus Ezeli has a bright future ahead of him. He is currently 26 years old and has shown improvement. Several teams in the NBA will be looking to sign Ezeli to a contract. He could be making $50 million over the next three season.