In a move that was widely expected, Dwight Howard has declined his player option for 2016/17 and will test out the free agent market this summer, Shams Charania of The Vertical reports (via Twitter). The Rockets big man was set to earn $23,282,457 next season, but will now attempt to top that amount as an unrestricted free agent.
Howard’s time in Houston hasn’t gone all that smoothly, with the center not meshing well alongside star shooting guard James Harden and seeing his overall involvement in the team’s offense decline steadily the past two campaigns. He made 71 appearances for the Rockets this past season, averaging 13.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.63 blocks in 32.1 minutes per outing. His shooting line was .620/.000/.489.
The 30-year-old hasn’t ruled out re-signing with the Rockets despite his reported unhappiness in Houston, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle tweets. That may be a wise move on Howard’s part, given the decline in his physical skills, production and with the league’s diminished focus on traditional paint-roaming big men, he may find the open market a challenging one to land a long-term deal in. Howard’s best bet may be to ink a short-term deal, perhaps a two-year pact with an opt-out after the first season, in order to rebuild his free agent value and potentially snag a more player-friendly pact in the process during the summer of 2017.
What a moron!!! I wouldn’t give him a dime over 15m
I can see it now,Dwight Howard signs with the Milwaukee Bucks. I personally hope he signs with the Orlando Magic.
Good riddance. Now Houston can get a big who has an established post game away from the rim.
In today’s NBA he is going the way of the dodo bird. His game will be extinct in a couple of years for a center. If he could shoot free throws however he can find a niche. He will get an exorbitant contract to be sure. The game for big men in the future is the game like Towns plays. Howard is in the wrong era now and in the wrong side of 30.
I know he likes to copy other star players so he will try to go back to Orlando like Lebron did with Cleveland although I doubt they’ll bring him back. I could see him going to Miami if they can’t resign Whiteside.
He is a perfect NY Knick.
NYK
Nowhere else wants him
Now that the Knicks have Rose and with Robin Lopez gone They’ll go after Howard, watch.
They said that they were looking to go after Joakim Noah