With Dwight Howard set to opt out of his contract after the season and test free agency, the Rockets are shopping the 30-year-old big man in hopes for some return, Yahoo reported Thursday.
Howard, who signed a four-year, $88 million contract with Houston in 2013, is averaging 14.6 points, 12 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 44 games this season.
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These numbers aren't a dramatic drop from his career averages, but with the Rockets struggling to stay in the playoff picture at 27-28, there isn’t much of a need to keep Howard knowing that he plans to hit the open market at season’s end.
According to Yahoo, the team will work with Howard’s agent to find him a suitable new home before the Feb. 18 trade deadline.
UPDATE: Howard's agent, Dan Fegan, told ESPN in a statement Thursday afternoon that neither he nor Howard has asked for a trade. Fegan also said he is "not privy to what the Rockets are doing or not doing with respect to Dwight Howard."
UPDATE 2: Howard, in an interview with ESPN, backed up Fegan's statement and added that he wants to stay in Houston. "I want this situation to work. I chose this team. And I'm not running because we have been faced with some adversity," he was quoted as saying.