NBA Free Agency: The Dwight Howard Sweepstakes Begin

Dwight Howard is about to get his wish.

Widely considered to be the best center in the game when healthy, the big man has always wanted to experience what it feels like to be a sought-after free agent. He has been the center of attention the past few offseasons for the wrong reasons, mainly for his role in getting Stan Van Gundy fired as the head coach of the Orlando Magic.

The 27-year-old Howard is arguably the third best player in the league when healthy, trailing only LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

Dwight Howard’s “Decision” will be made by July 10. (Photo by Scott Mecum/Flickr.com)

He is still a dominant two-way player which the league does not have enough of. As blasphemous as it may sound, ESPN writer and TV personality Bill Simmons seems to think that Howard has already peaked, has not improved his offensive game any and that he is not worth a max contract. Those are harsh words for a man who just finished a season coming off back surgery and a partially torn labrum, all while still averaging 17.1 points per game and leading the league in rebounding for the fifth time in his career.

With free agency under way, there are a handful of teams who have a realistic shot of signing Howard outright to a max contract or acquiring him via a sign-and-trade. With the Houston Rockets latest move to trade Thomas Robinson to the Portland Trail Blazers and their willingness to also move both Omer Asik and Jeremy Lin, the Rockets are considered the frontrunners for Howard.

Howard has the whole league waiting on standby, as every franchise knows wherever he signs will cause a domino effect for other free agents. One of these following teams will have Dwight Howard on their roster next season and a powerhouse will be formed in hopes of dethroning LeBron James’ Miami Heat:

Houston Rockets

With Thomas Robinson’s contract off their books, the Rockets get the first chance to woo Howard and offer him a max contract. There are a plethora of reasons why Howard should sign with Houston. General manager Daryl Morey and coach Kevin McHale want to build the team around Howard in the low post and pair him with James Harden, who is only 23. With complimentary players around them, Howard and Harden can compete for a title immediately. Hakeem Olajuwon, one of the best centers of all time, is also playing a major role in enticing Howard to sign with the Rockets. Three summers ago, Howard spent a week training with Olajuwon in Houston and it clearly paid off as Howard increased his scoring average from 18.3 points per game to 22.9 the following season. Howard can sign with the Rockets, who are committed to him 100 percent. He would seemingly become the face of the franchise in a new market and contend for a title every year. It’s a win-win for Howard and an option he is strongly considering.

Atlanta Hawks

This seems to be the longest shot of them all. Going back home is an option, but according to various reports Howard is not enamored with playing in his hometown. If so, he would pair with Al Horford to form an imposing frontcourt. The Hawks could then sign quality players to fill out the roster with all the money they have to spend. Atlanta was more of an option for Howard because they had the ability to sign both Howard and Chris Paul, but Chris Paul has already agreed to re-sign with Los Angeles Clippers. Not to break any Hawks fans hearts, but there is a 98 percent chance that Howard does not sign with Atlanta.

Golden State Warriors

The Warriors only shot of grabbing Howard is via a sign-and-trade deal with the Lakers. Ultimately, if the Lakers decide they want something in return for Howard instead of letting him walk, the Warriors could present an intriguing trade package built around one of their young stars in Harrison Barnes or Klay Thompson and the expiring contract of Andrew Bogut and future draft picks as well. If the Warriors can somehow swing a deal for Howard, the Bay Area would be a party scene every game. This deal would also give the Lakers a young star going forward in the post-Kobe Bryant era and the expiring contract of Bogut would fit in just fine with their plans to be big spenders next offseason. The deadly 3-point shooting of Stephen Curry and the presence of Howard on the inside would be a nightmare for teams to stop.

Dallas Mavericks

The Mavericks recruiting campaign will be led by Mark Cuban, one of the best owners in the league, and Dirk Nowitzki. This is a potential landing spot for Howard because it would be his team with Nowitzki towards the end of his career and next summer the Mavericks will have the cap space to sign another max free agent as well, assuming Nowitzki agrees to take a pay cut. Signing with Dallas does not necessarily make the Mavericks immediate contenders next season, but it would be a move best suited for the long run and with Cuban leading the way, Howard could be swayed easily.

Los Angeles Lakers

Last but certainly not least, one of the NBA’s top franchises will get its chance to re-sign Howard. After all, they do hold an edge over these other teams in the fact they can offer him $30 million more for a five-year contract, while the other teams can offer a four-year deal valued around $88 million. Yes, he would have to play with Kobe Bryant for a few more years it seems, as Bryant is not set on retiring after next year, but Howard loves Los Angeles. What other city is better than Los Angeles to grow a superstar’s brand? And another important question: Is Phil Jackson in the Lakers coaching plans? If Howard tells general manager Mitch Kupchak he will not re-sign if Mike D’Antoni is the coach, would Kupchak pull the trigger to bring back Jackson, the coach Howard has longed to play for?  Howard would benefit greatly from the game’s greatest coach.

After all, if Howard is focused on winning a title, who else better to learn from than the man with 11 rings?

It was the summer of 2010 the last time a big-name player became a free agent and switched teams, when LeBron James signed with the Miami Heat.

Enough with the smiling, Dwight. The rest of the league is waiting on you. Photo Credit: Keith Allison (Flickr.com)

We’re all aware of the pressure he put on himself and the sacrifices he made in order to win championships and he overcame a lot of scrutiny and self-embarrassment to do so. That is why he is as great as he is today. Can Dwight Howard do the same? Can he overcome all the scrutiny from the past few years being labeled a coach killer and a superstar in decline at age 27?

The time is now. The best big man in the game needs to win championships. No more excuses for being unhappy with a franchise he does not want to play for. No more excuses of not having good enough talent around him, as he will have All-Star teammates wherever he decides to sign. Howard is at the crossroads of his career and the next few years will define his legacy in the league.

Wherever he decides to sign will mark the first step in reshaping his legacy. The self-proclaimed “Superman” must save himself and by now he knows the only way he can do that is by winning a championship.